learn to laugh even when life is not funny

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What special rules for survival do you habitually follow as a person living with a disability?

Name: Lindy
Email: lindy@layabrick.com
Date: 31 Mar 2004
Time: 20:19:35

Story

THE HUNGARY BUS: One day Pete (my new husband) and I were in a beach town. This was few months after a head-on motorcyle/car collisoin. It was off season and there was nothing to do. In fact, I don't know just what we were doing there in the first place. I guess he had work there. We decided on Saturday to visit the Fitness Convention. For some dumb reason, we didn't take the car. We took a bus. This was my first time on a bus since the accident. I also discovered it was Pete's first time on a bus ever. Italians get spoiled more than some of us do. His mommy probably carried him to school until he was 14. Now for those of you who've enjoyed a bumpy ride on a public bus, you know that you have to get up and push the “next stop” button. You also have to get by the door and get ready to get out. Well of course with my new imbalance, and two crutches, I certainly couldn't stand up while the hog of a vehicle was moving, so I sat there. Me missed our stop. I said, “Pete didn't you push the button?” He tipped his head like a rottweiler and gazed at me. Now this part happened really fast because the stops are one right after the other and I wasn't about to crutch it all the way back. “Push that orange button!” Now Pete managed to push the button. There were a few other weekenders on the bus. Pete moved his gaze to the scenery outside the bus window, a couple dashed down the steps at our stop, the doors closed and the bus was off again. Now I was getting anxious. I didn't have time to train Pete to get off a darn bus, so he pushed the button again and stood there. When the bus rolled to a firm stop and the doors started opening, I darted up and managed to get almost to the door . Those big heavy suckers started sliding closed like a pair of jaws. Well, I'm never one to give up. I just jammed one of my crutches in there. That'll teach that driver a thing or two. What was I thinking?. A two inch piece of aluminum is nothing compared to a hungry Italian bus driver nearing the lunch hour. The door bit down on my crutch and the bus took off again. I was stuck. I tugged. No good. I left the thing sticking straight out and grabbed a firm grip on one of those stationary poles before the bus threw me against a balding fellow staring in shock at this Laurel and Hardy scene. My lonely crutch was protruding out on it's own. Thank God, I had the rottweiler with me. He braced himself took one swift pull and out it came. By now, on the curves, I was swinging around the pole beating up the seats as my other crutch flew around. I was really relieved when he got the trapped one back. I took one look at the end of it and my mouth dropped open. It looked like a toothpick. The rubber tip came off. It was back there somewhere along the roadside. Well at least we were inches from the door by now. We finally got off. Pete left me there along the curb with my toothpick and hiked back to search for the rubber. I was actually worried. This was really going to put a kink in my weekend. I wouldn't be able to leave the hotel anymore. My guys a hero: He found it. I gave Pete a quick lesson on how to ride a bus and we hopped on the next one going back toward where we came from. The fitness show was great. I stopped riding buses

learn to laugh even when life is not funny

Story

Last changed: March 31, 2004