BR-R-OOM, BR-R-OOM, OOPS, THUD, BIGGER THUD, O_O_OUCH! WHAM, BAM, CRASH

Don’t you just hate when that happens? Driving down a dark sidewalk, I missed the curb-cut and instead I ran straight off the sidewalk.

I flew up and out of the slippery vinyl cushion of my motorized wheelchair. In an instant, a night out with a gal pal at a local theater became an intimate moment with a winter-weathered Minneapolis street.

I lay face down in a puddle that washed away winter. A determined spring rain was not empathetic to my helpless body. My visually impaired friend doubled her efforts to rescue me from my darkness as her companion dog stood guard.

A few bandages and nurturing hugs later we returned to Act II of the play, our clothing drenched. I was lucky this time. It was not necessary to call 911 or visit an emergency room. Just a slight yet audible voice from my “inner child” pleading with me to B-U-C-K-L-E UP P-L-E-A-S-E.

-Patricia Anita Young, Minneapolis

P.S. D is abled stands for Determination is abled!