Oh Please! I'm Not An Invalid

Published on August 20, 2006 By MasonM In Blogging

The truckstop where I am parked doesn't sell beer. I am here until tomrrow morning and since there's no tavern nearby, I wanted some beer to help pass the time in a more enjoyable fashion.

There's a C-Store across the highway (4 lanes) so I decided to go over there. I make it over there without getting run over, purchase my beer, and begin walking back. A lady in an Audi stops beside me in the driveway and says she saw me walking across the road with my cane, and could she give me a lift back across the road.

I was quite polite and thanked her for her concern, and told her that really I needed the exercise and would prefer to walk. I was quite insulted actually. I know she was being nice, had the whole Christian fish on the back of the car thing going on and all that, but I'm not a friggin invalid. I am perfectly capable of walking where I need to go even if I do sometimes need to lean a bit on a cane to get me there.

I can't really be angry at the woman for meaning well, but some people just don't get it. If I weren't capable of walking the distance would I be there in the first place? I really hate it when people treat me like a friggin cripple. Earlier today as I was getting ready to enter the truckstop I saw a woman carrying several items in her arms and with a little girl in tow approaching the door to exit. I opened the door and held it for her so she could get out. I saw her glance down at my cane and I swear she had a guilty look on her face, or felt sorry for me, or something, I can't be sure. For some reason it really pissed me off. If I happened to be having a non-cane day she wouldn't have had that look on her face at all.

Ok, maybe I'm just in a foul mood today, but people who need a little assistance to walk are not cripples and don't want to be treated as such! At least I don't. I do more physically demanding work in a day than many of these people do in a month, and can bench press more than my own body weight easily. I am not a friggin invalid.

Ok, maybe I can't run any more. I can't go on those long mountain hikes like I used to. But there's still a helluva lot of things I can do, and do them quite well. I just don't appreciate people trying to treat me like an invalid.

But, like I said, maybe I'm just having a pissy day.

Comments

M-Post

on Aug 20, 2006

It's a phase of human stupidity mixed with sympathy.

We feel that since we're not in need of 'help' to walk at some times that we feel bad when those who are using the help (aka a cane.. boy am I subtle) offer us their help. It's not that we always look down on the said person, but it's more of a fact that we're acting so pitiful that someone with a helpers aid is helping US....

I'd add more, but really I've had a good bit to drink tonight and I'm nto sure how much sense I've made, and the fact that I'm not going to be able to post for a good while helps some too.. LoL

MasonM

on Aug 20, 2006

It's not that we always look down on the said person, but it's more of a fact that we're acting so pitiful that someone with a helpers aid is helping US....

Yeah, I see that but that's the part that pisses me off I guess. There's a 'pity factor' there that I just can't stand.

feisty_in_ohio

on Aug 20, 2006

I know what you mean. The audi lady assumed you needed help. The door lady - a simple thank you was inorder.
My Gramma was a tough lady. She had arthritis and mowed the lawn with a push mower.
One neighbor told her he would do it. She told him, "Oh no - I need the excersise, it keeps me going. But you could ask Mrs. Wallace up the street if you need to make some money". He was shocked that she thought he "needed" to make a few bucks.
I miss Gramma - I hope I'll be as tough as she was.

MasonM

on Aug 20, 2006

#3 by feisty_in_ohio
Sun, August 20, 2006 8:00 PM

I know what you mean. The audi lady assumed you needed help. The door lady - a simple thank you was inorder.
My Gramma was a tough lady. She had arthritis and mowed the lawn with a push mower.
One neighbor told her he would do it. She told him, "Oh no - I need the excersise, it keeps me going. But you could ask Mrs. Wallace up the street if you need to make some money". He was shocked that she thought he "needed" to make a few bucks.
I miss Gramma - I hope I'll be as tough as she was.

I like her attitude.

Dr Guy

on Aug 21, 2006

The lady with the child, while I know you were offended by her look, is a natural one. I would have done the same thing, feeling guilty because you need more assistance to get around than I do.

But that is just if I did not know you. Having read your stories of the accident and the recovery period, I would make you hold the door for me EVERY time!

MasonM

on Aug 23, 2006

#5 by Dr. Guy
Mon, August 21, 2006 08:06 AM

[Dr. Guy]

I would make you hold the door for me EVERY time!

Tova7

on Aug 23, 2006

Ah Mason don't be so hard on the woman. Who knows what went on in her head when she saw you walking with a cane, and it probably had very little to do with you! heh.

I think she's kinda nutty stopping and asking a man if he wants a ride anyway. But she probably saw that cane and read something into it from her past.

I am in a pissy mood today too. My son got the evil witch teacher this year...just found out today and now he is stressing. Grrrrr. Just the thought of all the crap we've got coming makes me ill.

Oh well...that was a hijack..sorry.

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