These past couple of weeks, I was last a lot. In a wheelchair. And I got to see what being last really feels like in America. And it's not what I expected.
"I want her to see that it’s OK to have inabilities. To have disabilities. And to have the fear of it." This will be a valuable lesson, one that many adults never even learn.
Excellently written, and I fully concur. I think we've reached some similar conclusions through different life paths. I lived and traveled abroad, and finally left the US, because I think it's a toxic, sociopathic country, that is ultimately OK with massive inequality, regardless of what most people say or claim to think. Actually, I just got my Canadian passport in the mail, I'll have to write about that. I've also played Balinese gamelan for some years, by the way--I think the deep community, shared joy, and great importance placed on spiritual and artistic matters I've observed in the Balinese people I've met is pretty much the antithesis of consumeristic American "culture," and something that seems deeply missing from much of our modern and developed societies. I also have two brothers with neurodegenerative diseases in wheelchairs, so I can relate.
Yeah sometimes I wonder who schedules the times in between flights (obviously no one in wheelchairs). But I agree with you that being front of the line is nice (which I suppose is evened out by usually being last in line to get out, if we’re letting non-wheelchair folks disembark first). Is your wife’s condition resolved or is it a chronic thing, David?
Congrats on the Canadian passport. What was that process like? And what was the decision making behind Canada versus other countries?
I’d have to congratulate you on playing gamelan. It looks easy (until we realize we have to synchronize with others)! Do you still play every now and then?
The last few international flights we took, my wife was in a wheel chair. In America we were treated very well and were breezed through security and customs with a shocking level of privilege. The worst experience was Heathrow that was just so poorly organized and inefficient.
My wife's condition is different. She can walk but only short distance. So we can walk up to the gate but not much further. But remember we were literally moving between the two farthest gates possible and it was the facilities that were deficient so that you could not just get assistance from point A to point B. The chair orderlies were typical British curt but pleasant. It was nerve racking because we only had an hour between connecting flights. The best part was literally flying through security with only a cursory examination. Front of the line, baby! This was maybe ten to fifteen years ago, however.
"I want her to see that it’s OK to have inabilities. To have disabilities. And to have the fear of it." This will be a valuable lesson, one that many adults never even learn.
Wished I learned it earlier, Sydney 🤓
Eye opening!
Excellently written, and I fully concur. I think we've reached some similar conclusions through different life paths. I lived and traveled abroad, and finally left the US, because I think it's a toxic, sociopathic country, that is ultimately OK with massive inequality, regardless of what most people say or claim to think. Actually, I just got my Canadian passport in the mail, I'll have to write about that. I've also played Balinese gamelan for some years, by the way--I think the deep community, shared joy, and great importance placed on spiritual and artistic matters I've observed in the Balinese people I've met is pretty much the antithesis of consumeristic American "culture," and something that seems deeply missing from much of our modern and developed societies. I also have two brothers with neurodegenerative diseases in wheelchairs, so I can relate.
Yeah sometimes I wonder who schedules the times in between flights (obviously no one in wheelchairs). But I agree with you that being front of the line is nice (which I suppose is evened out by usually being last in line to get out, if we’re letting non-wheelchair folks disembark first). Is your wife’s condition resolved or is it a chronic thing, David?
Glad you enjoyed it, Toby. Which part stood out to you? 🙏🏻
Congrats on the Canadian passport. What was that process like? And what was the decision making behind Canada versus other countries?
I’d have to congratulate you on playing gamelan. It looks easy (until we realize we have to synchronize with others)! Do you still play every now and then?
The last few international flights we took, my wife was in a wheel chair. In America we were treated very well and were breezed through security and customs with a shocking level of privilege. The worst experience was Heathrow that was just so poorly organized and inefficient.
Did Heathrow have a wheelchair-only line at all, David? I think if all airports have this, it would make such a difference...
My wife's condition is different. She can walk but only short distance. So we can walk up to the gate but not much further. But remember we were literally moving between the two farthest gates possible and it was the facilities that were deficient so that you could not just get assistance from point A to point B. The chair orderlies were typical British curt but pleasant. It was nerve racking because we only had an hour between connecting flights. The best part was literally flying through security with only a cursory examination. Front of the line, baby! This was maybe ten to fifteen years ago, however.