I’m composing this while perched atop my power wheelchair in my favourite corner of my local branch of the public library. This would be entirely unremarkable were it not for the fact this is only the second day in over two weeks that writing here has been an option. First it was the snow, then it was my out-of-commission chair, and then it was, once again, the snow, which until two days ago obstructed all three of the possible routes I could usually take from my building to this makeshift office/home of mine.
It’s only because someone finally carved out a wider path, whether of their own initiative or because I made some calls flagging this as an accessibility issue, that I could get here. In this historically long cold snap, little has thawed. I’m starting to think that I’ve wandered into the land of the Eternal Winter; indeed, I should probably keep watch in case the White Witch of Narnia, Jadis, is lurking behind one of these now-grey-but still-massive snowbanks. Having regained so much movement after post-coma paralysis, the last thing I need is to be turned into stone. (Yeah, I’ve been reading children’s literature. Next will be a reference to Nancy Drew.)
I guess I should backtrack a little lest I bury the lede even more than I already have. As you’ve probably gathered from the paragraphs above, there’s now a mostly happy resolution as far as my wheelchair is concerned. Otherwise I wouldn’t be griping about inadequate snow removal rather than about inadequate customer service. It was picked up last Tuesday (this was an ordeal in itself), worked on on Wednesday, and dropped off, with loaner motors, on Thursday. Replacement motors have been ordered and will be covered under warranty, thank goodness. It was unclear whether this would be the case, and I was bracing myself for the impact that paying almost $4,000 out of pocket would have on my finances. Being disabled is really frickin’ expensive as it is.
My chair’s return to me, however, coincided with a very unhappy event that has nothing to do with mobility, nor with sewing, nor with chronic illness, and will therefore stay out of my blog. I’m fine, just sad and a bit preoccupied and thus unmotivated to finish what I started with this series of posts. Rest assured that even if my elation at being reunited with my frenemy (until such time it proves its dependability, it’s been demoted from BFF status) was somewhat attenuated, I’m very glad to have it back—and proud of how I dealt with the situation. It certainly wasn’t easy. I’m also tired, though. Tired from the incredible amount of work this process has demanded of me; tired from the stress of the unknown while waiting for the verdict re fixability and cost; tired from other life stuff going on. Too tired to type out the rest of the motor-fixing saga, which is in its final stages but not over yet. Maybe I’ll circle back and do it later, or maybe I won’t. We’ll see.
I’ll leave you with a bright spot masquerading as another complaint. Bear with me.
In the week my wheelchair was broken, I simultaneously told myself two conflicting stories: that the sidewalks were awful and impassable so it didn’t matter that I was without my wheels since I couldn’t go out anyway—not safely, at least—and that as soon as my prosthetic legs were back, I’d have free reign of the city. The truth is somewhere in the middle. It’s been over two weeks since the storm, and it’s still messy. Even on major streets, I frequently hit choke points and need to turn around. I’m constantly on guard for chunks of compacted snow that’ve been kicked from snowbanks and into my way (why do people do that?!?). Side streets are a total no-go, and I’ve had to skip events that I really, really wanted to attend. Buuuuuut … the forecast looks promising. My weather app shows days above freezing! I’m cautiously optimistic, then, that Jadis will be defeated and this’ll soon be behind us, no revolution required. By the time she’s vanquished, I hope to have a fully repaired wheelchair and the freedom of movement to which I’ve grown accustomed.
De Morbo Sacro: Life and/with Epilepsy 