 birdynumnums, posted
over a year ago
Alright. As a few of you may remember, I got a shiny titanium hip last year. I have now had a handicap parking pass in both the U.S. and now, I have one in Canada.
I was just 53 when I got my new hip, because of a birth defect, and the other one will be replaced as soon as I am in too much pain with it as well. Most of the time, I walk without a limp, but not always. I have a fair bit of discomfort, and carrying anything heavy will aggravate both hips and wear out the new one faster, so says my SuperDoc.
I am not entirely past it, 'cause all the grey haired grandfather types check me out! LOL! And I drive a Cayenne and a littler Porsche in the summer. This conundrum of my looking fairly attractive and driving a nice car seems to stir up a lot of interest in my parking in these parking spaces!
I have many people staring, but on occasion, some do-gooder will start to harangue me verbally and accuse me of parking there illegally. I am put in the position of defending myself, being intimidated, and expected to divulge my personal medical history to satisfy their busy-bodiness. ???
The last time that it happened, it was by a portly redneck couple driving a Giant Red Hum-V (figures). After accusing me of parking illegally, she insisted that the permit was for someone else's license and that the police would be able to look it up! Then she insisted that I was on the defensive because I was guilty of something (perhaps being younger and thinner than the beotch). I did break down and use foul language at this point.
Needless to say, it spoiled my day anyways, and I was waiting around incase the nut job keyed my car.
I get it. There are a lot of people out there who do abuse the handicap spot - the previous week it was taken up by a young couple loading baby paraphernalia in and out of their car - and a young person waiting for someone else. They had no pass, I asked them if I could park, they moved,being polite and reasonable human beings.
I never have abused the handicap spot, mainly because I used to care for my father-in-law who was in a wheelchair. We often had my son's stroller in the back at the same time, and though I can appreciate that this time of life has it's challenges, the handicap spot is not a waiting/loading or unloading zone.
Honestly, even if the rednecks intentions were to save the spot for someone who is "truly" handicapped, because I may not "look" handicapped, but what made her not question her OWN intentions that she might be verbally harassing a handicapped individual? It wasn't right to put me into the position where i had to defend myself.
I don't feel that it is prudent or wise, as a women, to divulge that I can't break into a sprint when I am carrying a shoulder bag! I would NEVER ask someone parking in the spot if they were handicapped or what was wrong with them. Plus, my Doctor and the Ontario Government have approved my space!
When you are in the situation where you see the space being abused, call the police. Please. You might be wrong about what your eyes are seeing.
As for me, from now on, no more swearing, I'm just going to tell them to feel free to call the police to check my pass.
*rant out*
Posted on 22 February 2010 @ 22:25 (London time) - permalink
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