TRANSPORTATION/ENVIRONMENT/LIFE OF THE DISABLED

That is a hearty title! So much in my life seems to revolve around these topics. This past week, two days ago, I drove to the city. I live about 35 miles from the center of this big city and it takes at least an hour or more to drive. Lots and lots of traffic. Train system is good but not where I had to go. So I drove. The purpose of this drive was to be evaluated at a Chronic Pain Clinic. The evaluation would determine whether I was eligible for the program to assist in living with my chronic pain. The program is very well received in the medical community. I was impressed with the modalities that are used.
Ok, so first the drive! Oh man the traffic was heavy. I was going to an area I had never driven before; to an unknown building and parking garage. I was nervous! I made it to the garage, to a parking space right across from the elevator. I proceeded to get my scooter out of the truck of the car. I once again was very aware of how weak I am because I had trouble getting the scooter out even though I had a lift. Got the scooter to about 2 inches above the ground. The lift stopped because the strap connected to the lift and the scooter was not long enough to let me put the scooter on the ground. This has happened several times before but I had someone with me would could pull down on the lift to make it touch the ground and thus release the strap. This time I spent about 10 minutes trying to pull the strap down with no success. I was straining myself; my back, arms and legs. I was frustrated and angry. What I had to do was rock the scooter back an forth to find a place where it touched the ground, then release the strap. Doing this was a huge physical task for me. I finally got the scooter together. By that time I was shaking because my nerves and muscles were so fatigued. The elevator experience was another stress. The sign-age was poor. The elevators were the kind that opened on both sides. Since this was new to me I became even more upset and wondered how late the elevators would make me. With the help of three different people I made it to the floor of my destination, only to find out that scooters could not be acommodated in the office. That is weird isn't it? I had my crutches so walked in shaking at this point due to the upset. I thought I was losing my mind because my body was buzzing and I could barely speak. The first person I saw said I was on the wrong floor and had to go to a floor I had already been to where a person told me to go to the floor I was at. What a mess. And I just lost it and told the person the only way I would get on the elevator was to exit the building. I was about 40 minutes early for my appointment. I waited 1hour to be seen. No one seemed concerned. By that time I was exhausted and wanted to rest. Of course sitting in an uncomfortable chair did not help.
Finally I was seen and the evaluation was about 3 hours. By the end I was so exhausted I did not know if I could get home. When returning to the car I again had the reverse scooter/lift problem. This time I just cried. I waited a few minutes, did some breathing exercises, and small meditation, went back to the scooter problem and calmly allowed myself to take as much time as possible to get it in the trunk. I then had trouble getting out of the building having lined up in a gate that was not working. I had to back out and drive into the next gate. By this time I just let go and forced myself to observe and rest in what was. Looking for potential obstacles and potential avenues to get me out of the city. I finally made it home. I have spent two days resting. My whole body was vibrating and stiff and painful I have tried to think about how I could have done better to prepare myself and how to prepare myself in the future. I am still pretty weak today it being the third day after my trip. I am discouraged about this incident and must make my driving to be less stressful and easy to remain independent. I also have much more empathy for disabled that have to take vans, chairs, scooters other means of getting around. How can we use the mass transit to our advantage? How can I remain independent? How can we make a difference in transportation and the environment so that ALL PEOPLES will benefit? I will investigate, learn and be proactive in the disabled community so that we too can be proud of helping the world and the environment.