Excuse Me!

Hello and welcome back! I want to give a shout out to my faithful readers. I know there are a few of you who read every week and I am so appreciative 😊

Excuse me, are you so lazy that you can’t return the cart to the cart corral? Um, no sir , but I am so weak I don’t think I could take another step and safely return to my car. As you can see I am disabled. 

What he didn’t see was that it took every ounce of strength I had to walk into the store, grab a cart and walk all around getting essential items that my family needs. Sure I could ride on one of the carts at the store, but here is the problem with that….half of the items on the shelves are not within reach when you are sitting. 

Another reason I choose to forego the electric cart is because I can still walk. I have to admit that when I walk into a store, I look longingly at the electric cart and think, gosh that would be so much easier to just get on that and it would save so much of my energy. Yes, all true. Also true is that I have the gift of choosing still at this point. Some days it’s feeling like the decision is going to be made for me sooner than later, but I’m so fortunate to still be making that call. It’s not that choosing a mobility device is a negative thing, it’s not. Often I do use my scooter when I have someone to load and unload it for me because it is such a huge energy saver, but that’s not always the case. I still enjoy my independence as much as I can, and sometimes that means walking through a store. Not something I take for granted. However it is hard!

Grateful I can still walk with a cart !

So anyway back to the grouchy cart police. Yes kind sir, I know you think you are doing your diligent duty to be reprimanding me for leaving my cart right by my car, but deciding between leaving it there, and walking what feels like an eternity to the cart return and then back to my car, while my legs feel like they will buckle under me at any second, sure feels like a no brainer to me in that moment. 

It’s just another example of a non disabled person expecting the same performance from a disabled person, but not on an equal playing ground. I mean why aren’t there cart return areas right by the disabled spots? That doesn’t make any sense to me. On the days I’m really feeling it, and have a little extra energy, absolutely I go return my cart like a responsible human, but on the days I don’t, please know that is because of a desperate need to get into my car without falling.

This day I felt strong enough to return the cart 😊

Also, how many times have I pulled into a disabled parking spot on the verge of tears of happiness because there, right next to my car, is a cart that is going to be something I can lean on to get into the store. Hallelujah! All about perspective. 

Thankful for whoever left this out!

This could be very helpful to someone!

I’m extremely grateful for all of the pick up options these days, as they are a major life saver for me, any many others for various reasons no doubt. For the times when that’s not possible, please know that people with disabilities that leave their cart by those spots, well we aren’t all inconsiderate jerks, we are just trying to make it through another step in our day. So yeah, sometimes I humbly courageously leave my cart out, and drive away not feeling one ounce of guilt. 

P.s….I do always push it out of the way of the parking lines by the disabled spot because those are there for a CRUCIAL reason. Those are there to give wheelchair users ample space to be able to get in and out of their cars and into their chairs, so please never block those either. One final thought….I also try to leave the cart somewhat secured next to the pole that holds the disabled parking sign, so it doesn’t fly around and ding anyone’s car on a windy day.