Revisiting an Oldie but a Goodie

So some of you may remember this post, which was a brief foray into my other passion, writing. I love to write fiction, and some tell me that I do it well, but the important thing is I love it, so I would probably do it forever for free.

I came across this article today, which some of you may enjoy reading, which revisits my point. It's very important for kids- especially "different" kids- to find mirrors of themselves in literature, but it's also *hard* for our different kids.

Just food for thought. I'm doing fine, kitty is big and handome and that's really all I have to say. Big hugs.

Ashley

Well, at least It's Bloggable!

So I'm sitting back and enjoying my vacation and waiting for your thoughtful questions to roll in- but no pressure :)

A situation occured tonight though, and its only redeeming feature was that it was blog fodder.

After Callie, our lovely hostess, and her partner Candace (synonyms to to preserve their identities as secret agents) recommended a local pub pretty highly, that's where the four of us (Lady, the C's and I) decided to eat for dinner.

Big mistake.

Not only had the menu changed (portions shrank, food that had not been spicy was spicy) but the waitress either had some problem with same-sex couples, or brunettes in wheelchairs. I'm thinking it may have been the latter, as neither Lady and I nor the C's were playing tonsil hockey or had flashing rainbows over our heads.

She was rude and abrupt from the moment we sat down.

"How're you splitting the bills?"

"Whaddaya want to eat?"

"Whaddaya want me to do?"

We were trying to be charitable about it though. Maybe she didn't want to work today. Maybe she's got big stuff going on at home. Maybe her shoes are too tight.

Until we decided to watch her interactions with the other 3 tables in her section. I wish I was joking when I said that the 2 seated before us and the 1 seated after us were treated to spectacular service. She laughed and joked, made recommendations on the new menu (all of our attempts to engage her were met with icy stares) and provided prompt attention.

Eventually, between the blatant...whatever she was doing, and the subpar food we asked to have our most-offending dishes removed from our bills (drinks and appetizers were great; we paid for those) This she did with more rudeness... Then we called a manager over and calmly detailed the lack of service. His eyes just got bigger and bigger as we talked about things she had said or things she had failed to do (Like handing Candace her dinner plate and walking away, leaving the empty appetizer dish on the table and her nowhere to lay her hot food!)

Callie said that she had been a regular customer and that she would never have expected such poor service.

The manager was appropriately apologetic and discounted our amended bills, but Waitress-zilla's death glares followed us out. Left me wondering- Something I said? No. More like something I am...

Positive vacation post tomorrow- I promise!

I didn't realise it had been so long....

I've started a summer job, Lady secured her first office job. My education funding is secure, and I'll be seeking counselling in the fall as well as tutoring. I do so dearly want to graduate.

I'm having a really bad pain flare which has lasted since Monday, June 22, and there's no end in sight. Lots of medicine. Just like work is lots of filing.

But things are brighter

Books about Radishes for Radishes?

Do they exist?

The reason I ask (and I'm not talking straight biography here, I'm talking fictional books) is that there were very few books about kids with CP when I was small. In fact, now that I think about it, there are still not that many.

But one I was very happy to find was Mine for Keeps by Jean Little. It was, however, written in 1962, so not the most relevant for a little girl living with CP 30 years later- but there were some pieces.

Of course, as I got older I've really begun to see and critique the flaws in Little's book. She didn't have CP, she didn't live CP, she only taught some children who did- So Sal's life reads a little like "I did this. And then I did this. And then I did this." Like an observer.

The author does live with vision loss, knows it intimately, and this shines through in another of her books- From Anna. Published in 1973, Anna is a young girl living with vision loss, and her story although told in the same, simple appropriate language for the age group, rings much more...true, I suppose. Anna just doesn't go to school with her glasses- She *IS* at school with her glasses.

This got me thinking about Radishes. Are there similar books? Would Radishes who are in recovery find comfort in a book about a boy or girl with an Awesome Mom and an AT and weighted vests?

Hoping this post is making a little sense- I'm going to hit publish anyway

On "Normals."

I come to you today as a young woman with Special Needs- I used to hate that term, but let's face it- I got 'em. I'm 22 and need someone to put my boots on, can't drive (have been assessed, not gonna happen with the current cars on the road) still need a rubber sheet on my mattress just in case.

I come to you- my Awesome Moms- with a question. Understand that I do not see any of you as Normal, and that I mean that as the highest compliment

WHY is there a switch in the heads of 'normal' people- who just do NOT get it- that makes them think they know better than a 'non-normal' someone who is neuro-atypical or physically disabled or has their crazy a bit less hidden?

Can we take it out?

I've got a screwdriver...