I have a handicap plate on my car. I drive a Nissan Murano -- a semi-small SUV that was perfect for holding a wheelchair in the back. Being permanently disabled, I have plates on my car. Here's the thing... if I'm healthy, if I'm feeling alright, I will not use a handicap spot. I know first-hand how hard it is to get those spots when you truly need them. But if I'm experiencing a flare-up, I'll utilize those spots.
Today, an old peepaw wobbled up to me and yelled, "you aren't allowed to be parking in that spot! What's wrong with you? You don't look disabled!"
I've heard this sooooo many times before. My mother has even been yelled at before, because they'll see her get out of the car, perfectly healthy... but, not realize there is a young lady in the vehicle with a leg brace on and using a cane (or a wheelchair). I have actually seen (usually peepaws and meemaws) waiting in their car, watching who comes in and out of those handicap spots.
I blew my lid.
"Listen peepaw, it's none of your goddamn business why I need to use this spot. Just because I'm not 100 years old or I don't have any disabilities you can see with your 20/20 vision eyes doesn't mean I'm not disabled!"
Sorry, folks. The agonizing pain I'm feeling in my body is not worn on the outside, but trust me.. sometimes that pain is so bad, I don't want to wake up in the morning. With each spasm, it feels like a hundred pins and needles going through your body. Just because you cannot see it, doesn't mean it's not there.
