I’ve worried my wife (almost) to death on occasions but somehow I’m still here and I’m sure she would prefer me the way I am rather than safely swaddled in cotton wool.
Yesterday she was busy around the house. I suggested I’d go alone to the supermarket and get a loaf of bread which we sort of needed for our next meal.
Before this stroke I wouldn’t have given it any thought and neither would she.
Now it is, being unsure, taking on too much, what if something goes wrong.
She agreed I should give it a go. So I put on my glasses, got some money together, my phone and keys, walking stick and got into my car.
Oh dear, there’s a big hole appeared in the road into town. Sat nav gently sends me on a detour guiding me to the shop. I park in a disabled bay, display my blue badge, and set about getting my scooter out of the car boot. I’m right side disabled and can’t walk more then half a dozen steps.
I lock the car. On my scooter I zoom towards the supermarket entrance. Just inside I’m involved in a conversation with a representative of an energy provider company. I was some what interested but now is not the time. I steer my way through the crowd into the shop.
Hilary told me where I could find an item we wanted, but no it wasn’t there, I found a ‘very nice man’ who got me what was wanted. I moved on to the bakery department and put a loaf into the basket on my scooter.
Something magical about the scooter it provides smiles and folk who are keen to be obliging. Something to be said for this disability thing? At the checkout area I decide to go for self checkout.
I had chosen a rather large loaf and getting it out of the basket on the scooter with just one hand was turning out to be a challenge. Up galloped a knight in shining armour staff member. Between us we got everything tilled up, bagged and paid for. I thanked the shining knight and zoomed out of the shop to my parked car.
An old lady, far more able than I quizzed me about Blue Badges, she had just got hers.
I opened the boot of my car put the two items of shopping in their shopping bag and my scooter safely away. Once in the car, radio on, sat nav set for home I gently drove towards the exit.
Once home I proudly carried my bag of shopping in the house. We had some of the loaf for tea later.
Not sure if this is a threat or a promise, but as the expedition was incident free Hilary will be using my services delivering from the shop in future. It looks like I’ve acquired another duty.
Is my life of leisure over?
