Getting in shape
Well, it’s a week since I set off on my long trip to meet my new family. What a joy! OK, let me start at the beginning.
Sydney airport. While standing in line to book in the luggage, I started getting really tired of standing and was wondering how I would survive all the passport and customs lines. ‘What if I asked for a wheelchair,’ – I wondered as I got to the ticket counter. I explained my problem to the agent, that I have been through cancer therapy and I was afraid of getting too tired, what would she advise? ‘Wheelchair’ – she said, echoing my fervent wish and so it was. When I got to San Francisco, I got a wonderful Chinese guy, who told me his whole life story (his first wife died of cancer) while he deftly navigated me through all the checkpoints in the blink of an eye. It took longer to push me through the incredibly long corridors than getting past customs, passport check and luggage retrieval. In thanks to the poor guy for all his troubles, I presented him with a Ziploc bag full of change in US currency, the only money I had.
By the time I got to Denver I got some money, but the next wheelchair guy, a really slight Ethiopian, had trouble pushing my hefty body over the dense carpeting of the airport, and I felt so sorry for him that I got out of the chair sooner than I would have otherwise.
How did I feel being in the wheelchair? Surprisingly, I was OK. It was strange to see the world from that vantage point, but things got done really fast! People were tolerant and got out of the way, but they ignored you, so there was no need to feel self-conscious. Looking at the long corridors I realised that I would not have survived the trip in one go if I didn’t have this help, so I was very grateful that it was available. I’ll probably do the same when I go home.
The arm sleeve worked well and it wasn’t a problem at all. Since my arrival I’ve been walking every day between 2-4 kilometres, but it’s very hot and humid, so I can only do that in the early morning.
I had a bit of a problem with the hotel, because none of us liked the first one that was booked, so Tunde got me a swish hotel room by the beach that cost the earth. They said they had only one night, so the next day I had to negotiate a bit to stay on, but by the third day I found a lovely little Bread and Breakfast just off the main drag by the ocean, and I am really happy here. It’s a very basic place, clean room and bathroom and undrinkable coffee in the morning, but it’s close to the city and Tunde, so it’s fine. Also, it has wireless internet for free and Zabrina fixed my computer so it can receive wireless, so I am fine in that department too. Hopefully, with my daily dose of Qigong, walking and swimming, my health will continue to improve.
This is the B & B
.
The block ends
where the red truck
is turning right.
Sydney airport. While standing in line to book in the luggage, I started getting really tired of standing and was wondering how I would survive all the passport and customs lines. ‘What if I asked for a wheelchair,’ – I wondered as I got to the ticket counter. I explained my problem to the agent, that I have been through cancer therapy and I was afraid of getting too tired, what would she advise? ‘Wheelchair’ – she said, echoing my fervent wish and so it was. When I got to San Francisco, I got a wonderful Chinese guy, who told me his whole life story (his first wife died of cancer) while he deftly navigated me through all the checkpoints in the blink of an eye. It took longer to push me through the incredibly long corridors than getting past customs, passport check and luggage retrieval. In thanks to the poor guy for all his troubles, I presented him with a Ziploc bag full of change in US currency, the only money I had.
By the time I got to Denver I got some money, but the next wheelchair guy, a really slight Ethiopian, had trouble pushing my hefty body over the dense carpeting of the airport, and I felt so sorry for him that I got out of the chair sooner than I would have otherwise.
How did I feel being in the wheelchair? Surprisingly, I was OK. It was strange to see the world from that vantage point, but things got done really fast! People were tolerant and got out of the way, but they ignored you, so there was no need to feel self-conscious. Looking at the long corridors I realised that I would not have survived the trip in one go if I didn’t have this help, so I was very grateful that it was available. I’ll probably do the same when I go home.
The arm sleeve worked well and it wasn’t a problem at all. Since my arrival I’ve been walking every day between 2-4 kilometres, but it’s very hot and humid, so I can only do that in the early morning.
I had a bit of a problem with the hotel, because none of us liked the first one that was booked, so Tunde got me a swish hotel room by the beach that cost the earth. They said they had only one night, so the next day I had to negotiate a bit to stay on, but by the third day I found a lovely little Bread and Breakfast just off the main drag by the ocean, and I am really happy here. It’s a very basic place, clean room and bathroom and undrinkable coffee in the morning, but it’s close to the city and Tunde, so it’s fine. Also, it has wireless internet for free and Zabrina fixed my computer so it can receive wireless, so I am fine in that department too. Hopefully, with my daily dose of Qigong, walking and swimming, my health will continue to improve.
This is the B & B
. The block ends
where the red truck
is turning right.
Labels: breast cancer
posted by Unknown at 12:20 AM
1 Comments:
The wheelchair was a great idea - very convenient! Glad the flights went so well.
Sounds like you're having lots of fun & getting some useful exercise. Enjoy your holiday & family.
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