I'm Disabled. Feel Free to Grope Me.

I'm on crutches.

Luckily, its temporary.

I don't think I have the temperament to deal with all the jackasses that come out of the woodwork when you're impaired. I'd be dragged off to jail, hobbling.

Take the TSA.

Me on crutches: "I'm not sure how I'm supposed to go through security."

TSA Jackass: "They'll hold your crutches when you go through the body scan."

Me: "Ummmm...I can't stand up without the crutches. I can't put my weight on my leg."

Jackass: "Hmmmm....they'll give you a cane."

Note to anyone who doesn't know - you can't just give someone who needs crutches a cane and wish them Godspeed. Walking aids are not interchangeable and should be prescribed by someone with an actual medical degree, not a guy with a bully club and a highlighter pen.

Me: "I can't use a cane. That's why I have crutches."

Jackass: "Hmmmm...can you take your shoes off?"

Me: "Does it look like it?"

Jackass pointing: "Well...they'll have to do a full body pat down then. Wait over there. She'll take care of you."

TSA World Women's Wrestling Champion: "Can you take off your shoes?"

Me: "No."

WWW Champ (three times my size, pulling on latex gloves): "I'm gonna have to pat you down. Do you want to go to a private room?"

Never go to the second location.

Me: "No."

Champ (snapping gloves): "Okay. Raise your arms up at your sides like this." She mimics Christ on the Cross as a helpful visual aid.

Me: "I can't STAND WITHOUT MY CRUTCHES."

Champ: "Hmmm...okay, well...do you have any foreign objects implanted in your body?"

Besides that giant dildo?

Me: "No."

Champ: "Okay....well...front first."

So, there in front of an entire airport full of people, the Champ gave me a thorough grope. Zealously serving and protecting her country by ensuring my boobs weren't locked and loaded and a scud missile didn't lurk in my crotch.

Champ: "Can you take your shoes off?"

Me: "No." 

I thought we'd covered that. 

By that time hubby finally made his way through wearing that look he usually reserves for deviants and TSA's. He wasn't allowed to accompany me. He had his own security to maze to meander in case he'd stashed a life threatening quarter in his pocket or the surprisingly deadly extra ounce of shaving cream.

Champ: "I need to put those crutches through the scanner."

Me: "I CAN'T STAND UP WITHOUT THEM."

Champ: "Oh....right...I'll get a chair."

I sat.

Champ: "Can you take your shoes off?"

After I cried Uncle and hubby helped take my shoes off, Champ swooped off with my crutches. After it was determined I'd stashed no James Bond type foolery in them and I posed no threat to national security, they let us go.

This trip to the airport was the first I'd been on other than therapy. While on it, I saw the light. 

For the most part, the general population has an appalling disregard for the physically limited.

They shoved past me to get ahead. Can't possibly go half a second slower.

They ran me over to get on, and off, the elevator first.

They jumped ahead of me to get on, and off, the plane.

For me, this is a minor blip in an otherwise healthy life. For my six year-old granddaughter Adelia, it's a lifestyle. She has Cerebral Palsy and can't walk without braces and a walker. Her everyday life is an exhausting struggle to get from point A to B. God forbid she should ever decide to get away from it all and take a trip where she can expect public embarrassment and complete disregard for her dignity as a rule.

I learned big lessons that day and will forever be on guard. That old cliche is a cliche for a reason. You can't know what its like to be someone else till you've walked, limped, or rolled, in their shoes. 

It won't kill me, or you, to take a breath and show some consideration for someone who relies on the compassion of others. 

We don't really need to harass the disabled, do we?