Another "Rolling Around in my Head" paragraph, quoted for TRUTH:

[capri0mni]

Sometimes being in a wheelchair has a side benefit, if there's a hill, or a ramp anywhere in sight, you've got a toy under your butt!

From here:http://davehingsburger.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-toy.html

Comments

[spiralsheep]

\o/

[capri0mni]

^___^

[davidgillon]

Absolutely. Popped into town to get my hair cut today. There's a ramp from the street down into the carpark (drop of about 2m), and I was parked about 50m away from the ramp.
Slalomed down the s-shaped ramp just by adjusting braking pressure with wheelie-gloves, 90 degree turn at the bottom, 90 degree turn at the car to put me next to the driver's door to unlock it, all with just hand pressure bar one slight push for the last foot.

Wheee!

[capri0mni]

Yeah. In his original post, Dave Hingsburger said he would have said "Whee!" if he were sixty years younger -- my thought: "Why let your age stop you from a thing like that?" ;-)

hahahahhahah

[dialecticdreamer]

I am trying to stop laughing long enough to type!

That is SO great-- and I don't have the sense of body awareness that keeps most people over the age of ten from having unexplained bruises and scrapes, so I... would've... crept... down... the... ramp.

Totally awesome confidence, there!

Re: hahahahhahah

[capri0mni]

We all find joy where we can. And play is horribly underrated!

[jesse_the_k]

This is absolutely true! My favorite slalom courses are malls at busy times. If I'm not wildly weaving, then I'm being overwhelmed by perfumes and noise. Defensive joy!

[capri0mni]

My favorite thing about malls is realizing I want nothing that's for sale...

[lauredhel]

Sadly, this is often not true in a powerchair!

[capri0mni]

Well, not true for the same kind of play, perhaps, but ramps can still be fun if they're designed well. There's a ramp in the main branch of my local library between the entrance floor and adult fiction that's long and swooping, and gently curved -- even with the automatic control of motor, it's a pleasure when that ramp is free of two-footed walkers.

And you've still got a pretty good plaything if you've got a wide open flat space. Ever done "Spinnies" just for fun?

[lauredhel]

I can do about one spinny before feeling seasick :) but they're very good for amusing small children.

My main issue with going down ramps is if they're on the steep side, when slight variations in crossfall (often barely visible) can send the chair lurching to the side and trying to tip over.

Up ramps, however, I can chug away without killing my joints and muscles, so there's that!

[capri0mni]

Oh, I hate crossfall -- especially in a curb cut which leads into traffic (Where it usually occurs). And I often encounter them while with walking companion, who strides on oblivious, then looks back impatiently, wondering why I'm such a nervous Nellie.

*sigh*

[lauredhel]

Because what we all want most in life is to tip over sideways into the flow of traffic!
*sigh*

[capri0mni]

It could be a running gag-line in a sitcom:

"Who the hell hired the architect!?"
"Which Bonehead approved the plans?!"