I don't like going to new places. They are hard to navigate. I can do it, but I require a considerable amount of psychological prep to handle the situation with anything even remotely resembling grace.
Thursday was a BAD day. I got to where I thought my all day nephrology appointment (as always tense making to begin with) was supposed to be taking place - 10 minutes late - only to find that I had the wrong building. As I'd had Bronnie drop me at the door and leave, I thought I was SCREWED. They had a shuttle to the main hospital (where my appointment actually was located) and I was able to get there.
I'd never been there before. I started panicking in the shuttle and let me just take a moment to thank the two lovely women who asked me about my knitting/spinning projects and let me babble myself down off the ledge. Ladies, you were a life and embarrassment saver. I don't know your names, but I offer you whatever blessings may make your life easier in a similar fashion. May the Camel of Happiness ever drool on your doorstep.
So, I got there. I walked in the door and right in front of me was an information desk. I did something I have heretofore never even dreamed of doing. I walked up to that desk, told the woman I couldn't see where I was going and that I was running late - and then I asked for help. In DC this would never have happened. I was seeing well enough when we first got there to see how people with visual disabilities were treated. It wasn't nice. I would NEVER have asked for that help up there. I deemed -and still deem - it too risky a proposition.
It was a ROUGH day, Thursday. That night, I seriously thought of staying home this weekend. You see, I'd already planned and been prepping myself for a new experience this weekend. I'm going - on my own for the first time ever - to someplace new. Normally, Nick or Bronnie accompany me. I almost never go anywhere alone. Technically, I won't be ALONE. There are a boodle of people going to be at this event. Still. . .I thought long and hard about cancelling and staying home in my nice little cave after Thursday.
If I do that though. . .That is a very slippery slope. My worry is that I will stop going and doing AGAIN. I'm just getting this back, and I'm too determined to regain what independence I can to stop now. It is way too soon.
So, I'm pulling up my big girl panties, dusting off my butt and getting back on that damned horse.
Wish me luck.
