On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:02:20 GMT, Saerah Gray wrote:
>>
>
> A few weeks ago, I took Ellie to the jazz festival here, and she noticed
> a man with a prosthetic leg. She wanted to ask him about it, but I
> explained that he would probably find that annoying/embarassing. So then
> I had to field numerous questions about how they work (when I have very
> little knowledge), and how people might come to lose their leg/s.
>
> I have always wondered how uncomfortable prostheses must be, and whether
> amputees found the physical therapy needed to get used to them worth it.
>
> Of course, he might have given her the vegetable line you gave upthread
>

kids are funny, because they stare, which usually mortifies the mother. i
don't usually mind questions - most people seem to assume diabetes or
combat, because that's how people they might know lost theirs - but once in
a while people use it as a springboard to launch into a discussion of
*their* medical problems/history. one guy actually asked me for advice
about a numbing sensation he had in his hands. (wtf?).

there are lots of wheelchair users where i live (silver spring, md) because
it's handicapped-friendly, but most of them are more or less intact. i
guess the kids are fascinated with the abruptly abbreviated gams.

your pal,
blake