blake murphy > fnord
:

> 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.
>

Kids are fascinated by anything new or weird (to them). Ellie is very
curious about things, and sometimes it's hard to explain that asking
personal questions makes people uncomfortable sometimes...

It's good that you live in a handicapped (or is it handi-capable now?
:>) friendly place. I can't even imagine how difficult it is to get
along in a community that is not.


--
Saerah

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