On Mar 31, 8:38*pm, "brooklyn1" > wrote:
> "Dan Abel" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > In article >,
> > Pennyaline > wrote:
>
> >> Dan Abel wrote:
> >> > In article >,
> >> > *Kathleen > wrote:
>
> >> >> And that's great. *But not every pregnancy is easy. *I had horrible
> >> >> sciatica in the third trimester with both of my pregnancies. *Walking
> >> >> more than a few steps felt like having lightning run to ground through
> >> >> my right leg. *I mostly tried not to shop at all - my husband really
> >> >> stepped up - but when I absolutely had to, I was incredibly grateful
> >> >> for
> >> >> things like preferential parking, and the option of having the bagger
> >> >> at
> >> >> the grocery store help me load my purchases into the van.
>
> >> > That's why they have handicapped spots. *Did you ask your doctor for a
> >> > handicapped placard?
>
> >> Pregnancy isn't a disability unless there's a medical condition during
> >> or related to it that doesn't allow the pregnant woman to work.
> >> Pregnancy is a generally obvious condition with generally obvious
> >> effects, the most obvious of which is the significant growth of a second
> >> person inside the body of the first. There are both advantages and
> >> disadvantages to that, and it is usually during the third trimester that
> >> the disadvantages become the most pressing. I've always believed that
> >> widely held beliefs and mythologies about pregnancy and childbirth would
> >> vanish instantly if men were also expected to carry pregnancies
> >> uncomplainingly to term.
>
> >> But seriously, Dan, you are either winding us up or the most unfeeling
> >> person in the group.
>
> > You've totally lost me there. *I don't know the medical lingo, but
> > here's what I read:
>
> > "I had horrible sciatica...Walking more than a few steps felt like
> > having lightning run to ground through my right leg"
>
> > That sounds pretty disabled to me. *Why shouldn't she get a handicapped
> > placard, whether she is pregnant or not? *If it is related to the
> > pregnancy, which is sounds like it is, then it would seem that the
> > doctor would make the eligibility for a limited period, assuming that
> > the disability would go away once the pregnancy did.
>
> > Why on earth would a disabled person not be eligible for a handicapped
> > placard just because they were also pregnant?
>
> Most doctors today will validate handicapped parking applications for a
> hangnail, it's no skin off their nose and they don't want to get sued. *But
> you'd be amazed at how many who are eligible for handicapped parking who
> won't avail themselves because they're embarrassed to park in those spots,
> and don't want their friends, relatives, and/or neighbors to know. *Some
> will get the placards but rarely if ever use them and certtainly not where
> there's a chance anyone who knows them or their vehicle might see. *I know
> quite a few people who golf who have serious medical problems but won't park
> in the handicapped spots even though they're entitled... and parking space
> at golf courses is at a premium but they'd rather park way out in the
> boonies and walk like a quarter mile hauling all their gear rather than let
> their league mates know they're handicapped... some are even too embarrassed
> to take a cart, their egos won't permit it so they walk, I kid you not. *I
> know because I don't golf but I know these people otherwise, and I also get
> to attend many of the celebratory golf functions as an invitee.

My Mom was like that. Never wanted a handicap plaque even tho her
doctor offered it to her. She was active all her life and was not
going to give in just because her body decided it didn't want to work
right anymore<g>. She's 95 now, confined to bed or a chair, one side
doesn't work, but she still does her exercises on the parts that do
work several times a day. As her neighbor said "She's a tough old
bird."

maxine in ri