Adaptive Shopping
Submitted by My Garden Spot Blog
I went shopping by myself today.
That probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to most people, and a few years ago it would have been the norm for me as well.
That changed when my ability to be mobile changed. When I have the van, I can use my scooter, but ‘Pup prefers to drive the van, and I don’t. So, when I have my scooter, I usually have ‘Pup with me. Which, is not a bad thing. But still…sometimes, I want to meander and look and think and just shop at my own pace. ‘Pup does not shop the same way I do. I like to look at things I have no intention of buying. Sometimes, I look at something and try to imagine the person who would buy it. It makes for slow shopping.
The problem is, if I want to shop at a store, like Ross, which has no electric carts provided, I can not shop. Instead, it has to be quick and I don’t usually have time to get what I need before I am in so much pain I have to stop. Indeed, the last time I was in Ross, I was literally in tears from the pain in my back and legs, and the muscles in my back were jumping around so that I was afraid I would fall. That was even with the shopping cart to lean on. So, I didn’t shop there anymore.
Today, I did. I used the wheelchair I got a few weeks ago. The only problem with the wheelchair is that it doesn’t have a basket. I got around that by using a regular shopping cart. I used my feet to hold on to it and steer, and the chair and I provided a “rear wheel drive” propulsion. It worked surprisingly, and satisfyingly well. I could leave the basket at the end of an aisle, and peruse the goods at my leisure, and bring back my selections to the basket. Several people offered to help me, but I thanked them and told them I was enjoying my independence. I did, however accept help at the dressing room and going in and out of the store.
I found good stuff too. Lots of inexpensive, but great shirts I can wear to work, a really nice party outfit (’Pup’s company holiday bash is coming up), and some Christmas presents. I made a nice haul and didn’t spend even as much as I would have for the same type of things at Walmart or Target (the two stores that DO have electric scooter carts). The clothes were much nicer than I could have gotten at either. I even found some shoes and a purse. Well, the purse might be a Christmas present for a sister, but, I kinda like it and it goes over my shoulder and I might be able to carry it while using the chair. That’s another drawback. I had to leave my purse in the car and take just my wallet and it wasn’t all that secure. In fact, it fell out of my pocket once and I almost lost it. (heart was thumping a bit there, believe me)
My arms are a little tired, but not too much. I can lift and use my arms with some strength. Rolling the chair wasn’t much harder than digging or weeding, or lifting a bag of soil to pour it into a pot. The important thing is that I’m tired, but no more tired than anyone who’d done a couple hours of shopping would be. And, I wasn’t in pain. I had FUN! It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to just leisurely shop.
I still have some Christmas shopping to do, and now I know that I can do it by myself.
