Recently I've been staying close to home because of health issues, and it's caused me to appreciate my TravelScoot in a whole new way. With my scoot, all I have to do to find an adventure is head out my front door.
I live in a beautiful older neighborhood, with lots of trees and green stuff. Here I am headed down the street. I have a plastic bag hanging over the handle, and you can also see the straps of the bag I use to hold my portable oxygen tank.
Not too far from my house is the type of shopping center you might remember from your childhood, before the advent of big box stores. I often pass through it on the way to Sammy's Grill, a popular local place, when Rhonda meets me at my house and we scoot over for a long lunch and lots of visiting.
A few days ago I needed to mail a few packages so I loaded them on my TravelScoot and headed over to Quantum Express. I had hardly made it through the front door when the man at the counter looked up and called me Speedy! He'd been watching me scoot past and was amazed at how fast I flew by on my little scooter.
He put a smile on my face, but also made me think about how some might see using a scooter as a negative, a display of disability. But with mine, I've been meeting neighbors, keeping up with what's blooming and getting the chance to enjoy the sunshine -- what a gift of ability.
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You go Girl! Glad to here you aren't letting heath issues keeping you down....scoot on!
ReplyDeleteelizabeth this made my heart sing! now that i no longer need the scooter i still remember the fun times i had on it! and the conversations everywhere about it from people that see it for the first time. it's a wonderful thing. bless you!
ReplyDeletehugs, bee
xoxoxoxoxo
I like my Scoot and so does everyone else. Lots of people stop me to ask about it. Sure glad I have those cards to hand out. I want everyone to have the freedom these things give us.
ReplyDeleteQuote: neighborhood, with lots of trees and green stuff. Here I am headed down the street.
ReplyDelete.
Dear Elizabeth,
I know that you've had years and years of experience riding your scooter, you've mentioned some of your journeys out, in your great blog.
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Can I say that even in the DAYTIME, when the sun is up, a LIGHT on the scooter, is essential to capture the attention of inattentive motorists; distracted motorists.
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There is no sidewalk or footpath showing in the photo you posted, of the route you take to Sammy's Grill, it is this sort of roadway where a bright light on the scooter is needed; both in front and at the rear of the scooter.
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I bought a bicycle light for my scooter years ago and it was only when I loaned my scooter to a pal who took it on such a road as shown in your photograph, that, I realized, as he rode away, a dim light doesn't get much attention; a bright flashing light makes the driver of any car, think there is a road hazard up ahead.
A flashing light indicates a "hazard" rather than a mere object up ahead.
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In the olden days, before I bought my bright lights, on separate occasions, three taxis nearly ran me over here in London, on pedestrian cross walks, the drivers hailed out the window that "they didn't see me; sorry mate".
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One driver did get out of the car to see if I was alright, I could tell that it was he who had the near heart attack, from shock of near collision.
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Now, whenever I ride off the sidewalk or footpath or where there is no sidewalk or footpath or when I wish to cross to the other side of any street, I switch my bright flashing lights on.
I can tell they are affective because at crosswalks, motorists are "already stopped" when I get to cross the road.
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I feel I am riding with greater safety; safety for when the inattentive motorist is approaching.
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Also, the bright lights look nice every Christmas.
Happy Christmas to you, Elizabeth and all of your great blog readers.
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Cheers.
from,
Daniel
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p.s.
(I just wanted to share my safety tip; sorry for long message).