My mom and I traveled to Seattle this weekend. We headed over for a quick trip; hit a funeral, visited relatives, saw an old college roommate and shopped the premium outlet mall in North Bend.
My mom is 71 years old. Her mind is keen and she is spry however she needs a hip replacement...about 10 years past due.
I realize I am not the parent in this relationship but as her one and only limited edition (only child), I think it would be wise if she'd hang up the cane and either get a motorized scooter or invest in the 21st century tools available for ailing knees, hips and other body parts where they stiffen up and stop working after 4 pm.
I admire her tenacity and her ability to care for the elderly. She volunteers four times a week for a senior care center and believe it or not, some of them can run, she, on the other hand cannot. It happened several years ago. I've asked her if she had polio as a child or if she was born with one short leg but she can't recall. Did you fall? Did you go to the doctor? PS, she hasn't had a physical in 40 years.
On this very sunny day in North Bend, a community nestled under Mt. Si, mom and I were on a mission to shop. I told her we'd check out a wheelchair. "Really, I've never been in a wheelchair," she said. "Well, you've never seen me power shop through a mall before either." My mom eats really slow (great for digestion - not so great as a slow walker).
I placed her in the wheelchair and we were off. First stop, a nice undergarment shop. The door (not wide enough for a wheelchair), needed to be open on both sides. One of the nice attendants noticed we were having a bit of trouble and jumped to our rescue.
This happened over and over again.
The aisles were narrow. We were unable to navigate most stores.
The parents with strollers. Same thing.
Just a bit of advice store owners...we purchase items. We stimulate the economy.
Why don't you accommodate for special needs?
All of us will have aging parents.
Ask the question.
"Mom, will you please get a hip replacement?" I want you to walk on your own. I don't want to place you in a stroller. Your too old for that.
I will step down off my parent soapbox and say, "mom, I had fun."
