The Joy of Crutches!

It's weird. I have such mixed feelings about being on crutches, but it's taught me a lot about human nature - and my own, maybe, unrealistic expectations. In spite of welcome progress in the way we view our fellow humans,I've still felt disgruntled about certain areas of inequality, at least as far as respect is concerned. Of course, no decent person can uphold inequalities about religion, gender, race,sexual orientation, disability and so on. But there are still some areas where it's "okay" to discriminate, even amounting to mild abuse. One is age. The other is vegetarianism. 

As far as age is concerned, I feel as though I'm not here much of the time. People walk straight into me as though I'm invisible, force me out of their way, jostle me. This can be especially dangerous when climbing stairs and needing to hold the rail and then some burly bloke virtually eyeballs you into letting go the rail and letting him pass. (I did because I was afraid he might push me and there were a lot of steps.) 

Recently I took a bus just for the ride because I had a bad knee. I just needed to get out, but couldn't walk far. But because I didn't get off at the end of the journey the driver shouted at me from his cab along the lines of "Where the hell do you think you're going?" (I wasn't fare-dodging as have a bus pass.) He was chastened when I told him the reason but only after he had given me a piece of his mind!

As a veggie I am frequently targeted quite aggressively, as though my life choice is a dreadful insult to the other person.People will actually challlenge you into an argument you don't want.

I can't do much about veggie opposers but I have noticed a considerable difference in the way I am treated with my crutches. Disability seems to cancel out age. I get all the concern and consideration I never had before, but really needed, on occasion, just as much. 

It's made me realise many people aren't unkind, they just don't notice. I feel I always see everything around me and am aware of situations but I guess that's part of being a a writer and not everyone is that perceptive.