"The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails."
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Today was a day for adjusting the sails. A healthy dose of reality was delivered regarding our Book Club Christmas party. Apparently, the location of our annual celebration was not changed to a home that is more accessible. It will be held, as originally planned, at the home of a member who's home is not accessible. My choice is to bring and use my manual chair or not come since I can't always get there anyway. I know it's difficult to understand the issues...that it is uncomfortable to be in my manual chair for long periods of time, plus the logistics of loading it, transferring into it, and being hefted up the stairs by my friends with various physical and health problems that should not be challenged by lifting me and my chair. Besides concern for their health and safety, it is embarrassing for me.
I believe it is time for me to move on to something that does not require an accessibility conversation before each meeting. Their lives will be much less disrupted and I can stop beating myself up for not being a consistent attendee. This group has been wonderful to me and tried so hard to adjust to include me in regular meetings. They also have been so generous. Last year they gave me a gift of a year's worth of monthly housekeeping because they knew I was having trouble doing everything myself. It is time to adjust my sails and allow the sun to set on this activity. Who knows, maybe once my house is built, I might be able to rejoin and host the meetings there. Time will tell. For now, it will be a fond farewell.
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