u/Abject_Priority6858

This happened like 5 minutes ago, and I’m still processing!

A coworker who I’ve known for over 5 years didn’t recognize me because of the cane.

We’ve both switched roles so I only see her maybe once a quarter. We usually say hi, chit chat a a bit and then go about our days. She’s never seen me with the cane since it’s a fairly recent development.

Just said hi to her per usual, and I get the weird squinting reaction where someone is clearly trying to remember if they know you or not. She said hi back and kept walking so I was like oh whatever, probably busy.

But then she stopped dead in her tracks and turned around and gave me a proper hello like normal. She fully admitted she hadn’t recognized me because of the cane.

This is WILD to me. It’s not like it’s blocking my face. I’ve only ever experienced something similar when I get a haircut lol. Is this typical?

Usually I try to be kind, but fuck I’m so tired of this happening.

I’m a disabled social worker (I walk with a cane). I work with many disabled folks with a variety of mobility needs. Stop blocking the fucking path.

Yes, most of the time it’s probably not a big deal. People can fit by, or walk around but it is not always possible.

If your car is blocking the path, take 10 fucking seconds to fix it.

I’m trying to do some cleaning right now. I actually really enjoy cleaning; it’s a fantastic stress relief for me.

But my WANT isn’t lining up with my CAN. Ugh.

I need the opposite of a cheerleader. Someone tell me to just sit down and rest.

It’s easier to accept when I didn’t want to do the thing in the first place, but I really do WANT to clean right now.

Even if I’m home alone.
Especially when I’m in someone else’s home.

Story time!

When I was a little little, probably 8ish I was at a friend’s house playing Hide & Seek!

I hid in the tub behind the shower curtain.

I was in there for 10 minutes. No one was finding me! There were like 5 of us playing.

There’s a sound! Better be quiet!

Why aren’t they looking behind the curtain?

Let’s peek!

Is that Jeff’s dad? Oh. He’s pooping

Oh fuck fuck fuck. He’s pooping and doesn’t know I’m behind the shower curtain.

It’s been over 20 years. I have seen this man many times since. He has no idea.

I love cooking, but sadly sometimes standing in place in the kitchen is really difficult (I use a cane).

I’d love more recipes where I can minimize the amount of time I need to be standing at the stove.

Long cook times are fine! I can put something in the oven, set a timer and come back.

I feel like I’m always making the same thing so would love more creative ideas!

Notes:
Most prep I can do sitting down. It’s really standing in place at the stove.

Something interesting that I noticed.

I’ve always been very interested in fey culture. I love most fantasy worlds and whimsical things!

But the fey have been my favorite for a while now, and I never understood why.

It’s because they can’t lie (at least that’s the folklore that I follow).

I can imagine that they probably want to lie sometimes, (they are always scheming!) but that doesn’t mean that they can.

I like them so much because they remind me of me.

I can’t lie. It causes me too much distress.

So reading fey stories was oddly very validating.

Today has been a good day. I feel almost giddy writing this. I hope the vibes are contagious.

I started using a cane, and I didn’t think it would ever make me this happy.

I was ready to feel defeated. But no! Not even for a second.

I could move!

I kept taking steps and anticipating pain, and it just.. wasn’t there.

Do you know how glorious that felt?

My boyfriend and I do this ridiculous thing where we give each other very silly strip teases before showers. It’s cute? Cringy? Idk I love it.

Normally I am just kind of exhausted by that time of night. Poor guys gets a boring show.

But not tonight! I had so much conserved energy! And I was happy! And silly and just so relieved.

I turned that cane into a prop.

Anyway!

I’m feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time. It’s been 13 years of pain. Maybe it doesn’t always have to hurt.

Thanks for listening! <3

This happened when I (34F) was 17 years old. I still think about it when I drive alone at night.

Let me set the scene!

My friend and I met each other at the movie theater to see a very late night movie.

The movie got out some time after midnight.

I remember the parking lot being basically deserted. We took separate cars so she walked to hers and I walked to mine. We waved good night!

I don’t remember seeing anything weird in the parking lot.

Now I was 17 when this happened, meaning I barely knew how to drive. Driving at night was already a little bit scary, but my house was a 15 minute drive away.

I first noticed a car behind me at the light. I didn’t think twice about it. Just started driving home.

The first time it stood out as weird is when I was driving slowly in the right lane and they weren’t passing me in the left lane.

Huh. That’s odd. How long has that car been behind me?

I changed lanes and went a bit faster.
They changed lanes and went faster.

Okay, is this normal? I didn’t have a lot of driving experience.

I went back into the right lane.
They went back into the right lane.

Now I don’t like this.

I started taking random right turns.
They started taking random right turns.

I didn’t know what to do. I don’t want to drive home. If they’re going to murder me, they’ll know where I live.

Now mind you, this was 17 years ago. I didn’t have a GPS in my car, so when I started taking all of these random turns, I didn’t exactly know where I was going.

I knew that I didn’t want to pull over. I thought about trying to lose them.

At one point, I was excessively speeding. They followed.

At one point, they were driving on the wrong side of the road. Were they drunk?

The worst part was this one really long section of road. For a second there, they would fall back.

Finally. Fuck. They got bored.

Nope. They fell back only to speed as fast as possible to catch back up. They then slammed on their brakes at the last second to avoid slamming into me.

Am I going to die?

At one point, I almost drove off the road by accident because I was too busy looking at the rear view mirror and missed a curve!

After that happened a few times. I called my dad. I don’t remember exactly what I said. I remember crying and asking what I was supposed to do.

I was still driving trying to get away from this person while now also trying to identify landmarks to tell my dad so he could direct me to the closest police station.

It only ended when I finally pulled into the police station. I took a right and they kept going straight.

I have never felt more relieved to see my dad waiting for me.

In total, I was followed for about 30 minutes.

To this day, I still wonder why this happened. Road rage, I could understand but not this. If I hadn’t called my dad, what would have happened? I don’t know if I want to know.

Be safe out there <3

Yes your dog is cute but I am allergic and I don’t want to get licked trying to sneak by.

It had felt like I waited for hours for my prize, there were still so many people in front of me!

What if they ran out? Could that happen?

And man, I was excited to get mine! I had just done the factory tour. I knew how it was made! How many people can say that?

The line was moving up. I was going to get my prize soon! Just a few more minutes.

I had prepared myself for this. I had my protection in place. I knew the cost of my prize and I was ready to pay it.

The line moved forward.

It was almost my turn!!

It moved forward again!

I diligently studied the specifications. Did I want simple or complex? Should I add materials? What about the packaging?

I made my decision after careful reflection.

I went classic. You can’t mess up a classic. (Oh if only you knew.)

I secured my prize. It looked absolutely glorious. But I wasn’t quite ready yet.

I searched everywhere for the proper setting. A prize like this needed to be treated with respect. I was going to savor this.

I found the perfect spot. Cute, slightly private. Nice place to sit. It was lovely.

I looked at my prize. I was ready to enjoy it.

I went to taste my ice cream, and immediately dropped it on the fucking ground.

Please support me in my time of need.

Tl;dr went to Ben & Jerry’s Factory for ice cream; waited 45 minutes in line. Immediately dropped ice cream on the first taste. Catastrophe!

I’ve been having more trouble walking lately, and it’s a little overwhelming figuring out where to start.

I’ve been on crutches before:
Total non-weight bearing / 2 crutches
Partial non-weight bearing / 1 crutch

This was post surgeries (2015, 2017). At the time I had a good leg and a bad leg. Now I have two bad legs.

When I was using 1 crutch, I remember that it was important to use it on the correct side. How do you do this when both legs are intermittently unstable?

I have an appointment with my PCP coming up in a week or so. I just don’t even know what to ask for.

Context:
Bilateral hip pain. Mostly concerned about buckling and hip instability right now. I could be walking and one/both legs will give out. It would be nice to have something to stabilize when there’s nothing to grab onto.

I am hairy lady. I have thick hair and a lot of it.

I got diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16. I was hairy back then too.

I remember in middle school, another student noticed I had hair on my knuckles and asked if I were a man. Nope. Just hairy.

He then told the whole class to look. Thanks, bud.

My sister is 4 years older. She started shaving before me, and she shaved everything.

So I started shaving everything including my arms.

I didn’t want to be the hairy lady anymore.

But you know what? I just don’t want to do it anymore. It’s HAIR. Who cares? I would rather spend all that time I used to spend shaving on literally anything else.

I’ve got like two weeks of growth right now. I don’t think anyone has even noticed.

Thanks for listening <3