h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear Pheloxi,
I have never heard of that defective gene that brings your condition about. It must take a lot of courage to go out with it. I know that when thalidomide - which was a tranquillser was given to pregnant women - there were often deformities in the extremities of new born babies. Are you right handed or left handed or are you ambidextrous?
People can be be very cruel - hopefully unintentionally. I know that because I am in a wheelchair many people come up to speak to my friend who might be pushing me and they virtually ignore me. If possible, I just start wheeling myself away!!. I find as I am getting older that I am getting more and more impatient and intolerant of people who are either rude or have no compassion. And I do not honestly mind!!. Well sleep tight my dear friend. What a hot day it has been. a big AR1

I had an operation on one of my knees a few years back, and had to fly up to Scotland shortly after. I was shocked and stunned to find how little willingness there was to hold doors and generally assist a guy on crutches carrying a heavy bag....



Bassman

I am right handed (2 fingers), but I use my left handed.

I would never ignore some one in wheelchair. only if the person is realy boring. Also Ran 1 you are so intresting that I would probilly talk your head off.

Bassman
...walk with suitcase in one hand and walkingstick getting off plane by stairs...the flightcrew does not offer any help

...one time I tripped walking from bus to entrence only thing asked if was ok...I have also bad eyesight.

...only one nice thing I am famous with anti fraud squad in heatrow, because I had brand new passport and the costums guy never seen it and asked if he photocopy it for future reference. he was nice guy, but did not offer any help. usualy the English are so helpfull.

So if I were to meet you, would you shake hands with the right or left?



Bassman

Just thought....

There's a lady that comes to see my band from time to time, who had a bad bike accident (out of body experience etc....) who has lost the use almost totally of one of her arms. When she dances, she tucks the hand of her bad arm in the top of her waistband, to avoid it inconviniencing any of the other patrons, I realised that I couldn't tell you which arm it is, because it simply doesn't matter.



Bassman

right, of course. I try to let people see it before shake hands

some people are sadly scared of my hand.
they either try to take my pulse or my left hand.

If and when we meet I won't be one of them



Bassman

enough about me!

Also Ran 1, any new protests ahead, like fair trade one?

pheloxi, perhaps people are worried your hand pains you, and that's why they try not to shake it ... then again, if it *did* hurt, you wouldn't offer it for people to shake, would you? Hmm ... so much for me giving people the benefit of the doubt!

It's wonderful making friends with the visiting priests from other countries, AR1! Sadly, I left a very good parish when I moved, but there is a wonderful priest who has been staying with us for 2 years from Ghana. He's amongst the best priests I have ever met. He has a wonderful faith, and a brilliant way of sharing it! I miss him.

I'm glad you had such a nice time at dinner the other night! It's always nice to get out and meet new people. Especially if they have new knowledge and experiences to share! I suppose living in New York like I do gives me a wider range of "different" people to meet. A lot of people come here when they first enter the U.S., so we have people from all over the world as neighbors!

I'm having a difficult time parting with some of my old things ... and papers. I'm a packrat, and don't like to throw anything away. TJ's on the case, though ... he's trying to get me to throw things out to make more room. We'll see ...

Shea,
it is never more painfull than seeing people be afriad for something as a hand, but it is sometimes nice start of conversation, especialy with kids. they stare and mum says not to stare so loud that I laugh about it and I explain the kid. one kid less who will find it strange.

Good on you.



Bassman

*Very* good for you, pheloxi! I remember having my niece with me, asking me about this or that person who might be different. I try to explain, and not just give her a "Don't stare". I think it's important that she knows people come in all different shapes. Luckily, her mom thinks so too, and they've been volunteering at the wheelchair olympics for many years. She thinks it's cool to be in a wheelchair!

I have been in wheelchair...had cool glove for my 2 fingers

My very dear Pheloxi, Bassman and Shea,
You must think that I have left the country!. I have started at least three letters to you and each time have been interrupted and have had to abandon them. It is now 20.05 so hope that I have had the last of my visitors. Not that I regret them I am always only too pleased to welcome friends.
How wonderful it is to have three such super friends. I guess you have given me something so special by coming to visit me and also sharing some of your experiences. I think that everything that the three of you wrote is so meaningful and compassionate and I know what a valuable role the three of you play on the h2g2 website.
\Pheloxi Like you, I have always found it easier to laugh about something than to cry and I think that your approach is truly wonderful. and getting children to share it with you and not to be fearful of something they do not know about is a real mission in itself. I do believe that each of us has a particular ministry in life and yours is very obviously in the realm of giving us all the courage to aceept and make the best of what we have. I think that the work you do on this particular website is so valuable. Consider the United Friends Club. You thought of it and you saw it through. And look what a wonderful success it is. Plus keeping us in line with the Next word thread.!! You ask me about the next march. I am now trying to see what I can do about helping set up a research unit for a friend in an African country which is in the throes of great turmoil. It is exciting and I hope that with help I shall be able to do womething which may be of help. Access to facts and figures is incredibly difficult when one does not have many libraries and still less resources to obtain material.
Bassman, you dear fellow!. I think that lady who dances is quite marvellous. So many would just quietly give up the ghost and go into hibernation. She obviously likes your playing the guitar.!! I am trying to remember the name of that wonderful gypsy guitarist who played in the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.(Django Rheinhardt - spelling? What a wonderful guitarist!!) I seem to remember that he had something missing on one hand or am I dreaming it. Stephan Grapelli was the violinist - I heard him playing in South Africa. Wonderful!
and my darling Shea. I do hope that I shall be able to meet you one day. My eldest son is coming over to New York in the middle of September. He has a business there and is going to spend much more time in New York now. Which is sad for us. But it would be great if you could meet him. I am sure that you would get on. Wise words from you, my dear friend. I liked your term for someone who keeps things. I saw a programme the other day on obsessions and there were two people who could not move in their houses because they never threw anything away. I think that I could easily be like that.!
This evening we had a meeting of our Secular Franciscan Fraternity. They now have it in my house because it is easier for me to attend. Sadly my hearing aids are being repaired - for about the fifth time - and I could not hear a thing. It was so frustrating. I think of poor Beethoven. It must have been absolutely dreadful for him. But I believe that he could hear the music in his head.
One struggles on, and thankyou all for your friendship and kindness. Your letters mean so much to me. I am now off to bed. with a great big communal hug and a dance around the floor your very loving AR1

I thought it might be easier to post here, than you trying to keep up with all your conversations.

I haven't seen you posting anywhere the last couple of days, so I hope you are just busy and that all is well.

Very dear Caerwyn
I have just lost a looooong letter which I had written you. I was editing it and then tried to correct a spelling mistake, and whoops back I was on my home page and the letter was gone!. So I shall start again.
I am so gald that you are writing to me on this page. It is because I have been busy busy busy that I have not had time to be at the computer. Searching for new suitable kitchen equipment, entertaining some Italiana friends, gardening and of course shopping and cooking takes a great deal of time. Anyway, today I have had a super day. I decided to go and get myself a new stove. I found the most super one which has a baking tin which is attached to the oven door and which swings out when you open it. So never again will the turkey land on the kitchen floor!!. Also a fab new dishwasher which decides at what temperature, time etc. the dishes must be washed!! And a fridge that appears to be spill proof for me trying to find something at the back with about twenty five things in front of it!!.
I have had a super afternoon gardening. I had bought a lovely old fashioned rose which is very fragrant and I never had one either in Zim or South Africa. Also plantings of a few hardy annuals to make up for the ones which were beginning to look tatty. Anyway, enough of RL
Are you coming to the Harvest Festival which Titania is organising.?I am convening the cake stall and would like you to send in your favourite cake. I shall have to decide what the prize is - or perhaps Titanis has that in hand. She is organising all sorts of super things and I am entering the egg and spoon race and the sack race!! I think shee needs help on the some of the stalls, so do write to her. It sounds like it could be good fun. Now I shall try not to eliminate this one whilst I edit it!. A fond AR1

It's good to see you back, AR1!

We're always organizing h2g2 meetups in NYC, so maybe we should plan one for the time your son's going to be here. I know TJ wanted a nice stroll in Central Park in the autumn when the leaves change, so maybe we could plan something around that! I also think we'd all enjoy a trip to the Museum of Natural History! We'll have to see!

Hi dear Shea and TJ,
I am sure that he would like it if he has the time. I think his wife is also going. He has already attended one party - the London meet - so it would be great if he good go to that one in New York as well. Who knows perhaps he might have time to join.
In the meantime, how about coming to Titania's Havest Festival which she is organising this weekend? You may enter your special cake on my virtual cake stall. And I am going to see how many magnificent firtual prizes I can award for the best cake. Maybe TJ would like to enter the sack race! I am sure that we are going to have a great time. I am keen to see a virtual tug of war. I am going to suggest it to Titania.
Life is going to be slightly less hectic - I hope - so shall be able to come back to my h2g2 friends. RL can be very time consumiong!!With a great big to you both AR1

Also Ran 1

you should join TCTSTVARWOSWDHTGOAM A671654

Pheloxi dear,
I went to that thread and I really do not know why I should join it!!. In the meantime I am asking you please to go to thread A806500 where there is an invitation from Titania to attend the Harvest Festival she is organising. and then to go to thread A810640 where she has posted the programme of events.
I have taken the liberty of the Also Ran fan friends club challenging the Lucher fan club to a tug of war match. Would you plese be the captain and get some of our researchers to agree to being in the team. I can think that Bassman will be excellent - and also some others. Shea and TJ, and whoever else you can think of. Caerwyn might be tempted to be in the tug of war!. Unfortunately Waz and Zarqhon are away on holiday. Perhaps would also be in the team. Perhaps Clive the Ostrich would be in the team!. And of course Amy + if she can get off her studies. Well I must go and organise my cake stall!!. With a AR1