Pete Barron

This discussion brings up another good book: “Don’t Call Me Inspirational” by Harilyn Rousso. Personally I hate the “inspirational” calls from somebody I don’t know, (those who know me don’t throw that one out at me!) It seems that they are trying to build themselves up on our backs so to speak. It’s like if they notice, then they are somehow…[Read more]

I’m responding to the “first wheelchair” question. Having adult onset (MD type 2) I didn’t know what to expect. It’s such a rare disease and the symptoms in two different people even getting the disease from the same source, (like my siblings), are extremely varied. I first realized I needed something to get longer distances than I could any…[Read more]

I read all the time and “The Fault in our Stars” is a good one. Other than that one, there’s “If Not for This” which is a realistic depiction of a woman who develops MS. The rest that come to mind are all science fiction/fantasy. In that group, there are many of the books written by my brother T.A Barron. He often has characters with disabilities,…[Read more]

When I get diarrhea I get muscle aches that I figured out are because I am low on calcium. I always carry Tums for that reason. I chew a few and the aches go away pretty quickly.

I live in Oregon, so if I stayed inside when it rains I would never get out! I bought a lined poncho online that is longer in front especially for a wheelchair user and I carry some heavy plastic bags that I slip over the controls on each arm rest and secure with rubber bands. With my main chairs, I have never had a water problem. Yes, I avoid…[Read more]

I was rolling down a pedestrian street on Sunday. Suddenly I was swarmed over by a march of hundreds of women! I’m glad they were out there because their cause is all of our cause, but I couldn’t move and felt like the lion that was stampeded to death in the “Lion King”! Fortunately, eventually they all got past me and we all survived. Never stand…[Read more]

I’m glad she posted a video, that will start to get the word out and cause public pressure (which no company wants). I do get rejected from some places and taxis because of my service dog here in Mexico. That is mostly because they have not ever seen a service dog or in some cases they are afraid of her. In the States, I have not had any problems.…[Read more]

The only way I know that I’ve gone too far is to push my limits, so I do occasionally over do it. Then I have to lay low for a few days and hope I haven’t caused any permanent damage. Once we travelled to visit a friend who wanted us to stay with her, so she said she had a ground floor apartment. We go there and found there was a whole flight of…[Read more]

I grew up in the country so shooting was pretty common. These days I don’t like the noise or the loose power that some people like. I do feel uncomfortable when I’m around people who are “packing heat” as they say. If everybody having guns makes you feel more comfortable, then you would love living in Afganistan!

I hate it when people leave a bike or junk blocking the sidewalk, it’s just literally “thoughtless”! The worst is a bike chained to a handrail that doesn’t give me enough room to get by. I’m not too shy to shout out for help when needed and most people are willing to help, but I still wish I didn’t have to be the focus. “That loud guy in the…[Read more]

I got the chair after I was already married and thankfully my wife adapted to me and all the assorted baggage that comes with being physically handicapped. However, I have noticed that the friend relationships that are real friends, make accommodations for me. They either makeshift a ramp, or build one, or meet me at my home, or at a neutral place…[Read more]

As I said before, my power wheelchair is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received! It equates to freedom for me, without it I would be stuck in bed most of the day.

Gord, that’s the worst type of doc that said you were lazy. I hear a lot of comments like that from passers by when I stand up out of my chair or transfer to another seat and I usually end up lecturing then. But from a doc, he should be de-frocked!

Leah, the dog training does take a lot of time When I’m home we go to group class twice a week, and then we work on things on our own the rest of the week. It is a lot of time, but I really enjoy having a dog for company and she is getting to where she helps me quite a bit. We have been in Mexico for the last 2 months and that has been a ton of…[Read more]

My hands don’t tremble too much, but they often “forget” that they’re holding something and drop it. They don’t have much reliable feeling. I have a service dog that I have been working with for most of the last year. She already has learned how to help me up when I fall and right now we’re working on picking things up that I drop. That will be a…[Read more]