[Sca-cooks] handicapped services carts at Pennsic

[lilinah at earthlink.net]

I thank all for this discussion.

I have some physical issues: a compressed disk from the 1980s that now causes back, hip and leg pain; plantar faciitis that showed up in the 1990s when i was still thin; knee damage from a fall at my very first SCA A&S event in 2000. But i hadn't considered asking handicapped services to haul my stuff to class. My biggest concerns are (1) time - i'll need to make more than one trip, having only one wagon - and (2) that pulling the weight over the distance will greatly strain the connective tissue in my shoulders. It seems many of my problems run in the family - my slim, physically active younger (60 yr old) brother has a lot of the same physical problems i do.

I might be able to get some help from within the West camp. There are some very chivalrous people who come to Pennsic. I can think of one knight and viscount in particular who has been gracious and generous to me and to many others. I am certain his example has been an inspiration.

I can think of another knight and viscount, who will also be at Pennsic, who is less so. He told me in my first or second year in the SCA that if i couldn't do everything i needed done alone all by myself, then i shouldn't be coming to events (my consort works Saturdays so only came to a few events). That was at least 10 years ago when i didn't have physical pain. My main problem at the time was just that i am small and short (5'1") and i couldn't reach something, my arm span being too short. I had asked him for about 30 seconds (really) of assistance - i had already done absolutely everything else all by myself alone. I must confess i have not forgotten his example, either.

Classes are the 2nd week of Pennsic, so i'll have some time to ask around, maybe run into friends from other kingdoms, and see if anyone is willing to give me a hand.

Urtatim