Neon Yellow and Pink Thoughts

To some this may be the goofiest thing there is to wear, I always wonder what makes people wear certain clothes, perhaps they are colour blind, or perhaps they just don’t care? Presentation doesn’t matter, or is it society’s views that don’t matter to them? As I pulled up into the handicap spot at her apartment, and out she comes. I was not quite sure how to take it when I saw her, and then I put myself in her shoes… it doesn’t matter, it makes perfect and logical sense in her mind, with her walker, and making sure cars see her with her neon yellow shirt, and the pink pants to match it… she likes pink, that’s it. 20+ years ago, she was sitting in the back of a truck and a drunk driver hit the truck. Her life changed from that moment on. She is diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury. She walks with a noticeable limp, and speaks with a slur and a little slower than the average person. Don’t think for one second she is ignorant. She is far from it. She thinks things out in advanced, she has very logical reasoning, and is very quick witted and very funny. I always tease her that I shall tie her walker to the back of the car, let her sit on it, and drive her home, and leave her dog (Queso, who I want to call Quesadilla, or Jalepeno) in the car, that would just be mean to make him run behind the car, don’t you think? She laughs.

Why do we judge a “normal” persons logic, and compare it to a mentally disabled person? “Oh they’re slow… they don’t know any better”… maybe we should start putting ourselves in their shoes, and stop making things so complicated, “who’s gonna judge me if I do this, wear this, say this, think this etc” – does it really matter? We hold ourselves to such high societal standards and yet we’re the ones that are tripping ourselves up.

Their lives seem so simple and boring sometimes, and yet, they hold the most gratitude. A hug makes their day. A sunset is what they look forward to every morning. Buying a pair of shoes, or a toy figure, even at an adult age, where we see it as childish, they see it as the highlight of their day. Going to volunteer and making a difference when others are too busy (by choice or not), gives them a huge sense of self-worth and self-gratification. It’s beautiful.

I was running around today because I had to do double the work because Jeri got tired half way through the day, I don’t blame her, but it frustrated me, even though it was not her fault. With this huge dog event coming up tomorrow, I found myself going in circles, trying to catch up on her share of the work while still doing mine… I watched her at the end of the day, and I was no longer mad. Tired, yes. Sore, very. But not mad. She gave her up time to help an organization that helped her. Queso finished his training in a record of 17 months for the company and he is one hell of a smart dog. It only seems right to give up half her week to help with this huge event for a company that helped better her life.