Exactly one year ago, I traveled to Richmond, Kentucky. There, I visited my friend Danika and her family. My mom went with me to simplify the traveling process, and to help take care of me when we reached our destination. We flew Delta, which was amazing; the stewardesses were so helpful, and we had a number of unexpected bonuses that made our flying experiences that much more special.
I have decided that flying may be a good way to pick up my husband, since I am always the first to enter the plane and I am always sitting in a normal plane seat like any other girl would my wheelchair is not the first thing others see. I actually had a guy check me out; this was somewhat embarrassing, but exciting at the same time, as this had never happened to me before by an able bodied guy who was not drunk or high. I have noticed that young guys tend to act differently around me when I am in my wheelchair than when I am not, and I also have witnessed the difference with able bodied girls as well. It seems easier for people to talk to me when I am in a plane seat versus when I am in my wheelchair. I find this interesting, as in both cases I am sitting down!
The landing in Kentucky was incredible; I could tell that we were declining in altitude, but the weather was amazing and the pilot had such great control that the touch down was so smooth, and we just glided right onto the runway. When landing, the sky was so blue and there were lush green fields all around with white fences that encompassed neat patches of brown. When we exited the plane, the setting sun glowed red in the sky, and the air was thick and warm. I fell in love with Kentucky for a second time. Danika, her sister Ellie, and her dad were waiting for us in the terminal; I was so excited to see her, and I am pretty sure she topped my excitement. We went to her house and just talked for a while, then went to bed.
The next day, we all went shopping in Lexington. Danika, Ellie and I went to Victoria Secret. As Danika and I were browsing through the store, this lady came up to my mom and asked if we were sisters. My mom told her that we were really great friends out shopping, just like any other two girls would do. The lady replied with "How ferocious!" How ferocious? What type of response is that? That lady also seemed to not be able to get it through her head that Danika and I were not sisters, but Ellie and Danika were sisters. I love Danika so much; I love her as a sister, but just because we are both in wheelchairs does not qualify us as sisters.
I have decided that flying may be a good way to pick up my husband, since I am always the first to enter the plane and I am always sitting in a normal plane seat like any other girl would my wheelchair is not the first thing others see. I actually had a guy check me out; this was somewhat embarrassing, but exciting at the same time, as this had never happened to me before by an able bodied guy who was not drunk or high. I have noticed that young guys tend to act differently around me when I am in my wheelchair than when I am not, and I also have witnessed the difference with able bodied girls as well. It seems easier for people to talk to me when I am in a plane seat versus when I am in my wheelchair. I find this interesting, as in both cases I am sitting down!
The landing in Kentucky was incredible; I could tell that we were declining in altitude, but the weather was amazing and the pilot had such great control that the touch down was so smooth, and we just glided right onto the runway. When landing, the sky was so blue and there were lush green fields all around with white fences that encompassed neat patches of brown. When we exited the plane, the setting sun glowed red in the sky, and the air was thick and warm. I fell in love with Kentucky for a second time. Danika, her sister Ellie, and her dad were waiting for us in the terminal; I was so excited to see her, and I am pretty sure she topped my excitement. We went to her house and just talked for a while, then went to bed.
The next day, we all went shopping in Lexington. Danika, Ellie and I went to Victoria Secret. As Danika and I were browsing through the store, this lady came up to my mom and asked if we were sisters. My mom told her that we were really great friends out shopping, just like any other two girls would do. The lady replied with "How ferocious!" How ferocious? What type of response is that? That lady also seemed to not be able to get it through her head that Danika and I were not sisters, but Ellie and Danika were sisters. I love Danika so much; I love her as a sister, but just because we are both in wheelchairs does not qualify us as sisters.
Danika and I out shopping
During that same shopping trip, we decided to get some pizza. Washington is not alone when it comes to "separate but equal" entrances. We all found a place to eat and the main door had a one step up to the entrance; fortunately, there was another door around the corner so Danika and I could enter this building!
For the next two days, we all hung out at Danika's house. She lives in a beautiful area, and the weather was super nice, so we did a lot of hanging out outside and taking pictures. We hung out by the pool, and one night, we made s'mores (this reminded me of MDA camp, where Danika and I met and made many wonderful memories together)!
On my last full day in Kentucky, we went shopping in Richmond. We explored around the mall, and then went to lunch at a favorite sandwich shop of Danika's.
During our exploring, I only found one thing that was not accessibly safe at this mall; there was not a curb cut out at one of the crosswalks in the parking lot. This meant that Danika and I both had to exit the sidewalk early, drive in the parking lot with cars driving toward and past us, and then enter back onto the sidewalk beyond the crosswalk. In contrast to the Richmond mall, I found that at the Lexington mall many of the curb cut outs were amazing, and I would love to see all curb cut outs constructed like these; they are super easy to navigate!
Danika enjoying her pizza
Hanging out on the patio
Twinning
So beautiful
Making memories together
Exploring the neighborhood
Ellie braided my hair!
S'mores!
Gorgeous sunset to go with a lovely evening
On my last full day in Kentucky, we went shopping in Richmond. We explored around the mall, and then went to lunch at a favorite sandwich shop of Danika's.
At Panera Bread
During our exploring, I only found one thing that was not accessibly safe at this mall; there was not a curb cut out at one of the crosswalks in the parking lot. This meant that Danika and I both had to exit the sidewalk early, drive in the parking lot with cars driving toward and past us, and then enter back onto the sidewalk beyond the crosswalk. In contrast to the Richmond mall, I found that at the Lexington mall many of the curb cut outs were amazing, and I would love to see all curb cut outs constructed like these; they are super easy to navigate!
Amazing curb cut out at Lexington Mall
With regards to accessibility, Lexington is more accessible than Bellingham to my knowledge. I have not done as extensive of adventuring around there as I have here. None the less, there were two things that I did notice that were a plus. We were always able to find a handicap parking spot (AMAZING!) and so many people went out of their way to open the door for us. There is definitely an awareness that I do not see very often here in Western Washington.
After we were finished shopping in Richmond, we went home and hung out as late as we could, spending as much time together as we could! I am so glad that I had the opportunity to travel to Kentucky, and create a week of memories with Danika and her family.
On our return home, we had to fly from Kentucky to Minnesota, and then from Minnesota to Washington. The night before our departure, my mom checked our flight schedule. She found out that we had been bumped to an earlier flight. When we arrived at the airport, we found out that our flights had been messed up, in that we were bumped back to our later flight from Kentucky to Minnesota, but not Minnesota to Washington. Therefore, we would be sitting in the Kentucky airport when our airplane in Minnesota was taking off. My mom went to the information desk to talk to someone about our tickets. She asked if they could please change our flight back to the earlier flight so that we could catch our connecting flight from Minnesota to Washington, and they did. We went through customs and went to wait for our flight. After about twenty minutes of waiting, we were informed that there may be a slight delay as there was a mess-up in the pilot's paperwork (it had not arrived, so the pilot could not fly). Another hour went by before we were able to board the plane. We had ironically missed our connecting flight (in Minnesota), and for all the trouble, Delta bumped us to first class. So, when we arrived in Minnesota, we walked through the airport, and boarded our next flight.
The first sweet factor about first class was that the stewardesses allowed my mom to just push me right onto the plane in my manual chair; no need for a squishy ride through the plane in an isle chair! After we got situated in first class, the stewardess brought us drinks. Unlike in coach, where a person only gets a drink every so often, in first class, one can ask for a drink any time. After boarding the plane, we were informed that due to the weather, we would be stuck on the runway until the thunderstorm passed. That was fine with us; we got to sit in first class for an hour longer, and we were not in a hurry. Another thing that separates first class from coach is, we were given lunch. On all the domestic flights I have been on, I have never been fed anything more than peanuts!
I had an amazing time flying cross country, and hanging out with Danika and her family. Thank you Ellie for all your help while I was there, and thank you Danika and your family for opening your house to both my mom and I! I miss you, Danika, and cannot wait until we meet again!
Oh, and next time we should go out to coffee! Maybe we can do that when we meet in Portland!
After we were finished shopping in Richmond, we went home and hung out as late as we could, spending as much time together as we could! I am so glad that I had the opportunity to travel to Kentucky, and create a week of memories with Danika and her family.
On our return home, we had to fly from Kentucky to Minnesota, and then from Minnesota to Washington. The night before our departure, my mom checked our flight schedule. She found out that we had been bumped to an earlier flight. When we arrived at the airport, we found out that our flights had been messed up, in that we were bumped back to our later flight from Kentucky to Minnesota, but not Minnesota to Washington. Therefore, we would be sitting in the Kentucky airport when our airplane in Minnesota was taking off. My mom went to the information desk to talk to someone about our tickets. She asked if they could please change our flight back to the earlier flight so that we could catch our connecting flight from Minnesota to Washington, and they did. We went through customs and went to wait for our flight. After about twenty minutes of waiting, we were informed that there may be a slight delay as there was a mess-up in the pilot's paperwork (it had not arrived, so the pilot could not fly). Another hour went by before we were able to board the plane. We had ironically missed our connecting flight (in Minnesota), and for all the trouble, Delta bumped us to first class. So, when we arrived in Minnesota, we walked through the airport, and boarded our next flight.
The first sweet factor about first class was that the stewardesses allowed my mom to just push me right onto the plane in my manual chair; no need for a squishy ride through the plane in an isle chair! After we got situated in first class, the stewardess brought us drinks. Unlike in coach, where a person only gets a drink every so often, in first class, one can ask for a drink any time. After boarding the plane, we were informed that due to the weather, we would be stuck on the runway until the thunderstorm passed. That was fine with us; we got to sit in first class for an hour longer, and we were not in a hurry. Another thing that separates first class from coach is, we were given lunch. On all the domestic flights I have been on, I have never been fed anything more than peanuts!
I had an amazing time flying cross country, and hanging out with Danika and her family. Thank you Ellie for all your help while I was there, and thank you Danika and your family for opening your house to both my mom and I! I miss you, Danika, and cannot wait until we meet again!
Oh, and next time we should go out to coffee! Maybe we can do that when we meet in Portland!
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