CRPS, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (Type 1), is a change in the nervous system that's usually triggered by a very painful episode. The bad kinds affect the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, metabolism, circulation, and fight-or-flight response. Lucky me; that's what I've got. ... But life is still inherently good (or I don't know when to quit; either way) and, good or not, life still goes on.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Humanity, in spite of ourselves

Needed to change my flight in order to recover from Irene before coping with a transcontinental dose of high-altitude radiation, cramping & low-grade hypoxia. On the advice of my lovely travel agent at Pacific Harbor Travel, I called JetBlue directly: hi, I'm disabled, I have to change my flight due to Irene.

Unfortunately I missed their Irene fee waiver by one day. Okay, distasteful but I can respect their limit.

Seating was a problem. The staffer was very sweet and very insistent about having no window seats ... but on a later flight, there is one on the aisle.

After being straight-faced and literal about my limitations, then hearing her say "aisle seat" with a straight face, I sorta gave up. I confessed, "I would rather be BEATEN with a CATTLE PROD than sit in an aisle seat."

I didn't shout, I really didn't. But I know there was a certain amount of top-spin on the words, because the person in front of me on the bus flinched.

Things changed. I won't use her words because they were ignorant and would sound too harsh without the audible melting that happened, but she found me exactly the seat I'd have ordered if I had the whole cattlecar to choose from.

I hate bitching about this condition and I don't like to be so explicit about what it does to me, but sometimes that's what it takes. So this evening I'll raise a glass (or mug) to, "Humanity -- in spite of ourselves."

1 comment:

  1. Sometimes it's useful for the rest of us to know exactly what it does to you. And we don't think it's whinging. Hugs - or oops is that too ouchy

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