I’m riding up with Dad to RDU to meet LaShonda and Bri.

Okay, I’m beginning to understand what it’s going to be like to travel with a disability and this walker. I’m really going to have issues if I have to travel in a wheelchair. Well, maybe not, I guess it would depend on where I’m going and how I plan to get there.

I know from today’s experience with RDU security, I’m going to have to try to be a lot more patient with people.

Example: as I was going through security, they wanted me to take my shoes off. No problem. Now, if you see someone with a walker, be considerate and get her or him a chair BEFORE asking them to take their shoes off.

After the child (he was younger than I am) went and got me the chair, he asked me to remove my shoes. He was taken aback when I told him he was going to have to remove them himself because I was not able to because I couldn’t bend down.

Then he wasn’t happy when he needed to "wand" me and had to actually lift my legs. He was really put out when I told him he was going to have to get me out of the chair he put me in and the way it was going to get done was by me having to wrap my arms around his neck as I tried to stand.

I guess he figured RDU security didn’t pay him enough to get this "up close and personal" with the public.

All in all it was a good experience for me to go through. Now I know I can do it.