Why I still don't want you dissing my wheelchair
Two and a half months ago, I had my hips replaced, and for the first time in two years, I am comfortably walking without pain. Before my surgery, I used my scooter or wheelchair most of the time to get around. Now that I'm traveling on legs rather than wheels, people make a lot of assumptions about my attitude towards my wheelchair. Don't get me wrong, I love my new hips. Simple tasks like cooking, doing dishes, laundry, and driving are so much easier without chronic pain. I have more energy and don't have to worry as much about if I'm going to run out of spoons (http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/). I no longer have to deal with obnoxious side effects of pain medication. And it feels good to walk, to push my body and discover its new limits; after all, I'm an athlete. But I still don't want you dissing my wheelchair. When people make comments like "wow, you're not in a wheelchair anymore!", it assume