[poncho-mike]

I started going to Charlotte Autofair in 1978 as a spectator, then later as a vendor. I loved walking the fields looking for parts.

Around 1986, I was in a car accident and had some problems with pain in my right hip. A doctor diagnosed me as as having a defective hip joint that was aggravated by the accident. The ball on the femur was elliptical shaped and one leg was an inch shorter than the other. I was told I would need hip replacement by the time I was 50. I continued to walk the show and used anti-inflammatories kept the pain down. As I started walking less I gained weight. By age 50 or so, I had to make a decision if I wanted to continue to walk the show, either have hip replacement surgery or get a scooter. I felt too embarassed to ride a scooter while I still looked healthy, so I stopped walking the show and began selling parts. I can't say I made the right decision, since I allowed vanity to make my decision for me. I felt people would judge me the way some of you are judging people on scooters

I would be careful about making observations regarding people who are riding the scooters. Not all disabilities are visible to the casual observer. I know there are probably a lot of people that abuse these, but many people that look healthy have issues that are not readily apparent.

I finally had my right hip replaced a couple of months ago, and plan to spend a little time walking the swap meet this September.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by poncho-mike

I started going to Charlotte Autofair in 1978 as a spectator, then later as a vendor. I loved walking the fields looking for parts.

Around 1986, I was in a car accident and had some problems with pain in my right hip. A doctor diagnosed me as as having a defective hip joint that was aggravated by the accident. The ball on the femur was elliptical shaped and one leg was an inch shorter than the other. I was told I would need hip replacement by the time I was 50. I continued to walk the show and used anti-inflammatories kept the pain down. As I started walking less I gained weight. By age 50 or so, I had to make a decision if I wanted to continue to walk the show, either have hip replacement surgery or get a scooter. I felt too embarassed to ride a scooter while I still looked healthy, so I stopped walking the show and began selling parts. I can't say I made the right decision, since I allowed vanity to make my decision for me. I felt people would judge me the way some of you are judging people on scooters

I would be careful about making observations regarding people who are riding the scooters. Not all disabilities are visible to the casual observer. I know there are probably a lot of people that abuse these, but many people that look healthy have issues that are not readily apparent.

I finally had my right hip replaced a couple of months ago, and plan to spend a little time walking the swap meet this September.

Sorry to hear about your accident but like handicapped parking privileges, you are not going to convince me that it is not abused.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by poncho-mike

...I know there are probably a lot of people that abuse these, ...

and that is exactly what this thread is all about.

i don't think that any reasonable person will have issue with someone who needs some sort of assistance to get around, but in a day and age where everything is quickly labeled as a "disease", people are being empowered to abuse what has been afforded to people who legitimately need assistance.

Where I live, there is currently an air advisory because of smoke in the neighboring state (which probably isn't helped with the fires two states south), and in the advisory is the warning that "people with diseases like athsma" should be careful;
I have lived almost my whole life with athsma, and don't ever recall this bronchial contition being labeled as a disease...
but that's just the world we live in - everyone wants to be included...

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by poncho-mike

I started going to Charlotte Autofair in 1978 as a spectator, then later as a vendor. I loved walking the fields looking for parts.

Around 1986, I was in a car accident and had some problems with pain in my right hip. A doctor diagnosed me as as having a defective hip joint that was aggravated by the accident. The ball on the femur was elliptical shaped and one leg was an inch shorter than the other. I was told I would need hip replacement by the time I was 50. I continued to walk the show and used anti-inflammatories kept the pain down. As I started walking less I gained weight. By age 50 or so, I had to make a decision if I wanted to continue to walk the show, either have hip replacement surgery or get a scooter. I felt too embarassed to ride a scooter while I still looked healthy, so I stopped walking the show and began selling parts. I can't say I made the right decision, since I allowed vanity to make my decision for me. I felt people would judge me the way some of you are judging people on scooters

I would be careful about making observations regarding people who are riding the scooters. Not all disabilities are visible to the casual observer. I know there are probably a lot of people that abuse these, but many people that look healthy have issues that are not readily apparent.

I finally had my right hip replaced a couple of months ago, and plan to spend a little time walking the swap meet this September.

Very true! I myself went through Leukemia let me tell ya, I never totally recouped. My strength levels are horrible, that’s only one side affect. I lived in a 200 year old farm house, we had to sell it and got a rancher, I cannot do steps, hills etc. I don’t have a scooter yet, but I see it coming in my future. Most of my side affects from treatments are not visible to the naked eye, but trust me I have many. Kidney issues, heart failure, cornea issues to name a few. So when you see someone on a scooter that may look completely fine.....they may not be. I beat the Leukemia, but not without many many complications, that will put me in a scooter if I choose to continue being involved in what I love.