He means well but------

[CasinoKathy]

So today I was at the small grocery store- one of the few places I can still walk into by myself. There is a bagboy there that always packs my bags for me, very light as he knows I can't lift anything remotely heavy. Then he walks out to my car with me and loads them in the backseat.

He is super nice, very concerned about my walking problems. But on numerous times he has said how sorry he is that this is the end of my walking days. I say, thanks, but I don't think of it like that, I am always hoping for it to get better. Sometimes he says, "well maybe you could get a Hover-round/Scooter". Once the check out lady heard him say this and I said," well, I want to keep on walking in here on my own", and she agreed.

He means well, I know, but sometimes I feel like screaming when he says it's the end of my walking days. I certainly don't need others to remind me of how bad my walking is. I try to keep a positive attitude, and most of all to keep some kind of independence too. I will NOT give in to this d--- disease. I walk with a cane, bad enough, and I wlll keep on walking with one, till it is utterly impossible! Hoping that part never comes. I do appreciate all the help he gives me, just not fond of his suggestions I guess.

[foxz71]

Some people were never blessed with good sense or tact. They were blessed with decent hearts but they put their foot in their mouth every time. Sounds like you do the best you can in the nicest way possible to get him to understand but it doesn't sink in, so chances are nothing you say will. In that case, I guess all we can do is pray he gets his enlightenment without being faced with the same situations in life.

[choco]

I applaud your patience, I would not have been nearly as tolerant in my reply.

If he pipes up again with the same perhaps well intentioned but ignorant remark, why not ask him just how much he knows about MS. Presumably he doesnt know much at all anminimal say as much. In which case you can ask him to not make such comments as a. they make you uncomfortable and b. he really hasn't a clue what he's talking about.

[1936siol]

Walking Days

Have you ever thought about walking with two canes. Since I had trouble with both legs instead of 1 I founde it much easier. I could not walk with the 4 prong canes. I use a walker now and will probably have to switch to a wheelchair soon. I have to to see the stroke specialist tomorrow. I'm sure that will be fun.

Lois

[Jules A]

Since as you said he means well and is very helpful to you I would just ignore his comments.

I doubt educating him on MS will bring about enlightenment especially since we can't predict the course of our progression anyway and you might end up making him feel bad which wouldn't make you feel any better.

[justacowgirl]

Kathy

You are a nice person but!! educate the kid. He will go farther in business and in life if he understands a little more what "discretion is." Nothing wrong with a polite lesson

j

[kingrex]

Assuming he's not one of the 80 year olds we often see bagging groceries in my neck of the woods (and you wanna talk about annoying...nothing beats an old coot who tells the same dumb, unfunny jokes over and over again), he's probably a teenager. You just can't get mad at a kid who is clueless. They mean well, but they simply know not of what they speak!

I remember being on one of the hospital floors one day and walking by a room as a transporter was coming out with an elderly patient on a stretcher, bound for Radiology or some other diagnostic destination. The grandkids are in the room with their concerned parents, and not knowing what to say, one of the grandkids says, "You look good on a stretcher, Grandpa."

Art Linkletter was right - kids do say the funniest things. While I'm thinking of it, try to see Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" and check out how he's interacting with his grandkids...very funny.

So listen, just laugh it off. We've all been unintentionally insulted by younger people. I've been called an "elderly gentleman" (I was 57 at the time). And much worse. I would get mad, but I'd rather just think it's funny. As grown adults, we know what's what...who cares what the bag boy thinks anyway?


rex