Badass Basset Hound

A wise old soul.

I saw the movie The Secret Life of Pets this weekend. It was entertaining and cute, and a great way to beat the heat. I'm not giving away any spoilers of this adorable movie, but I am going to talk about my favorite character.

A group of the pets get in trouble. They get in over their heads and they're unsure of what to do and how to fix this problem. After trying to solve it themselves, they realize they need to go to Pops. In my mind, Pops was going to be a pit bull or a great Dane or some type of big amazing dog. But to my delight he was a basset hound. Of course my family has a fondness for basset hounds because we have our own darling Mildred Blue. But this basset hound is even better because he is in a doggie wheelchair.

Over the past two or three years I have joked with my friends that now that I am 40ish and in a power wheelchair, I am wise. My 20s were fine, but full of hard work and figuring things out in life. My 30s were awesome. I had my kids, I had fun with my friends, I was in the groove and enjoying life. Now in my 40s I am finding a new groove. And with this groove comes time for reflection and intentional wisdom. Still so far from perfect in so many ways, but slowly realizing that perfection is whatever I choose it to be.

Pops is great. He has helpers, as those of us in wheelchairs do. But he is still in charge, as I will feel that I am until my dying day. At first, being in charge from a wheelchair seems like an impossibility. But as my family quickly has learned, it is absolutely possible!

Pops, in his doggie wheelchair, makes his way around the city and the apartment complex with gusto and without hesitation. Obviously it is not how he always got around, but he has adjusted and makes his way without a stumble. I have stumbled. Oh my, how many times I have stumbled,and relied on help from my family, friends, and often times the kindness of strangers. The stumbling used to cause instant tears and frustration. Then it changed and began to cause reflection and problem solving and thoughts of, "How can I do that better next time?"  Now when I stumble it can still cause all of those things, but often it also involves laughter.  Laughter helps overcome the awkwardness, it takes away pity, and it reminds me that I can get through this.

Pops? He's also kind of grumpy. And I like that about him. Wheelchair or not, I think both Pops and I have always tended to be grumpy. Lovable yes, but also wise and grumpy. Maybe in my next life I'll be a basset hound.

Please leave me alone.

Accessible Warsaw: Warsaw Women's Center

My pick? Dr. Ryser.  She's wonderful.

 

It was time for that yearly visit to the "Women's Center". Except for that I have been a bad patient and haven't been for four years. (I've been to countless other doctors, but the gyno just wasn't the priority at this time in my life.) I was interested to see how this experience would go with my new limited mobility issues.

My expectations were high because this is a medical facility. The parking was excellent, well marked with ample room to get out of my car and easily head up the ramp to the front door.



Seamless parking lot to sidewalk transition.

 

The Women's Center continued the Warsaw tradition of not having a button to open the door easily. That was a disappointment and something I hope will change in the future.

Once I was in the building it was quite easy to get to where I needed to go. When things weren't as easy as they once were, for example transitioning out of my scooter and onto the bed in the exam room, the nurses and doctor couldn't have been more accommodating.

I was due for the dreaded mammogram. I like that at Warsaw Women's Center you can have the mammogram done right there in the building instead of having to go over to the hospital. They have a wheelchair in the building that I was able to use which made the mammogram easier. I was able to sit in the wheelchair, which has removable arms, and we could do the procedure from there.



Nice ramp and sidewalk to the door, but no door entry button.



 

Good accessibility and great accommodation, friendly nurses and Dr. Ryser is a pleasure. For being a doctor's appointment, it was a good experience!




Warsaw Women's Center = **** (four out of five stars on my accessibility scale)
+ good parking
+ excellent ramp and sidewalk leading to the front door
+ office is all one level, easy to get around on a scooter
+ a wheelchair is available for patients who need one
+ the staff is friendly, welcoming, and accommodating
- no button/automatic door