Okay, this is ridiculous.  I am getting a walker.  I can walk just fine, no cane, no assistance in some situations, like the public pool.  But then last night and today I went to my son's preschool to meet his teachers and I could barely walk at all even with my cane.  It's mental.  And it's frustrating. 

My Husband

Last year I had someone ask me how I met my husband and what attracted me to him.  I replied that it was his kindness and patience that I was attracted to, but after further thought it was not just this, but actually how he didn't "see" me as disabled.  From the moment we met he treated me as "normal".  There was no awkwardness.  He was completely comfortable around me.

Unfortunately, even I, when I meet a disabled person I feel awkward around them.   I don't know how to approach them, how to feel at ease when talking to them... yeah, it's weird.  Maybe because I don't  "see" myself as disabled.  (I know "handicapped" is the P.C. term, but I figure I can use whatever term I want since I am included in that demographic.)   Even if I wasn't disabled, I'm not an outgoing kind of person anyway.

It's hard to explain but it's a first impression thing that I can just feel.  That people want to get to get to know me and don't see me as any different from anyone else.  Although I don't mind talking about my disability and like it when people feel comfortable enough to ask me about it.