Ass/u/me

It's odd the assumptions that some have about those of us with disabilities. We went to the movies yesterday, Joe and I and 7 people from work. Joe and I were there early and I got in the line to pick up tickets while Joe went off to "shed a tear for the widows and orphans." There were a few people who were in the line up behind me, talking fairly loudly, about me. I guess they figure that if you can't walk, you can't hear. Turns out they thought it was sad that I was at the movies all by myself. One even suggested that a staff or a nurse should have gone with me.

Now, firstly, I don't think going to the movie all by yourself is 'sad' ... sometimes it's just a wonderful way to spend time alone.

Now, secondly, I don't have a staff or nurse to go with me and resent the automatic assumption that I must have lurking somewhere a staff ready to leap out and provide oversight should I get unruly.

Now, thirdly, I had no wish to engage them.

By the time I was at the front, Joe had joined me and they all sighed a collective sigh of relief that I was no longer horribly alone in my poor little disabled world.

Joe and I took a table that was near the entrance, they were further back. Then the folks from work started arriving, in some numbers, and I forgot them as we all fell immediately into conversation.

I noticed them heading in while I was heading back to the group from the washroom and they looked over at me with a question in their face.

"Why aren't you alone?"

My answer?

Why should I be, it's your stereotype, not my reality.