You’ve all heard the expression, “Where there is a will there is a way” correct?
Thing One: “Mom, mommy, mother-dearest?”
Oh shit!….
Me: “I mean yes dear, what’s up?”
Thing One: “Z and I were wondering if you would make a road trip to Michigan and pick up Z’s mom so she could come stay with us and see the boys?”
Me: “ARE YOU FRICKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?”
Thing One: “You don’t have too!!! It’s just that last time she came down here, her “friend” charged her $400.00 and that’s just insane.”
Me: “Sure, I will do it for $200.00”
Thing One: “MOM!” ” Seriously, MOM! Of course she would pay you for gas and stuff, but she can’t afford that, and this way you could even earn a little cash.”
Me: “Like I said $200.00.” 😀
Thing One: (shaking her head) “Just think about it ok?”
STUPID THOUGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!
Treat other people like you want to be treated Grace.
How would you feel if you were so far away from the kids or grandbabies?
Hell you couldn’t handle being away from them for the week you were in Italy……
LOOK at those faces!!!!!!! DAMMIT!!!!!
Before I continue, let me provide a bit of background information. Z’s mom is in a wheelchair full time and doesn’t drive. She lives 300 miles away from the kids and I. I do have the time and the ability to make the trip, but the last time I tried to do something nice for Z’s mom…. I was left feeling very frustrated and vowed that I would never go out of my way to help her again.
After playing devil’s advocate with myself for more than an hour, I called Thing One again. I told her, it would take me about 5 hours each way to drive there. Realistically I COULD make the trip in under a day, and it would cost me about $50 in gas and tolls each way, but I really really didn’t want to do it. Besides, I got a speeding ticket a couple weeks ago, which would make taking a long road trip all the more stressful. (watch your speed Grace, watch your speed!!!!!)
The next day Z’s mom, (T) called me.
T: “Grace, while the kids were here last month they mentioned that you might be willing to help me get from Michigan to Illinois and back so I could come visit the boys. I would be willing to pay you.”
Me: “Have you considered taking the train like Z did when the kids were dating?”
T: “I did, but Z said the Amtrak is not handicap accessible.”
Me: “hmm, that surprises me in this day and age.”
T: “Yeah, I know. I really miss them and I am trying to figure out how to get down there.”
Right in the feels 😦
Me: Let me look into it more and if it’s not handicap accessible, I will come get you ok?
T: “THANK YOU!!!!”
Before we even hung up the phone, I headed to the fridge to grab a beer. I opened google and typed how the hell do I get out of this?!?!?!... “Is _______ Amtrak station handicapped accessible?”
It was! Yay end of story?!?!!………….. yeah right. Do you not know me by now?
This is where the real story begins.
I called T back and told her what I had found out. She still didn’t sound convinced.
I do agree that just because something SAYS it’s handicapped accessible, doesn’t mean that it actually is. So now we go back to the whole treat other people like you want to be treated thing. I can’t ask someone to do something that I wouldn’t be willing to do myself, and to be honest I have never traveled full time in a wheelchair.
As far as I was concerned the only way I could know for sure, would be to do it myself. I asked Einstein to “hold my beer” while I called the kids. I told them that if they were willing to cover my travel expenses, I would be willing to make the trip to Michigan to meet her, and to travel back with her all the while remaining in my wheelchair.
The kids thought it would be a great idea and would make T more comfortable taking the trip by herself in the future. I called her back and she said she was “all in”. So next week I am heading to Michigan. I am still working out the details, which (spoiler alert) are a bit unsettling. I will share my plans before I actually leave and of course I will write about the actual events of the trip when I return. In the meantime……
Have you ever realized that most of my travel plans take shape when I am trying to help a friend but have also been drinking? Definitely many hold my beer moments. If you would like to read or revisit some of my past adventures, please click on the following links:
Wish me luck!
MS Graceful...NOT! 
“Have you ever realized that most of my travel plans take shape when I am trying to help a friend but have also been drinking?”
This is usually how I end up with another pet, too. 😉
Happy adventures, Grace!
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Cheers to more pets and more adventures!
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Oh Grace, you’re such a good person! Not many people would go that far out of their way for someone else, particularly when your last encounter was so frustrating. Your family and T are so blessed to have you!
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heh! Don’t mistake my motives, I really don’t want to make that drive!…AND it’s good info for me to have should my MS progress. Besides to really try to understand someone maybe? it helps to try to “walk in their shoes”
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That’s what I thought too. I’d probably stay a bitch…though I do want to be treated nicely.
Oh well…
Keep us posted and try to have fun.
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OMG! So that’s the trip you called me about! Right on! Make sure your phone is charged and ready to take pictures! It’ll either be a special news report about Amtrak not being handicap accessible or… an informational post on how to take Amtrak when you are in a wheelchair! Adventure awaits! Yay!😉💜💜💜
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5 hours each way… I wouldn’t have jumped at doing that either. Nice try on bargaining to $200. I do think cost towards the gas at least is more than reasonable though.
I haven’t had a drink since New Year as I’ve not felt well enough. I think that’s why I’m so indecisive and uncreative lately – a little liquid courage helps with making plans happen, and that beer will power you towards your Michigan trip! 😂
It’s such a sh*t that places aren’t accessibility friendly these days, even when they claim they are.
You can do this. For what it’s worth, I think it’s a lovely thing to be able to do to help them out, especially when you’re not exactly ‘right as rain’ yourself. I don’t think people necessarily realise the toll of a trip like that with chronic illness. But you can do it, you’ll be all good.
Of course, you don’t do something nice to get something nice in return, but good things come back to you (or so the saying goes). You’re a compassionate person & you’ll be making a few people very happy when you help them out ♥
Caz xx
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It’s a good reminder to look at a situation from someone else’s perspective. And, as you say, the whole ‘research’ might be mutually beneficial. It’s a really thoughtful thing you’re doing, you always seem to put yourself out for others. I’m sure it’s not passed you by that as you’re now not driving, you can at least drink on the trip! Good luck and hope it proves to be enjoyable. 🙂
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I had planned to drink on the entire trip (kidding kind of), but after realizing just how out of my element I am going to be, this is gonna be a sober one ( at least the trip there) 😉
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Why do I get the feeling that this will fall under the “no good deed goes unpunished” category?
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Lol I’m on the train now…i got stuck in thr bathroom….a wheelchair w/out legs would have probably fit though
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Can’t wait to read the postmortem
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Oh my, this one is definitely going to have a sequel. 🙂 I feel badly for even smiling but your post was hilarious. I used to do things like this so I get it, you just do what you do because well…good human and all that jazz. Wishing you oodles of luck!!
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