OUR NEW VAN AND ME

ON MY WAY INTO THE VAN

NOW WE CAN TRAVEL

Well, we have added some more to our mini-rehab center. We had the opportunity to buy a 2006 Ford 350 handicap van conversion for a very reasonable price. It only has 44,000 miles on it and is like brand new. It will take the pressure off of Zoe so she doesn’t have to wrestle the wheelchair into the back of the Hyundai. It also makes it much easier for me to travel as I roll into and out of the van ready to go. I have applied for a power wheelchair through Medicare and this will simplify transporting even more. I am anxious for the chair but understand that it takes quite a while with all of the paperwork and approval. The power chair will make me much more independent too. I can roll down to the corner and catch the free village bus that will take me to the stores and I can do my own grocery shopping. Hooray! I obtained a wonderful book called “Barrier-Free Travel”. It is very encouraging about adapting to travel with a wheelchair. It has already been helpful in clarifying some of the American Disability Act laws. We had signed up to go with a village club to the taping of the Jeopardy tv show in LA. Then when I became completely wheelchair bound, I realized that I couldn’t go on their bus because I couldn’t get up the two steps into the bus. Then I read that the ADA rules say that any bus that has storage underneath (OTR) must have at least one bus with a lift. The club checked with their travel agency and got one so now we can go. Another hooray! The Jeopardy trip was fun, if exhausting. The whole excursion took 10 hours with the driving, show and lunch. We had a front row seat for the taping. Since I was in my wheelchair, we were put down on the floor with the cameras. I don’t know if we got in the audience shot or not. The three shows we saw will air January 14-18. Since we watch Jeopardy every day, this was a great experience but hard not to say the answers out loud. We went to a famous Jewish deli, Canter’s, for lunch.

ALEX

LOVERN IN FRONT OF JEOPARDY SET JUST BEFORE THE SHOW