I get to Barwis a bit early and am transferring from my car to my wheelchair when my wheelchair shifts (the brakes are loosening up because I need a new one). I end up sitting on the ground outside of my car, I tried to get up but it was impossible. I texted Phil to come get me and Eric came out and picked me up. I was embarrassed and frustrated but Eric was cool and laughed. Eric has a REALLY good laugh! As I sat on the ground, I could feel my legs tightening up. That stinks! That fact is going to translate to NOT a good showing. I just knew it!!!
Since I was early, I made a few phone calls and then decided to put my bag back into the car. I wheeled outside and tried to snap closed the flap before I put the bag on the passenger’s side seat. I was having trouble snapping my bag but I know that if I DON’T snap it closed before tossing it into my car, everything will spill out. I don’t know if it was the heat or my frustration but my hands started to feel numb so that was compounding the difficulty I was having. Then a shadow comes over me. I look up and it’s Phil. He asked if I wanted to start early because I was there. I nodded still fumbling with my bag. Phil asked what I was doing and leave it to my voice to betray me. I told him shakily that I couldn’t button my bag. He laughed and told me that I sounded like a six-year-old and asked if I wanted help. I stopped fumbling with the bag and moved my hands. Phil buttoned it with ease then I threw it into my car and we went over to the Keiser machine. I think with my frustration and my hands feeling numb, I didn’t even thank Phil. So, thanks Phil! ☺️
At the Keiser machine, he stretched me a bit while I sat in my wheelchair. He told me to stand up. I gave it the college try 4 or 5 times without standing fully to a *BINK.* He told me to go over to the table. He was pushing me and I thought he still had my chair as I rolled down the ramp with my hands up. He didn’t. He had let my chair go close to the Keiser machine. Good thing I didn’t fall out!
At the table Phil helped me out of my chair but not fully onto the table yet. He stopped halfway so I was standing. I kept falling forward into him but I would recover. It didn’t feel normal but I kept trying to straighten up with my butt underneath me. It felt wobbly and weird! After some time, Phil picked me up all the way and put me on the table. He had me do a few leg curls with my legs dangling over the side and the he swung me around so I was on my back. He stretched my legs out there. As he was stretching me and it hurt, I asked how he thought I was progressing as I started to glisten. It’s hard for me to see the forest amid the trees at times so I wanted to get his take on this situation. He nodded and frowned in what I assumed was approval and he told me that I was kinda tight.
he finished stretching me up and I sat up with my legs hanging over the side. He told me, “let’s do hyper” and quickly pushed my shoulders down BEFORE I could get into first position in ballet. I extended my arms and sat up when he let my shoulders go. He took me out to my car and once my chair was stowed, he extended his fist and told me to have a nice long-weekend. As I extended my fist, he grabbed it, shook it, yelled, “Joystick!” and told me to think about that all weekend as he shut my door and walked away. I was tired but I smiled and shook my head as I drove away.