I got into Barwis today and Chris was there. We talked for awhile about the snow and the salt and how messy it all is in a wheelchair. He asked how things were going and I told him that in this weather I don’t feel that my sessions are that productive but I do get an excellent stretch! he nodded and told me that that was it good thing. He reminded me that I need to have patience. I really stink get that! Then it was time for me to start and he told me to have a good workout.
Phil stretched me and I told him about my conversation with Chris. Phil told me that everyday I come there is productive. He asked me what else I would be doing if I didn’t come there. My response was “reading.” Then he asked how much reading is going to help me get out of that chair? I nodded. He was right. He told me he was going to harness me today and waited for my reaction. He said it wasn’t for anything bad but he wanted to help me stand by pressing on my hips and there weren’t enough people there to help in guiding me to stand as he was adjusting my posture. Okay then. So it wasn’t a BAD thing I was getting re-harnessed so I was okay with that.
So Phil gets me into the harness and had me stand before he pressed the air to help out. He adjusted my knees and my hips and asked how that felt. I told him it felt foreign and like I wasn’t standing up straight and my butt was hanging out in the back. We did this a number of times and I did a few squats. Then Phil worked on my ankles and we were done. It is debatable how productive this session was but I really did get an excellent stretch!
I was able to get into my car by myself on the second try. Almost. Phil needed to help me get my legs into the car. He kept saying “c’mon, c’mon, c’mon” over and over and that was funny. I don’t think we fist bump any longer. It’s now both of us trying to grab the other’s fist and shake it and yell “joystick.” So today I was slow I guess and Phil was able to grab my fist and yelled “joystick,” wished me a good weekend, and then shut my door.