One of my biggest pet-peeves in regards to being disabled is the change of expectations people have for you. If you become disabled, people expect less of you than if you were able-bodied. And in my own personal experience, this truth above all applies to family. My family has a very "old school" way of looking at disability, and think it's cruel to push people with disabilities to strive to everything they can be. Case in point, Christmas.
If I never would've broken my neck in 1993 and were instead a svelte 28 year old picture of physical perfection, my mom and the rest of the family would not let me not bringing anything slide. Especially when it comes to food and the holidays. This Christmas, like all past Christmases in my family, we're doing an appetizer buffet on Christmas Eve during the day at my Grandpa's and then a Christmas Eve night sit-down dinner with my step-dad's family at my mom's house. And this year we're doing prime rib. Can't wait.
But here's the kicker, all the women in the family, once they hit 21 or so, are supposed to start the tradition of bringing a dish to share each Christmas. That's just the way it is. But with Little Miss Crippled Tiffiny, no....they don't even expect her to be able to buy everyone gifts, let alone bring a dish to share at each family gathering. And I must admit this really hurts my feelings. Just because I'm sitting doesn't mean I'm incapable of making money or cooking, and time and time again I've done both very blatantly just to prove them wrong. But my family has short-term memories, just like dogs. It's pointless.
So this year I'm showing up with a quartet of Spanish cheeses, toasted bread pieces, candied walnuts, and pistachios. I pray to God they don't make a big deal out of me bringing this stuff and praise me like a little kid. If they do, it's hard to say what might fly out of my mouth.
