I'm not exactly sure why summer is always a more social time for me. Somehow I seem to squeeze in more meals with friends, trips to the park, and visits to the gym. It's a unique time in SoFla for me because several of my friends from school are preparing to move (some across the country) to begin their internships in August. It's the LAST leg of the road between me and my PhD so I'm looking forward to being in their position. My friend, Angela, is the only other student with a (visible) disability in our program and we've been trying to get together for a final supper of sorts for weeks. We share more in common than just wheels, but our professional interests are fairly different. She's a fan of the adults, which I tend to find whiney (heehee). I prefer (even whiney) kids any day!
[Photo caption: Me and Angela smiling after dinner.]
Adam (my fiancé), Angela, and I met at Buca's (a cool family-style restaurant) for dinner last weekend. We had lots to catch up on...there's our never-ending/just-beginning wedding planning adventures and her upcoming move to Boston. I'd promised Adam that we would avoid dissertation chatter as that puts him immediately in a hypnotic state. We spent most of the evening rehashing funny airline stories based on the joys of traveling with a wheelchair. Since all three of us have had several of own interesting experiences like this, it was a different sort of conversation than I might have had with able-bodied friends or even my family members. So it got me thinking...when you are with other people with disabilities, do you naturally talk about disability-related subjects or is anything truly fair game?
We all have different doses of disability in our everyday lives. I'm fortunate to live with someone who not only understands, but relates, to almost everything I encounter with my specific disability. I also feel lucky to be so connected to a community, like Disaboom, that offers an always open door to chatter about whatever spins my wheels. Some people, though, don't have these outlets. So when they get in the presence of other people with disabilities, I imagine it's a relief to be in the company of others that "get" them. It seems some people require more opportunities to talk about disability matters than others.
Do you think it's ever possible to talk TOO much about disability-related topics? The only time I feel like I'm drowning in disability is if other aspects of a situation or my identity are being ignored. It irritates me when people assume that the most important thing I have in common with another friend who also uses a wheelchair must be our modes of transportation. While I really do enjoy the community of people with disabilities, it doesn't mean that my dinner conversation with Adam is always (or even often) centered being disabled.Whenever I face these sorts of questions related to "us", I really enjoy hearing answers from others. They make me think...and now I'd like you do the same:
When you are with other people with disabilities, do you naturally or mostly talk about disability-related subjects?
Do you think it's possible to talk TOO much about these subjects?
