walkers , wind and getting lost

IWell I'm still using  the  borrowed one and getting used to navigating curbs and doors that don't have an automatic opener and finding there are certain things someone with HD can't do like open a door with walker and holding a coffee:)

I was feeling a little sorry for myself last week  and really wanted to go to a craft fair downtown Vancouver.
I really don't know Vancouver at all. I mean if it was downtown Mtl or Victoria no problem but I don't think I've ever been 'downtown' never mind on a bus with a walker.
So I get ready, credit card, eye liner,  book(hurry up Judi I'm waiting for the next one), yarn, lipstick, loonies and toonies for the bus,  fabric bags to  fill with goodies I planned on buying.
Check.....
I go down the street to the bus got in front of the bus he yelled 'back up ' I thought he didn't want the walker on it so I turned around and the woman behind me said he needs room for the ramp.
Well I didn't know I've only been using this walker for a few weeks and in my previous life I had a car dammit.
I got on the bus sat up from with the other old folks and students who are too lazy too walk to the back of the bus. Got off the bus a little frightening when the ramp moves but shoot I 've had enough taken I really want some independence so I kept at it.
One thing I forgot was that in any part of Vancouver just don't ask where something is because you'll either hear 'no English' or they say '10 blocks that way' and the next person says '10 blocks this way.'
The other thing I forgot was my map  of downtown Van.
I got off the sky train feeling like an adventuress - downtown  all by myself.
It only took 20 minutes to find the Convention centre - but actually entering when you're in a walker is another story. Walkers don't  work on escalators so a nice fellow who worked there said 'take elevator 2 to the 3rd floor, get off go down the corridor to another elevator then get off on the expo floor.'
Now because I have HD my little brain freezes  when I hear too many words like that that don't even make sense.
I saw some other people heading towards the elevator so I asked if they were going to the Craft fair , they said yes so I followed them.
Had a great time met up with Carmen and John and picked up a few things - over 250 crafters from all across Canada even met up  with some people from Mtl.
Poor John rolled some yarn for me that my cat tried to eat.

One big bonus with having a walker is getting the big clean bathroom stall -yippee -who knew?
Coming home I got so lost I walked around absolutely exhausted trying to find the sky train station. I ended up walking for about 40 minutes -only one person would help me she was in a wheelchair and said 'follow me' which was tricky she was going quickly in that things and I  was so tired had to run with the walker to keep up to her . At one point I thought maybe she's taking me to her gang and they'll murder me but I was so  tired I didn't care - by then it was dark and none of the streets were family.
Finally we found the sky train station - I got on it was rush hour and yes most of the seats were taken by men and listen when you're tired   with HD  and clinging to the walker and the rail it's hard. I glared at a man and said ' I need to  sit.'
Got on the bus to come home and the bus driver pushed the button to let the ramp down - it didn't work so he carried my walker down and very gently helped down the steps of the bus.
Beween that day and the next day - I thought I'd walk m y walker to get some groceries but forgot to check that we were having a wind warning 100 km here in Tssawwassen !!
I was wondering  why I was having to push the walker down with all my weight...
Days like that you wonder why you put eyeliner on the wind just blows it off.
I mean it makes your eyes water with 100 km winds ....
When I get my new walker I have to figure out a way to have a coffee cup holder my shaky H hand has been spilling way too many ..
I think that's it for now
Kath