Handicap? What Handicap?
By Rummuser. Filed in People, Relationships, Self Improvement, Uncategorized |Tags: Hip replacement, Physically Handicapped
Jean has got a fantastic blog post in her blog “Cheerful Monk”, which has inspired this post.
It was in 1987, that I had my second hip joint replaced, two years after the first one had been. The surgeon, a childhood personal friend whose parents and my parents were friends and I, were both just about the same age and the chemistry between the two of us was very strong.
It was also a time of high personal income taxes and one tried to find ways to reduce the incidence of taxes in whatever way possible. I came to know that one could claim a special rebate in the personal income tax if one was physically handicapped.
I was in Bangalore at that time and the surgeon was in Bombay. I rang him up and asked him to provide me with a certificate to the effect that I was physically handicapped to avail of the benefit of the rebate in income tax, as advised by our tax consultant.
His answer was crisp. “Handicap? What handicap? Don’t insult me. You are not handicapped any more. I have removed your handicap. I shall not give you any such certificate.”
Reading Jean’s post reminded me about that incident. Since there is one of my regular readers out there recovering from a hip replacement and another expected to go in for one soon, this post is written with the hope that they will be reassured that they too can say “Handicap? What handicap?” soon enough!
Conrad, my apologies. This is not about the mentally handicapped. Time enough for that, another day!
Monday, July 6th 2009 at 22:42 |
What? I don’t understand. You will have to speak more slowly for me…
Conrad´s last blog ..A Life Magazine Moment…
Rummuser Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 20:00
My apologies. Will do the next time Conrad. I clean forgot!
Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 00:03 |
Since I had my new wheel installed (new hip), I’ve been noticing I don’t have a handicap anymore. (Having to use a walker will go away.)
I reminded a guy that he was parking in a handicap parking space–he, not being handicapped. He said “Who are you, my conscience?”
Rummuser Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 20:00
I am intrigued. Knowing the little I know of you as I do, I am sure that you would have replied to that quip. What did you say?
bikehikebabe Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 21:01
I didn’t say anything. I thought “Who are you, my conscience?” was pretty clever.
Actually I really didn’t blame him. It was downtown Santa Fe in front of a bakery with NO available parking places. He probably was going to run in, get a loaf of bread & leave immediately. Did you think I was going to say “You son of a B—-. Why the H— would you park there?
Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 01:31 |
I often see the cases where human spirits able to overcome any handicapped. For example, a person without hands, can paint with his mouth. Conversely, there is normal people that don’t do anything because of no spirit.
Tikno´s last blog ..The Three Malady Of A Man
Rummuser Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 19:57
Brilliant observation there Tikno. I agree entirely.
Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 03:28 |
Ramana the only handicap you have is a golf one!
I can’t wait to join the wheelie club.
Grannymar´s last blog ..News of Steph
Rummuser Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 19:57
Grannymar, that reminds of the time when I used to play golf. Yes, I did and was a reasonably good player too, till I bust my hip joints. Since the replacement, I have been forbidden from playing it as the swivel movement is totally taboo.
We were posted in Kerala, a state in South India and were returning from a vacation. At the airport, I was just clearing the golf clubs when an acquaintance of mine, a rusty old Brit, a tea planter from Munar, came up to me and said, “Hello there Ramana! I did not know that you played golf. What is your handicap?” And I replied, pointing out 4 year old Ranjan and Urmeela, a wife and a kid.”
Grannymar Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 20:41
That was naughty!
Grannymar´s last blog ..Playing cards & brick walls
Rummuser Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 21:10
But of course! That is the whole point of golf! Reducing the handicap and playing below par!
Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 03:54 |
I have just had another total knee replacement, one year after having the other knee done, which was not very successfull…… and Im still under the hospital for the first one, and Ive now had the second one done with many complications cos I already had screws etc in it from a acl reconstruction a few years back…. only this right knee replacement 4 weeks ago, they only went and broke me femur (thigh bone) whilst hammering in the metal knee joint….
So at the moment I do feel I have a huge handicap and have now for a few years, but Im hoping that soon, I dont feel that way, or down and tired and exhausted and in pain…..
soon…..
x
marmitetoasty´s last blog ..If There Is A Cock-Up… My Name Will Be In There Somewhere…Part I
Rummuser Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 19:52
You are an inspiration to others. Your story is one of the toughest I have ever read. Yes, you will feel off just now, but from I gather from your blog about you, you will be up and about and who knows, this winter you may just achieve your ambition!
Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 04:35 |
Great post, especially the last paragraph!
Rummuser Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 19:42
Thank you. You are the inspiration.
Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 18:21 |
bikehikebabe:
My father, who used crutches for polio all my life, was trying to park his car soon after the years when handicapped parking spots had been designated. Not able to find an empty one, he parked in a regular
spot and started to walk, with crutches, to the mall. As we passed one of the handicapped spots, a man was getting into his car, very clearly NOT handicapped. My father cheerfully raised one crutch high in the air, waving it like a flag, and shouted, while GRINNING, “I sure could’ve used that spot!” The guy almost died.
Jody´s last blog ..The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
Phill Smith Reply:
July 7th, 2009 at 21:11
The best one I heard was a handicapped person told the NON handicapped person who parked in the space that it really was reserved for those with a handicap from the shoulders down.
Rummuser Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 20:58
Phil, I would have handled that quite differently, and I am sure that you know what!
Tuesday, July 7th 2009 at 21:09 |
@bikehikebabe: No, more like “No, your nemesis!”
Wednesday, July 8th 2009 at 04:24 |
That surgeon had a great perspective on handicap ….. wonder if he’ll sort out my knees?
P.S. I’m back!
Paddy Bloggit´s last blog ..Want to do a free summer course?
Rummuser Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 20:57
I shall write separately to you about whether or not something can be done about your knees Paddy!
Wednesday, July 8th 2009 at 08:37 |
I have seen healthy elderly people with handicap parking stickers countless times. Presumably they have a handicapped relative to get the sticker. Most of them look like they could use some extra walking.
Looney´s last blog ..
Rummuser Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 20:56
Indeed!
Wednesday, July 8th 2009 at 16:49 |
That was an honest surgeon and friend. He did not allow your friendship to be used for wrong deeds. That is the good example of health practitioners we need today. Government institutions are defrauded large sums of money every year because of doctors who give medical certificates to the people who do not deserve them.
Lizwi´s last blog ..United States of Africa
Rummuser Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 20:56
That is a very interesting way of looking at it. I never did look at it from that angle. I always believed that he was trying to boost my self confidence!
Wednesday, July 8th 2009 at 18:17 |
The idea of a handicap is very much in the mind of the person concerned. Take two people with the same problem, and one will say it’s a huge handicap while the other shrugs it off as unimportant. Optimism and adaptability are two great human qualities.
Nick´s last blog ..Out to lunch
Rummuser Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 20:55
Quite right and so very human!
Thursday, July 9th 2009 at 00:12 |
I have come accross many human beings, who all though fully able are quite handicapped because of their defeated attitudes. At the same time I have met the differently abled people who are more able than any of us with their tall and indefatigable attitudes. Frankly its all in the mind as much as it is in the body.
Ashok´s last blog ..Answer to an age old question
Wednesday, July 15th 2009 at 05:20 |
Hi Ramana: I read this post over a week ago, kept thinking and finally decided to comment on it. Probably the longest I have ever waited to comment on. And I am kind of not so elated to say that this is what I came up with:
Handicap? What handicap? A handy cap that comes useful in the rain!
Hehe.
Raj Krishnaswamy´s last blog ..Thermal Spray TBCs porosity
Rummuser Reply:
July 15th, 2009 at 10:10
Good clean come back! Much better than some of the stuff that came to me by email~!