By Maureen DeGarmo
My parents grew up in the Great Depression. For them, self-reliance was very important, and they avoided anything that might diminish their sense of independence. Using a cane was one symbol of declining independence.
I feel just the opposite. For me, a cane is a great communicator. It is a silent, tangible signal that changes the way others react to me in public, and therefore I do not have to actually warn people of my tenuous balance.
It says:
- “Don’t knock me over.”
- “Don’t expect me to move quickly.”
- “Something is not working properly.”
- “I might not react as you would expect others to react.”
A while back, I was in a store with my cane. Continue reading