When Richard shared that he was researching wheelchairs my immediate response was “No”. My reaction was visceral. Rooted in denial as I simply could not allow the insidious nature of Parkinson’s Disease any more space in our lives. In that moment, the walls shifted inward. I saw his world – our world shrinking even more. While we always knew a chair would eventually be needed (I had even designed the new bathroom with a sufficient turning radius for easy rolling access to the walk-in shower) I had equated a wheelchair with a loss of mobility.

Richard patiently waited for my reactions to simmer and my list of objections to dwindle. Then, he explained how he viewed this purchase as expansive as it would allow him greater distance, not less. Recent walks in our new neighborhood have been limited to 1-2 blocks.  Even using his Ferrari-red carbon fiber walker for support, he is constrained by that day’s stamina and knowing we can only walk as far as the same return distance.

His primary research parameter was a 30-pound weight limit with a lithium battery. A limit set because I can easily lift the 10-pound, 2-ounce walker and struggle with the 40-pound bag of salt for the water softener. Coming in at 27-pounds, the Jazzy Carbon 27X is only slightly unwieldy when lifted into the rear of the Audi Q5 but certainly manageable.

And so, this morning, with clear blue skies (not even a puff of white) we set off. Out the screened porch door, down the alley to the street corner curbcuts, pass the pickleball courts to the asphalt spur that connects the Harvestview neighborhood to the Douglas Trail. This reclaimed railroad bed is framed on either side by forest vegetation – trees, flowers, and fruit bearing shrubs; with a haze of green growth sprouting in the gentle rolling fields just beyond. For nearly an hour, we enjoyed the sun dappled shade, under arching tree boughs.

We had an adventure. . .