Second entry of the day...

Irony seems to be showing up in my life from time to time a lot more lately. I mean, what with me not liking politics one iota, yet being hired and enjoying this job/project (Determined To Vote) I now have. What with the bloodiness of the Battle of Shiloh and the meaning of my name. And now with the events of last night.

Last night was an inservice meeting for all those who have callings in Relief Society, Priesthood and the adult Sunday School classes. It was held in the home of one of the counselors in our Relief Society (RS from now on). From the time I was called to be the RS Historian sometime last year I've been expected to attend such meetings once a month. Only problem is, they're not held somewhere accessible, like the church. They're held in the homes of the RS presidency. And of course, the average home--which these are--is not built with wheelchair accessibility in mind.

Mother also has a calling in the RS, as an Enrichment leader, so she's also required to attend these meetings and has repeatedly asked if we could hold these meetings at the church. She's asked the bishop, she's asked both the first and second counselors of the RS--but as far as I know, the bishop has done nothing and the RS presidency still persists in holding the meetings in their homes.

Why? According to Sister W, the RS president, the church is where most of the different organizations of the wards in our stake (ie. the Young Men and Women's groups, the bishoprics) hold their activities and conduct ward business on Tuesday nights, and so it is a busy place. "Besides that," she concluded, reasoning, "the former presidency held them in their homes. We saw no reason to do any different."

Um...1) I wasn't part of the RS board then, ma'am. And 2) The church may be a happenin' place Tuesday nights, but it sure isn't ever filled to capacity. I'm sure if we tried real hard we could find an unoccupied room. And if nobody likes that idea, why not change the meeting to a different night?

As I was telling Heather last night, it makes me angry, very much so, that in all these months they've refused to listen to Mom and haven't taken her advice or tried to accommodate us by moving the meeting to someplace accessible. I mean, after all, she's only lived with and raised a wheelchair-bound child for nearly 31 years. Don'tcha think she ought to know a thing or three about wheelchair accessibility?

But as Heather pointed out, how could they understand truly what is really accessible and what isn't when they aren't around a wheelchair a lot?

"Though I'm around you and have some idea," she said, "I wasn't really aware of how much the trailer wasn't accessible when you visited us.

"And what about the apartment?" she continued. "I was sure we wouldn't have problems. Even you thought we'd be ok. But you still had trouble getting around and missing corners. And the bathroom? I had to sit in your chair because I couldn't get out it was so tight."

Tttrrruue... Ok. *shrugs* So she had valid points there, I won't deny it, but at the same time, with these meetings Mom is the voice of logic and of nearly 31 years of experience. Logic and intelligence should say: "Listen to the Voice of Experience." But unfortunately, one of our human flaws is in thinking we know best or that we know more than we actually do. Another is stubbornness.

Every time Mother or I have requested the church as a place, or Mom has told them again and again that their homes are inaccessible, they insist that we try anyway. One of the RS counselors has continuously insisted that I could get into her home; that surely we'd find a way. Mom has been to her home several times and has stated herself that it's inaccessible. That the steps to the door are too steep and inside, Sister L has knicknacks and bricabrac from her travels around the world. Because of them and furniture, pathways are narrow and I would be like a bull in a china cabinent with this wheelchair. But Sister L remained confident.

When Mom heard about the meeting last night, she insisted I go with her to prove, once and for all, to all of them that I cannot get into the woman's house. I rreeaallyy didn't want to go to that meeting to prove who who was right and who was wrong. I was just plain mad nobody would believe my mom.

We drove over and as I approached the house and saw the setup of steps leading to her door, I knew with a surety there was no way I was getting in.

=os The point was rendered moot, however. For it wasn't the RS board meeting Mom and I were expecting, but the inservice one I already mentioned earlier. Because leaders and teachers in the Priesthood and Sunday School were there, there were several men who decided they could lift the wheelchair with me in it. So, while it was a struggle for the four or five of them to get me in, get me in they did. And out again. Hence the irony. Mom's point, however, was that alone or without men, getting me inside Sister L's house is impossible without possibly hurting someone...or me...in the process.

*sighs* Mom, Dad and Kami believe that after last night they (the RS presidency and board) see or understand better how difficult it is to get into the average home. But I don't think so. I think, and have a pretty sure feeling, that because they saw I was able to get in despite the difficulty, they'll expect me to come again and get in again. *sigh* Especially Sister L. But next time I see her, and if the subject is brought up...I'll tell her. And I'll have Mom tell her too, that it was only because enough men were there that I was able to get in.

I really don't wanna have to prove ourselves, though we may have to, this time without the men there.

What is so hard about holding a meeting at the church?

moon phase