We Just Jibbin

I started back rock climbing. The ‘vid stopped it in 2020 and 2021 and I just didn’t have a way to get to the gym last year; using Lyft woulda be too much money even though it isn’t far. This year however, I discovered that it is on the MARTA line, so early March I decided to go back since I could take advantage of MARTA. Iehgolie, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I’d be taking public transportation to go a gym but here we are – every Wednesday without fail. Now, I haven’t actually climbed a wall yet because of the number of Catalyst volunteers and climbers who show up, but I’ve been using the Wellman (a “chair” on a pulley system that is suspended from the ceiling) so essentially, I pull myself up to the ceiling of the gym.

The first day back when I entered the gym, I was actually filled with excitement and felt like “I’d returned home”; it really felt good to be back. Luckily for me, all the other participants climb the walls so I’m the only one who uses the Wellman so it’s made my progress really easy to track. The first day, I didn’t even make it to the ceiling. The night I eventually made it all the way up, I took an hour and a half. Last week, I took 16 minutes the first time (it would have been a complete waste of time to NOT go again after only 16 minutes)! I completely shocked myself and was convinced that the volunteer who was belaying me (holding the rope on the ground) was helping and was also pulling – he wasn’t. WHAAT!! This activity really is rewarding…especially when you look up and see just how high you’ve gone. The only Wednesday I’ve missed so far, is one where I had to work late. I continue to enjoy it and every Wednesday I’m grateful that I never started climbing in my “normal” days because I would have been consumed with what I used to be able to do – it is what it is, most times I just can’t help it. The bus is picking me up at 6:00 this evening :-). Anyhoo, this now brings me to another point and a most mundane activity.

I yearn to be able to use a knife and fork!

Yup…it’s true. Lil side story…when I came to this country, I was appalled at how many people didn’t (or didn’t know how to?) use a knife and fork properly. Most people I saw held the fork like they were stabbing whatever was in their plate and it completely baffled me. So much so that once I went on a date with an American and saw him cutting his meat and I blurted out, “Oh wow! you know how to use a knife and fork!” Funny tho, I observed that he’d cut whatever but then put the knife down and switch the fork to the other hand to actually eat but as usual I digress!

I yearn for the ability to use a knife and fork!

When I go out to eat, I generally order something that I can easily eat with just a fork. If I can’t and I’m alone, I ask the waiter for whatever to be cut up when I place my order and I make sure to show them my poc hand. If I’m with friends, they know what will be coming once I get my food. Truth be told, it annoys me to no end that I cannot do it – it’s not even a task that I can do slowly – and usually if I see someone using their knife and fork, I know that I look at them wistfully for a second or two too long. It’s not as far as being depressing or frustrating but if I had one day to be disability-free, everything I ate that day would need to be cut into bite-sized pieces and I’d be using both utensils to eat at all meals. Go figure…it’s the little things!

Anyway, I gone so…’hol it down till next time. Oh. Before I go…I know that no one will be surprised to read that 2 days after I got my supply of pills from Mark Cuban’s pharmacy, my insurance approved the prescription, and the pharmacy started contacting me. “Please contact us urgently and as soon as possible to schedule your medication shipment” steups! I ignored them for a few days and then eventually told them that I wouldn’t need more pills till June so stop calling me! UGH!!

Ah gone,
Stax