We were in Dick's Sporting Goods yesterday, Michael and I, picking up his newly re-strung tennis racquet. Michael didn't wear his prosthetic. One of the cashiers, a young black man, just stared and stared at us. I wanted to go over to the young man and say "What ARE you looking at?? You think it takes two hands to play tennis?!"
GRRR....
Michael never has trouble with his tennis team opponents staring or making rude comments. That's one nice thing about ALTA tennis; families are almost always nice, and kids are polite.
As I was finishing up dinner last night we saw a story I liked, Dance Teacher Who Lost a Foot in Bombing Vows to Dance Again.
(I saw the story on ABC News but the print story I linked to is better, more complete.)
If there is any good thing to come out of the tragedy of Boston, it may be an expanded awareness that if you lose a foot or a leg, you can still have a good life, an active life. You do not have to have 4 limbs to play sports.
Above, Michael skiing. Below, he climbs.
He also plays basketball:
Above, Michael whitewater rafting.
So just be aware that amputees can lead very full, happy lives, regardless of their disability.
