The note would say something like:
To whom it may concern:
Angela Desmond has a chronic joint condition that often impedes normal daily tasks. This condition is highly variable. Some days she will have to push herself slowly on her wheeled and be-seated walker to get from bed to toilet. And Angela has the bladder of a chipmunk. Some days Angela will contemplate finding a way to set up a cot directly in the bathroom to prevent the necessity of travel. Sadly, the conclusion is always that the bathroom is too small.
Some days she will be able to do an almost normal amount of things. Please be advised that these are abnormally good days. The days that you are even seeing Angela face-to-face are abnormally good.
Please never say rude things or give those obnoxious eye-rolling looks when Angela informs you of her disability or her inability to do something in particular. It is not fun to have a disability. It is not laziness, or a desire to get out of anything. Stop being a dick [yes, I want a doctor note that tells people to stop being dicks].
Sincerely,
Doctor
It would really simplify things. And it could come with a color code. Like national security. Except less lame (Get it, less lame? Wow, that was not funny at all. I'm terribly sorry).
(Dammit, I have been thwarted in my attempt to be less lame by the lack of color choices)
Today Angela feels:
As she imagines the average person feels.
Crappy, but not distractingly so.
Like this is a lot of pain.
Even the joints in her toes hurt.
Unable to walk more than a few feet.
Unable to walk.
Contrary to what you might be thinking, this is not an attempt to garner sympathy. And certainly not a desire for pity. Pity is icky. If you have a difficult time remembering or understanding that, think "pity" sounds like "potty" and potties are icky.
I'm just lamenting the lack of understanding in the world. And how much easier things would be if I could just have a warning label. Yes, I want to actually wear a label. Ok, "want" is not really accurate. "Prefer to dealing with other people's unfair and obnoxious responses" is more accurate. But it is a lot more words. "Prefer actually wearing a label to dealing with other people's unfair and obnoxious responses" is just so much more unwieldy.
Crap! I forgot to eat today.
Posts
