So the other day, I am waiting in line at the pharmacy. Yadda yadda, just minding my own business when I hear the guy behind me complaining to the pharmacy technician.
I wish ADA would fix the credit card swipers, they are really not conducive to left-handed people.
And I’m kinda hoping he’s joking, because really? Of all the things the ADA (American Disabilities Act) has done – isn’t this kind of a joke? But he keeps droning on complaining, clearly not joking here.
The best part was I am standing in front of him, in all my 4’1” glory, not even able to see the text on the credit card swiper which stands at eye-level. I am reaching above my head to sign the screen but not able to read the text due to the glare.
I’m not saying any of this to gripe about the ADA. This is the least of their worries. And yet, the ADA does not exist to customize my world for me. I’m not the norm and I just wanted to say to that guy, “dude, deal with it. If you’re not in the norm you can’t expect the world to cater to your every need. ADAPT.”
Duh…deal with life. The ADA has done a lot to make life liveable, but please, don’t ever expect anyone to cater to your every need. In a way, the struggle brings greater appreciation. When I find something that fits me or can access something “my-size” it is so exciting! I really appreciate it. Especially when my legs don’t have to dangle off, sitting in average-sized chairs, making them fall asleep!
My dad lowered the counters in our kitchen and made an extra little sink in our bathroom (my family is 4/5 little people) so that I could be independent and self-reliant. But never in a million years did they teach me to expect anything in the world to accommodate me, I must adapt to it. When you can’t do something, get a stool, climb up and do something about it!
okay, so going to starbucks is a real treat for me. there are two things that need to happen before i can go. first of all, i need to not feel guilty about spending almost $5 on a drink. that occurs about once a week and it’s a good thing it doesn’t occur more often. second of all, i need to get my act together in order to leave the house 10-15 minutes earlier in order to have time. so last night for some reason i got a burst of energy and stayed up way too late working on 
i admit it. i am an emotional failure because i do not enjoy forced intimacy. i can be shmaltzy most any day of the week except when called on to give an answer at the thanksgiving table to “what i am thankful for.” so i have a rather large family (dad has 6 brothers) so our thanksgivings tend to be pretty big, i think. this year was a little stretching, a tad uncomfortable, as my dad is getting remarried this summer which now means i have people he wants to include in our family that i am still getting used to. no disrespect intended. 
then there’s a darker side to me (channelling “dark and twisty meredith”) that is more ambivalent about other people. it is not that i dislike them, i just take a while to open up to them. some people find this to be a quandary as i am warm, outgoing and gregarious (aka “bright and shiny”) but also intensely private about my personal life. go figure. my dad getting remarried brings elements of grief, confusion and unmet needs–and this is not to say i don’t support his decision. if what i’m saying is confusing, please comment me because i really am not intending to speak ill of any of the people involved.
I find the whole CD really, really great — amazing lyrically. And the video for “Not Ready to Make Nice” (see it below) is pretty genius too if you ask me. The whole smearing with oil as a symbol of the war is pretty smart and classically artistic! I’m impressed.
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