When checking the bag for the trip from Raleigh to Fort Lauderdale the reservation for wheelchair assistance was confirmed. “TSA Precheck” designation had was accomplished and this sometimes anxiety fraught Parkinson’s mind was put to ease as the delightful lady with the chair arrived with an assuring smile. What we had anticipated to be a lengthy process of check-in turned out to be less than ten minutes. A journey down in the elevator and a brisk ride to the departure gate C-3 put us beside the boarding desk where we waited for the call to board early. The arrival in Fort Lauderdale was as accommodating as that at Raleigh. The delightful evening with my son and a drop off by him the next morning at Port Everglades was just what a doctor would order for this mind fraught with unexpected anxiety about the motorized scooter chair that was scheduled to be waiting at the entrance to our stateroom. We were told that the room would not be ready for occupancy until 2:00 pm, but that we were welcomed to visit the room, establish the electronic connection with our cell phone and deposit our carry-on bags. As we approached what was scheduled to be our “residence” for the following seven days, there it was; the scooter that was rented for the duration of the journey aboard. The tag had me identified as the “operator” of the “Scootaround” and within its front wheel basket was the charger and key. On previous cruises, the folding cane was used as assistant to a somewhat smooth move about the ship. Mobility has become a greater challenge in the last few months, so I agreed to seek a holding place, away from the joy of the cruise ship, for the puffed up ego that wanted to believe the ”motorized wheelchair?, not me”. Maneuvering the speed selector with a simple “forward” with the right finger press, and “reverse” with the left finger press. Zipping around (cautiously) the ship from stateroom, to the desired location virtually anywhere on board soon became easier than ever thought by this reluctant participant. The ego of this “not-for-me – I don’t need” motorized assistance mindset was being challenged with every successful zip into the elevator and the backward “zip” out to the next desired location. It was nearly two days before this perceiver of self-sufficiency calmed himself down to offer up thoughts of gratitude for this ability giving mechanism. After each thankful thought came the pathway to letting go this ego that inhibited enjoying the best that this travel experience has to offer. For that, I give thanks!
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