Be forewarned–this is definitely a rant! I am still so angry over a woman’s ignorant attitude today.

Three and a half years ago, my brother in Minnesota had a massive stroke at the age of 48. He was very fortunate that he didn’t suffer any type of paralysis. However, the day I flew out to Minneapolis and walked into his hospital room, he couldn’t speak at all, even though he looked perfectly “normal.”

In three years, he’s come a long way. If he’s not rushed or nervous, he communicates well for the most part. He was telling me last night that it’s so frustrating because he can think things through but he can’t get them out of his mouth. He can read, but it doesn’t always translate immediately for him. So, if you look at him, he’s a good-looking, broad-shouldered guy who is 6′6″ tall and looks as if he could be a lumberjack. And there is absolutely no way he can get himself through an airport alone–especially not Atlanta airport. Just as I did the last time he came home, I got a gate pass and met him at his gate when he flew in last week.

Tonight The Girl and I took him to the airport. I went to the kiosk and got his boarding pass and then The Girl and I went to get our gate passes. He was standing beside me. I said to the woman, “I need a gate pass. My brother’s had a stroke and I need to see him to his plane.” She looked at him, sneered, and said, “Sure he has.” He, obviously embarrassed, just turned and walked away.

How dare she? Let me tell you here and now, it took everything in me not to give in to my inner redneck girl and call her a few choice names. However, I didn’t want to further embarrass him, my daughter was standing there, but the real kicker was she had the power over whether I got a gate pass. I pulled out my previous pass and said, “This is from when he flew in last week. I need a pass to get him to his plane today.” Honestly, I don’t think she would’ve given it to me had I not had the other one.

We got our passes and other than remarking to my brother, “She was a b*&ch,” I let it go because he’s self-conscious enough. BUT, two and a half hours later when he got on that plane, I turned to The Girl and said, “Let’s go have a talk with that lady.” See, I no longer needed her gate pass. The Girl said, “Mom, you’re not going to be rude, are you?” Hmmmm.

She wasn’t there. But, the three people I talked to were all appalled by her ignorant behaviour. She had looked at him and sneered, “Sure he did” when I told her he’d had a stroke. How does she think that made him feel? How would she like to be in the position of having to be escorted onto and off of a freaking plane because she couldn’t get there on her own? How would she like to no longer be capable of doing the job she’d done for thirty years? Tomorrow she’ll enjoy a discussion with her supervisor. I requested specifically that the point be made to her that handicapped people don’t always look different. :plain:

Four and a half hours later and I’m still seething….