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Some "good" citizen saw me limp to my car as I left the local Dollar Tree took down my license plate and followed me to my subdivision. I live in a gated community so they couldn't get in. The cops apologized and left because I wasn't drinking nor under the influence of drugs . I also has a handicap pass hanging from the rear view mirror. It's my left leg that causes my abnormal gait so driving isn't the issue but I feel extremely humiliated and frustrated. It's over 80 degrees and heat hits me hard WTF!!!!!!

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ssmme wrote:It's over 80 degrees and heat hits me hard WTF!!!!!!

WTF indeed, ssmme. So sorry it happened to you! Even though I don't always need to take my cane everywhere I go, I like to carry it through parking lots hoping to slow down drivers speeding in my direction, and even that doesn't slow them much.

I have to agree with Bob here also:

Damn cell phones. Everyone's got one and most everyone is trying to find a chance to use it and be a hero.

Take a deep breath and down a cold drink...we're with you on this.
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I'm still so upset. I can't stop crying. My husband asked the cops if my car was weaving or if my driving looked erratic but they said that was a question to the "good" citizen who said no. Just the concern of the "good" citizen over the way I walked.

Oh BTW it was TWO police cars that came. Not one but TWO!

ssmme wrote:I'm still so upset. I can't stop crying. My husband asked the cops if my car was weaving or if my driving looked erratic but they said that was a question to the "good" citizen who said no. Just the concern of the "good" citizen over the way I walked.

I'm so sorry, and I think I'd feel the same absolute frustration! I doubt that there's a thing you can do about the good citizen yourself, except hope the cops explained and made him/her feel TERRIBLE about their mistake. (Can you ask them if they did?)

I would write a thought-provoking letter to the editor (definitely not a rant!) however, in hopes that it would make others more careful in the future - and make yourself feel better. If you don't feel up to it, maybe your husband will.

I'm upset, too...

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Thanks for the words of sympathy. I just feel frustrated. I'm doing my best and still can't seem to get a break. Oh yeah and as my neurologist says - try to avoid stress. Anybody have a hole I can crawl in?

SS,
You should definitely be proud of who you are and of your independence. It's the "good" citizen who should be squirming with embarrassment & humiliation. Would it make you feel better to imagine yourself confronting this person with a sarcastic smile and something like "so, you get your kicks from harassing people with disabilities???"
Kara

I just wonder if this person even knows what the outcome was. I'm don't even know if she/he was told what the situation really was. It's bad enough that I have no control over what ms will do to me. But now I have to worry that I am being scrutinized even more because of this damn disease.

SS
Please consider writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper. It might make you feel better and maybe the idiot "good" citizen may actually see it. Or maybe some other potential "good" citizen idiot may read it and think before they do the same thing to someone else.

A couple of years ago I was riding my bike on a bike path and came upon two men who were walking side-by-side. They refused to allow me to pass because they said "they had already allowed too many people to go by" (as if there were some quantity of people who were allowed to pass). They told me I could go through the grass, I told them I couldn't because I had MS (it killed me to tell them). They still refused. So I turned around and rode back home, told my husband and burst into tears! He got into the car, found them, asked if they had seen me. They said yes. He said he just wanted to see if a**holes like them actually did exist and now he saw that they did! He said they were speechless when he left.

I understand how humiliated you feel because I felt the same. The only thing that made me feel better (aside from my husband sticking up for me!) is the knowledge that some day these guys will get their payback. And so you should think the same thing about the idiot "good" citizen. And as far as the police calling that person a "good" citizen, are you as tired of political correctness as I am???? This person wasn't a "good" citizen, he/she was just a busy body sticking their nose where is didn't belong!

Hugs to you!

Lori

I love that doctors always tell you to "avoid stress." Seriously? Let's see.. you aren't doing anything to help me, I am trying really hard to keep my job, I have medical bills to pay, a child to support and I have freakin' MS! What could I possibly have to be stressed about??
Sorry.. I just had to vent when I read that...
You have nothing to be ashamed of, you can't change simple minds. Keep your head up and stay strong.

Hi ssme
big cyberhug! < >
I think Loriyas' idea of a letter to the local newspaper is a great idea. Cathartic for you, education for the wider public, including hopefully that idiot who rang the cops!

One of the first times I ventured out after my biggest relapse a deacade ago I just went across the road to a shop. I passed a group of teenages and they laughed and mimicked my weird walk. I remember getting home in a sweat and crying for the rest of the day. It feels really awful when you are held up to scrutiny.

I hope the feeling passes soon. Remember that was just one stupid person. You are brilliant......!

A BIG thank you to everyone for the words of encouragement. I know in time I'll probably look back and see a bit of humor in this. I'm going to try scribing a letter to the editor but I don't want to use my own name. I'm still a little creeped out about somebody watching me, following me, judging me.

Big hugs to all you guys!!!

Marcia

I'll echo what Bob wrote - this person probably thought he/she was being a good citizen, but any moron should be able to tell the difference between walking with a limp and staggering from being drunk.

Maybe it's somewhat of a compliment that they felt it necesarry to send 2 cops "to take you down." (Sorry, bad joke.)