So, Here Are the Pics From Today...

I figured if I waited a bit, then tried to post these, Blogger would FINALLY let me post them. And, yes, they did! Here is a picture of one of the ponds hidden in the woods on the trails we explored earlier today.

Here is another view. Mark was really encouraged when he saw these, because he can ride his ATV on the paths, being able to go around the ponds. He so misses being able to hike and explore new areas. It is kind of weird how we don't really notice how hard it is for disabled people to enjoy new things unless we know or live with a person who is disabled and they convey this to us...Mark is always looking at inventions other disabled people have crafted. In a world where we take walking for granted, when one loses the ability to walk, it really causes a great deal of stress. For the first three or four years after Mark suffered a spinal cord injury, he never went inside a store. He was just so bummed at the thought of using a wheelchair to get around. Life was tough....Now, he uses the chair. but oftimes feels very uncomfortable using it. The ATV gives him a new freedom that causes him to be on equal ground with "walking" folks. The bad news is that most people think of half-crazed kids doing donuts and driving like madmen on ATV's. Because this is the general concensus, folks like Mark suffer....he would love it if he could get a special permit to be able to drive the ATV on the small roads nearby. He longs to ride next to the kids as they ride their mountain bikes. No way. In most states in the US, ATV's are equated to trouble, or troublemakers. How sad...if we lived in the city, Mark could drive a handicap "scooter" on the sidewalk. Being handicapped is such a double whammy....so much insult in the form of injustice is added to the injury suffered.....

On a happier note, here are some pretty flowers I found growing near the pond.