2001-03-11 - 11:59 p.m.

Are You Handicapped?

Yesterday we got some more snow, but it was only a couple of inches. I was really afraid that we were going to be in trouble. After getting 27 inches the week before, could we find any place to put another foot? Thankfully, the snow melted a lot in the last week so the couple extra inches didn’t do that much damage.

Lily and I were tired of being housebound, so we decided to have lunch at a theme restaurant in the local mega-shopping-mall. However, when we got there it looked like everyone else in the area had the same idea. The place was packed! I mean week-before-Xmas type packed. I began to regret our little excursion.

In spite of the crowds, the restaurant we wanted to eat in was half empty. People seemed to wandering the central isle of the mall, but not many appeared to be going inside the stores.

Eventually we left the mall and walked out to our car, parked out in the hinterlands. In one of the handicapped spaces near the door a suburban-looking man in his early 50s was getting out of what appeared to be a brand-new SUV.

One of the people standing near the door took offense at this healthy fellow using a spot intended for people with disabilities. He bellowed: "HEY MISTER! ARE YOU HANDICAPPED???"

The guy getting out of the SUV gave the bellower a puzzled look. Then he pointed to a girl clambering out of the back of the vehicle, his daughter from all appearances, with casts on both legs and a pair of crutches.

Oops! Looks like some guy with anger issues has just made a fool of himself!

As we walked away, we heard the belligerent guy at the door trying to apologize. Meanwhile, the other people standing next to him, who were obviously with him, were cracking up with laughter.

Once again, another advertisement for not opening your mouth before you have all the facts.