Continued from the previous message...
. 
library books, once or twice 10, but this is not a practical load for 
him.
* Getting things for me that are out of reach. He has fetched shoes or 
particular clothes for me from across the room, while I am still 
restricted to bed (ie don't have callipers on). I have to have patience 
for this one, as he may not be sure what I want.  Usually I get him to 
look in a particular area, and he will ask, is it this, no, is it that, 
Yeesss! We do it as a game. Big rewards for me.
It has not been all beer and skittles (ie easy and fabulous), but it is 
not hard to see what a wonderful help he is to me, and hence the 
confidence I can have that I am less likely to have trouble when he 
is around.
One thing i am very particular about, is that he not encouraged to  become 
over protective of me, as this is in incompatible with 
people picking me up when I fall over, or carrying me up steps, if need 
be. For this reason, I can have him at the foot of the dentists chair, 
or in my room when the nurse is doing dressings on me, including my 
buttock where I had an abscess cut out about 3 months ago.
However, with a 5year bond between us, I expect that he would become 
protective is a seriously threatening situation. That is not the reason 
I got him. nevertheless, it is reassuring to have him sitting back and 
to my side when I open the door to a stranger.
He also makes it easier for me to walk through the crowds of town with 
him on a lead and his saddle pack. This way I get more room than I 
would have got without him, when people would nearly trip over one's 
canadian crutches. They seem to see the gap between my shoulders and the 
next person's, and go for that, assuming that it is free space. But  
it appears free because my crutches are taking up the space. Now they see 
the dog and allow a bit more room.
*
And of course I still find more things he can help me with as time goes 
on. I am working on developing the game for him to find my car keys by 
scent.
BL> For a little 
personal history: I like to know who I am talking to, and to hear how 
they are managing.
I had Polio in 1945 and have used
 BL> the braces ever since.  
I did not think that many people were able to use 2 lockkneed 
callipers, so you must be one of the rare ones
I've been married since 1962 and have raised
 BL> two children.  Now have 5 grandchildren.  The oldest, Joey, lives
 BL> with his grandma and me.
You don't say how old he is, but I guess that will keep you thinking 
young, providing the energy holds up. I t must be an interesting 
experience to be a parent again.
  I've been sysop of IRONSIDES BBS since
 BL> 1992 and have been around ABLED all that time too, even though I
 BL> don't post much anymore.
I hope you do find this, if you are interested. It has gone longer than 
I would have liked, but I just write, and don't really want to chop it 
when I realise how long it is. you did say you wanted to know more 
or Zuga's uses to me.
regards
Allan
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 X RM 1.3 02650 X Drive no faster than your guardian angel can fly.
--- Maximus/2 2.02
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