> 04-27-05  17:24, Barbara Mcnay told James Bradley
 > about Cope With Helpers?

 >  How do, Barbara?

 >>>  BM> How do those of you who can't walk normally, cope with
 >>>  BM> people who rush up and inadvertently interfere with your
 >>>  BM> progress through a door, or worse, threaten your safety by
 >>>  BM> yanking or pushing the door that you were leaning on?

 >>> That's a good question! You know they have good in
 >>> their heart right?

 >>> How I deal with it, is usually hand signals, and maybe
 >>> a sharp "NO, thanks."

 >>  BM> I have to learn to be a little sharper, sometimes, when
 >>  BM> people persist.  I occasionally tell them that I need the
 >>  BM> exercise, which is true.

 >> LOL! I've used that one too, but even that didn't give
 >> them the hint. For me, when I can - and like to - haul
 >> my own. Even when I mentioned that carrying weight on
 >> my left, gives my right leg a break... NADA! /-:

 >  BM> Yes.  When I was using a cane, people sometimes tried to
"help" by
 >  BM> taking my  large tote bag, but their doing that removed a
 >  BM> counterbalance that I depended on, and made me much more
 >  BM> insecure walking in open areas.

 > Even if they have "POLICE" or "FBI" on their sweaters,
 > they might just be a thief trying to make off with
 > your bag! 

That's perfectly true, unfortunately.  And having "POLICE" on the
back of a sweater, if the encounter is legitimate, isn't very helpful to
the person in front.

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