reacting to someone on crutches..

I am on crutches. I've been on crutches for more than a month thanks to a soccer player who was trying to relive the "glory" of his youth on an indoor soccer field. He kicked a ball I was going to kick and tore the MCL in my right knee.

Since I've used my crutches outside my apartment almost everyday I've seen different people's reactions to them.

One in particular sticks in my mind. One day, while I was in Target I was walking down a main aisle and I saw this little girl. She was maybe 3 years old. And she was walking with a woman I thought was her mom. She had the biggest smile on her face.

Then she saw me.

Immediately the smile disappeared and it looked like she saw a monster. Needless to say, she hid behind her mother and stared at me as I crutched past her.

Normally, however, people are very nice to me. They go out of their way to offer their help, opening doors, offering to carry things for me - whatever I need.

But, what I didn't realize is that, that all changes when people encounter me in the dark.

Case in point, last night. I went to a 20th anniversary record company party. I got there, and there were crowds of people outside, smoking. They wouldn't even move to let me in the door. I had to carry my crutches to fit in the door. I know they saw me, people can hear my crutches clicking a mile away. They just sat there.

It got worse inside. I sat off to the side, next to the bar. I cannot tell you the number of people who tripped on my crutches. NOT ONE APOLOGIZED. It got to the point where I started putting more weight on the crutches in the hopes that the next person tripped and fell.

Much to my continued disappointment that did not happen

But, last night made me realize that the way people treat someone on crutches in the dark is far different than the way people treat them when they can see their faces.

God, I cannot wait until I'm off these crutches