SLO On One Foot

I’m kind of judgy; I can’t lie.

“Oh, you go to Chick-fil-A? Does the chicken sandwich taste the same every day?”

“Business major? When did you rush?”

But more seriously, I think I misjudged disabled people. I remember seeing a guy, alone, in a motorized wheelchair during Orientation.

“Hey, how’s it going?” I imagined myself saying. His eyes lighting up, and then I would have to walk with him and everyone would be side-eyeing us. I’d want to try out the gym or beach volleyball courts but I wouldn’t because I was too proud of my new “disabled” friend.

And then I broke my ankle. Up, down, their eyes went. Their feet scooted around me, giving a nice, 3-foot radius.

Oh God. And I remembered—was it only a month ago, that I too darted over the opposite sidewalk?

But I’m not alone. On the second day of WOW Week, I met Big Purple Cast and a Scooter.

“What happened?”

“I was backpacking in Utah…”

“Backpacking? Wait, have you been to Lassen National Park?”

And suddenly, his name was Brandon. Backpacker, hiker, mountain biking…We didn’t even hear a single word Victor Glover said.

And then I met Shaggy Hair and a Boot.

“What happened?”

“I was skateboarding.”

“Ah, ok. What’s your major?”

“Math.”

“Why did you choose it?”

“I love to understand the ‘why’ behind number theory. Currently, I’m working on a project about the Riemann Zeta function, where you can measure the frequency of prime numbers…”

Chris? Chris. Yes, that’s him. I remember our two sets of crutches in 1901 Marketplace, the stares and chuckles, but I was too focused on his furious scribbles to even care anymore.  

I could go on and on about the wonderful people I’ve met, people who I once saw as crutches, scooters, boots, and wheelchairs. It’s enough for me to say that taking SLO on one foot has certainly changed my perspective—not just for those disabled, but for everyone. 

“Chick-fil-A? You know, I’ve actually never been there yet. I’d be down to going some time with you. We gotta swap writing!”

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