Wednesday, Oct. 6

Up at 6:30, but missed water aerobics, because I had agreed to participate in a Walk-and-Roll-Ability Survey, sponsored by AARP, a medical sciences hospital in the capital city, and a local wellness coalition.



The event began at 9 a.m., with refreshments of juices, coffee, fruits and breakfast bars. I had eaten before I left the house, so I didn't indulge.



There was a short training session, with speakers and a slide show, before we received site maps, checklists, red logo t-shirts, and one-time-use cameras. Each of us was assigned to a small area in town, where we assessed the safety and accessibility of sites. My site was an intersection of a busy four lane highway and entrance and exit roads between a strip mall and the WDCS.



I found that though there are crosswalks, drivers drove on top of the white lines meant for pedestrians. Even though I stood at the intersection in that bright red t-shirt, not one driver (except a police officer) stopped short of the crosswalk so I could walk across the street.



I also found that even though the crosswalk and sidewalks were recently installed, there is a large segment of sidewalk missing, making it impossible for a wheelchair to cross. Along the sidewalk, there is an entrance/exit to the strip mall. Though pedestrians are supposed to have the right of way, traffic whipped in and out of the entrance, and rather than watching out for me, they expected me to watch out for them.



In order to get to the intersection on foot, I had to park way out on the parking lot of the strip mall and walk a distance. My first chore was to get someone to take a picture of me so survey leaders would know who surveyed the site. So I stopped in the branch bank and asked a teller to do the honors.



Once I'd walked the site and taken pictures, I then filled out the sheaf of questionnaires. By the time I was finished, it was 11:30. I was the last one to return to the bank, where the event was held. Discussions were already underway, as the other participants reported their findings.



I grabbed a turkey sandwich, salad, and fruit, and joined the discussion. At the end of the discussion, we combined our findings to come up with a plan for making our town more accessible to people with handicaps, pedestrians, and bicyclists. This is all aimed at making it easier for folks to exercise for health, and thereby reduce obesity, which is the cause of many of our chronic health problems.

Our findings and concerns will be compiled into a report that will be brought back to us in a few months for refinement. Eventually, our suggestions will be passed along to community authorities, including the highway and transportation department (we were reminded that transportation includes not only motorized vehicles, but bicycles, wheelchairs, baby strollers, and our own feet).


Besides t-shirts, we were given $5 gift cards to the WDCS (as a part of their grand re-opening), and there were drawings for prizes. I won a pedometer.



The event ended around 1 p.m., and I was back home fifteen minutes later. Since there was a lot of fruit left over at the event, I snagged three plums to bring home.



While I was gone, the guys who were to repair the roof on the sunroom came. Hubbie was available to monitor the project. Now that the roof is fixed and the skylights have been removed, we should have no more problems with leaks when it rains.



Now, though, we need more light in that room, so we'll have to think about what sort of lighting system we'll want.



Later, Hubbie ran an errand to the pharmacy. While he was gone, Mother and I watched the musical, "Phantom of the Opera," on DVD. It is one of our all-time favorites, and we watch it every October.



Hubbie's not as enchanted by the movie as we are, so when he got back, he snoozed in his recliner.



Supper tonight was Salisbury steaks and gravy, with mashed potatoes, and Lima beans and spinach on the side. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I watched TV.

Note: There is a new breast cancer awarness campaign going around on a social network....women are asked to complete the sentnce, "I Like It ..." by telling where they keep their purses. The answers can be perceived as having a double meaning. On my social network site, for instance, women have completed the sentence with "on the kitchen counter," "on the washer," "on the doorknob," "on the recliner," "on the ottoman," "on the living room floor in front of the couch," "on the floor near the bed," etc. Mine is "I like it on the bar stool in the den." Funny and a little naughty-sounding at the same time.