As the knob slowly turned, a voice called out “can you push the door open?“. I could, I did and was promptly greeted by a stunning woman with a mission at the forefront of her mind.
Deirdre and I chatted at the entryway in that friendly manner of people who have not yet previously met face-to-face, but who know, perhaps, a bit about each other. She asked about my heritage, I about hers, discovering our similarities, our differences, the things people reveal about each other when first they meet. She told me about her name, Deirdre, a figure from Irish folklore, and I told her mine, Penelope, of Homeric legend.
Deirdre invited me further inside. I followed as she maneuvered her wheelchair, pushing buttons as she navigated into her kitchen. She brewed for me a cup of coffee, placed a sheet of cookies into the oven to bake, set the timer, let the dog in, found her tablet, and situated herself next to me at the countertop of the kitchen’s island, which is where we dove into the purpose of our meeting – Deirdre’s website.
Deirdre has Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Her life, and the lives of her family and friends, has been profoundly impacted by MS in ways many of us might imagine, and in so many other ways we likely have not. A woman of faith and compassion, Deirdre’s wit and wisdom, practicality and frustrations, insight and vision are all bundled up in her purposeful mission to invite conversation, comfort, compassion and community to all, but, particularly to those confined to a wheelchair – living one’s life on wheels.
Dear readers, I invite you to visit Deirdre’s website/blog, perhaps leave a comment or pass her link on to someone who is wheelchair confined or who lives with someone who is, knows someone or, of equal importance, to those engaging in this life-long process of extending compassion to others. We are all on this journey in life together and you, my friends, are the best of travelers and of encouraging others. In advance, I thank you.
You can find Deirdre’s posts at https://www.livinglifeonwheels.com/blog/
Image of Deirdre from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deirdre
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
I just commented on her last but one post, but the comment vanished, so I don’t know if she’ll see it. Good blog – as I said to her, I don’t think differently about people in wheelchairs than people not in them.
I can’t see how to follow her blog… any ideas?
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Oh, Val, thank you so much for visiting her site and for commenting. One of the things she is working on is being able to respond to comments. I will let her know that you have commented and hopefully she will see it and be able to respond. I have not, as yet, been able to follow her, but, I have her bookmarked and check it now once a week. I will try to do a follow-up post in the near future.
Thank you.
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I’ll try putting the URL of her blog in the Reader and see if that works. Thanks. 🙂
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I will check that blog out Penny! I love what you did with your names – two mighty women! 😀
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Thank you, Janet. 🙂
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Thank you for introducing us to Deirdre, Penny. I checked out her blog, but was unable to comment. There’s a woman with MS who frequents our local Walmart. She buzzes around in her wheelchair, chatting with everyone. She’s one of the sweetest persons you’ll ever meet.
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You are very welcome, Jill. Thank you for checking Deirdre’s blog. I think she is still working on commenting and a few other blog technicalities. Thank you for your words here.
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What a striking description of the meeting of two mythic women. I like the way you describe her adeptly doing all those kitchen & other tasks, from her wheelchair. I will visit her blog.
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Thank you, Juliet. I learned quite a bit about living a life on wheels from Deirdre in the few hours I spent with her. I hope to visit with her again.
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Having to live with disabilities brings challenges that healthy people like us know little about. I have a blind girlfriend that is so positive and full of life that I am often ashamed when I find myself complaining.
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I think we all have friends whose very actions and positivity are examples for us to aspire to, Gerlinde. I am often checking myself at my myriad of petty complaints. Thanks for commenting, Gerlinde.
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I definitely would like to meet Deirdre, Penny. I have many friends with extreme physical challenges and I often witness the efforts made to navigate what I may not even think about. It’s lovely to widen the community and you are a good bridge, my friend. ❤️
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Thank you, Debra. I appreciate your kind words and am certain that you are a good friend to all. I hope that in posting and connecting, Deirdre’s conversation with others can get a start.
On another note, we hit 100 degrees yesterday! Yikes! I think we’ve broken a record, but, the Chicago area always likes to break records – no matter how hot. 🙂
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Dear Penny, thank you for telling us about Deirdre. Peace.
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You are very welcome, Dee. Peace.
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Deirdre’s website is lovely, Penny. Thank you for championing it.
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Thank you, Linda. I hope it helps Deirdre out and appreciate you visiting her site. Hope you had a nice, weekend, hot as it was.
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Bill smashed his foot in an accident (goodness 20+years ago now) and was in a wheel chair for several months …. her post that said ‘Hey, I’m still here’ resonated — we really noticed that …in a restaurant, a waitress actually said to me ‘does he want more water’ …. oh, we could almost laugh a little about it because we knew it was temporary. But it made us very sensitive to how we interact with people on wheels (not that we were ever that bad)……
I could not figure out how to comment on your friend’s blog, so I’m letting you know!
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I think that post will resonate with many, Sallie. I am hoping others will read it. I’m sure you were always sensitive to others, but, our own actual infirmities help make us much more so. There are two women who are wheelchair confined at our church. They are greeters. One woman brings them. I am constantly amazed at the number of people who walk right by one woman pushing two women in wheelchairs and don’t offer to help.
Thank you for letting me know. Deirdre is working on the mechanics. I hope others will be able to comment soon.
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