6/24
Today is the day I went back to the botanical gardens. They are opening on Thursday, June 25 to members, with limited days and times and scheduled visits. Today, Wednesday it is open to volunteers only. I made my appointment for first thing at 10 am to beat the heat . I purposely didn’t get a ticket for my husband because I thought this way I could hook up with some other volunteers to go around the garden and push me if I needed to be pushed.
As it got closer to the time to leave I started to talk myself out of going. I wished I had asked my husband, what if I didn’t meet up with anyone who volunteered to push me, (I still never ask for help), we had to enter through the back entrance and I wasn’t sure where that was. I had all kinds of reasons. I told my husband I might not go and he pulled up a map and showed me exactly where the back entrance was and I forced myself to go. I thought I had to push myself. If no one was there to help I could tour the part of the gardens that had no hills and see if I could visit the employees in the gift shop and then go home.
I found the back entrance, no problem. As I was entering, the staff from the gift shop came out and welcomed me and asked for me to stop by when I was done! I started to go out in the garden. First people I met up with was a woman, Joann and her husband Frank, who was also in a wheelchair. It had a chain and he was pedaling, only with his arms. I had never seen a wheelchair like that and asked him about it. We had a nice conversation and went on our way. Soon after I met up with them again in the herb garden and Joann asked if I wanted to see the garden with them and she would push if I needed. Thank you God! I got to know them; he is paralyzed from the neck down from a bicycle accident and she is also a Master Gardener, in another county and is going to Master Gardener College online like me. They are also volunteers at the botanical gardens.
As usual, I did overdo it and every time she asked if I needed help I said no. Of course I got hot and tired and did ask her for help on the way back. I went into the gift shop and visited with the staff, it was so nice to see and talk with them. I can’t wait to go back and hopefully they will call soon.
I am proud of myself for going. It doesn’t seem like a big thing, but it is to me. I could so easily have given in to the negative thoughts and gotten more depressed and stayed home, but I didn’t and that’s why I’m so proud of myself!