Crikey!

I used to ride around in the backs of cars/blazers/suburbans without the aid of a seatbelt all the time when I was a kid. No big deal. My dad had even rigged up a sleeping platform on top of the luggage in the back of the suburban - it was the prized spot for road trips.

And I will mention here that I was never, not even once, afraid of dying. My sister and I thought it was fun to lie down and try to guess just by watching the passing scenery if we knew where we were.

All that has changed now. But, it probably didn't help that I was riding on top of a unsecured, backless wheelchair at freeway speeds today. Oh, and the chair was facing backwards. I have a whole new respect (distaste) for tailgaters. People! Back off!

How did I come to be in this position? We picked up Ty's new wheelchair today - FINALLY!

My mom came along as Puke Patrol - moms are the greatest! Ty did fine on the way up and also while we were at the fitting appointment (2 1/2 hours).

However, we had only driven a mile towards home when he began trying to throw up. We pulled over to help him, but what he really needed was to get home and lie down.

The only problem was that there was no way we could figure out for someone to sit by him and help him till we got there as we had both wheelchairs side by side in the middle row of the minivan. The old one was in a state of partial disassembly, but I needed a wrench (that I didn't have) to take it apart enough so I could fit it into the back, in order to have room enough to kneel on the floor next to him.

We know, because we tried to fit that stupid thing back there and it looked just like the whole jamming a "square peg into a round hole" bit. We struck on the brilliant plan to turn the wheelchair around so it was facing backwards and then that way I could finagle my way next to him and sit backwards while holding the puke bucket.

That deal was definitely easier said than done - but we did it! My mom became the driver and I, the puke-meister. In the meantime, we had to go through crazy maneuvers not meant for people of my size and age so we could get his chair reclined and re-secured.

None of this is making any sense as I type this (but maybe that's because I got up at 6:30 today for the first time in...since forever!)

Anyway, so my mom is driving and do you remember that funny thing about the brakes in the van? Well, every time she accelerated or braked, the wheelchair base would roll 2-3 inches underneath me. And goodness, there is a lot of accelerating and braking involved in rush-hour driving.

All this while gripping onto a seatbelt strap for some sort of stability with one hand, holding the puke bin with the other, ducking my head to keep from hitting the roof of the van, and having no back to rest against for forty minutes.

Do I sound like I'm complaining? Do I? Because there are some people who would pay good money for thrills like this. I'm thinking of a new ride for Universal Studios: Ty's Van Ride of Puke and Maybe Even Death. Sounds promising, right?

But, nevermind, because Ty got his new wheelchair today and it's time for a party!!!!

As a side note, it will not be a huge party because the lovely thing cost roughly enough to purchase a very small, very used commuter car. But it's here, and now he can sit!

Pictures to follow as soon as I work out this kink in my back.