From where I sit

By Mary Hepburn

One thing I've learned is that I can't do anything on the spur of the moment, especially traveling. Spontaneity is out the window!

For a person in a wheelchair, I have learned to plan every detail if I want to survive the adventure.

Since I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 20 years ago, I have had my share of experiences when it comes to traveling. I will share these highlights and lowlights with you, but first you need to know a little about me.

In a nutshell, I grew up in North Platte, with stops in Canada and Washington, D.C., until I came full circle and moved back to North Platte eight years ago.

I've taught high school and college journalism and have written for national publications. Now I write a column for the religion page in the North Platte Telegraph. I am also involved on two committees to improve accessibility in North Platte.

Although I would love to travel, I can't travel on a small commercial airplane or even on a bus. So I must rely on my trusty 1986 Ford van to get me from Point A to B. Since I don't have the use of my hands, hand controls are out of the question. When I should have

gotten hand controls, I lived in D.C. Need I say more?

Yes, I have learned that a lot of thought and planning must go in to even the shortest trip.
Last year I traveled to Grand Island from North Platte for a meeting every other month on a Thursday. I was a board member for The Center for Independent Living. Although Grand Island is only two-plus hours away for most automobiles, that was not the case for me. My trips were an all-day affair.

This is how my day went. I would get up at 5:30 a.m. in order to be on the road by 8 a.m. for a meeting that started at noon. Besides the driver, another person would be on hand to assist me.
We had a checklist to make sure the van would be comfortable for the trip. This list included water bottle, snacks, map and directions, cell phone, sunglasses, footstool, pillows and blankets.

After the meeting, we would take a break and then turn the van around and head back on the Interstate for the trip home. Time of arrival home was usually around 6 p.m. Hopefully the trip would be uneventful. What a long day that was.

Since I volunteer at St. Patrick's Junior-Senior High School on Fridays, I would not be able to teach that day. Instead, I would spend the day in recovery mode because the trip was strenuous.
As you can see, there is a lot of planning necessary for any kind of a trip. Spontaneity may be out of the question, but that doesn't mean traveling will take a back seat. It is important to me to continue to find ways to remain mobile.