Standing Wheelechair Blush

I’ve always been a bit apprehensive about using the standing function on my wheelchair, which allows me to go from sitting to a fully vertical position, supporting my knees and back. When I do it, I feel like a transformer or cyborg, which is kind of cool. But there’s a downside too—people often stare, confused or astonished by the sight. I remember once leaving a bar with my roommate, Noble, when someone called me "Professor X," referencing the X-man character who uses a wheelchair. I hated the stereotype, but then again, I do love the movie, so it’s a bit complicated.

Yesterday, I decided to conduct a small experiment. I parked myself outside Think Coffee, holding a hot drip coffee in my hand, and put the chair in the standing position to see how people would react. Some seemed nervous, while others gave a simple nod in acknowledgment. One guy, passing by in a wheelchair with his parents, looked up at me, giving me a smirk that said, "Wow, keep doing what you're doing; the future might be brighter for our son."

The real inspiration for using the standing function, though, came from a walk with a girl named Katie. She also uses a wheelchair, and over the last couple of weeks, I’ve found myself really drawn to her. She's cute in a way that makes me blush like a kid who has no control over his emotions. I walked her back last Wednesday, and as we strolled together, I decided to try standing while I walked. I figured it would be a subtle way to flirt without directly asking to hold her hand, since she needed both hands to control her manual chair. It was a short walk, just five minutes, but it felt significant. I’m learning that relationships take time to build, and sometimes you just need to take it slow—literally and metaphorically.

Two weeks ago, Katie and I went to Fotografiska, the photography museum on 5th & 20th. I was zooming around on profile two of my chair, which goes about 8-9 miles per hour, while she tried her best to keep up in her manual chair. Later that day, she texted me, saying her heart and lungs were exhausted from the effort, and she spent the next few days recovering. She’s since bounced back and even performed a comedy skit show last night, which was an impressive turnaround. It got me thinking: I used to feel like I had to rush everywhere, always zooming ahead. Now, I’m learning to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy life’s pace. After all, why rush when life is magical in its own time?

So, whether it’s standing in public or taking my time with Katie, I’m realizing that sometimes it’s the slower moments that matter most. Relationships don’t have to be rushed, and life’s too short to race through it.