Don't take it personally.

[rivka]

curiousangel isn't home this evening, so I went out for Mexican food by myself. When I got to the restaurant, I noticed that a van for some kind of entertainment business was parked in a handicapped spot. It turned out that there was some sort of wandering balloon animal guy whose van it was, and the manager of the restaurant promised to get it moved. So I sat down and ordered some food.

The van sat in the handicapped spot. And sat in the handicapped spot. And eventually I asked the balloon guy himself, and he explained that he had permission from management to park there.

I had my waitress send the manager out to my table. "It turns out that he has my boss's permission to park there," he told me.

"Handicapped parking is a state law," I said. "The restaurant doesn't get to say that it does or doesn't apply."

He shrugged. My food curdled in my stomach.

"Look, if I had known that it was the policy of this restaurant to value balloon animals over disabled access, I wouldn't have eaten here."

He shrugged again. "It's not as if there are any disabled people who haven't been able to get in."

My hands started to shake. I don't even remember what I said after that, except that I swore I'd never eat in that restaurant again. I did get the business card of the general manager. Then I went home and called the police non-emergency number, and the dispatcher promised to send someone to check it out. It's low-crime Howard County, so they might even do it.

I don't know why I'm so insanely angry, but I am. I'm furious. My meal was completely ruined - my stomach feels like a clenched fist and I have a sour taste in my mouth.

I've been passing as able-bodied for too long. I'd forgotten how it feels to have one's needs treated so contemptuously.

Comments

Thank you!

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

You did the right thing.