Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away.
I'm sure that's how stroke survivors feel when they get so close to recovery that they can smell it. Only it's just so elusive, always keeping us at bay. Like when something falls just out of reach, as it does in actuality, and you look for some other object for help (a shoe, a fork or a stick) that you can use in order to drag it within touch.
When I find myself in those situations angst overtakes me, I breathe in deeply, grimace and say to myself, "not again." It usually happens when I'm on the couch, when I discover the TV remote is on the other side of the coffee table. So I grab a piece of cushion and scooch over a bit while swinging the table around toward me until I can reach it.
Or today when I dropped a sardine sitting at the table. I decided that I would just leave it for Bam to lick up, but then realized it might start smelling like… fish. And besides that Chris would not be too happy with me. What I wanted to do first, was what any able-bodied person would try to do – pick up the sardine.
You would think that as tightly as they are packed together, sardines would remain intact when you try to pick it up. But that's not the case. Sardines are really pretty fragile, and tend to break off in tiny chunks. By the time it's all over, you have created a slimy mess.
I had to move the table back so I could have a better angle to reach the stinky little fish without bumping my head against the tabletop. It remained just beyond reach. Mind you, I was frustrated by the fact that I could use only my left side. Same old story.
A couple of days prior, I received my Shoe Slider in the mail . It is something I discovered two weeks ago online as a possible answer to my right side drop foot woes. The Shoe Slider is actually a bowling accessory designed to help bowlers slide better on the follow through. And since I have been having problems with my in-step dropping and catching up on the floor, I thought it would be a good product to look into.
It has worked out quite well for me, though it's only good on wood floors and other smooth surfaces. It doesn't slide as easily on carpet, but it doesn't get stuck either. Unless a concrete surface has been polished or finished smoothly, it will stick.
The Shoe Slider is easy to put on and take off.
- Slips on over the sole of a shoe to increase sliding ability.
- Perfect for synthetic surfaces, high humidity areas or anywhere additional slide is needed.
- Scan-suede construction with elastic retaining band
- One size fits most, From Youth size 5 up to a Men's size 14, medium width.
I mainly use it inside my house on wood floors. If I need to, I will walk on carpet. I practice my walking by extending my hip forward then following with lifted knee and aim for a robust stride.
I am always on the lookout for items that can help me better adapt to everyday situations, and make life more accessible. The Shoe Slider is not perfect. I still need something that can work on rough surfaces, while remaining durable and still be made of fabric, This product has the potential to help "you nearer your destination."
Until next time.