Thread: I want to go to Europe

I want to go so bad, I can almost taste it!

Unfortunately, I won't have the money for another 2 to 3 years... and by that time, I may be in the wheelchair... which will complicate things and make it even more costly, possibly too costly and becomes impossible.

I would like to see Maria and Roach while I can stay on 2 feet, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen that way.

I would also like to see Rome, Spain, Ireland and London. If I can get a detour to the Neatherlands, even better.

Alas, the dream may only remain a dream. I don't care if you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddist, Pagan ... just say a small prayer to whomever that I'll make it, and I'll be happy with that.

I can help you look for cheap filights and cheap hotels
I would love to see you visiting us Ober!

Originally Posted by Oberdan

I want to go so bad, I can almost taste it!

Unfortunately, I won't have the money for another 2 to 3 years... and by that time, I may be in the wheelchair... which will complicate things and make it even more costly, possibly too costly and becomes impossible.

I would like to see Maria and Roach while I can stay on 2 feet, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen that way.

I would also like to see Rome, Spain, Ireland and London. If I can get a detour to the Neatherlands, even better.

Alas, the dream may only remain a dream. I don't care if you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddist, Pagan ... just say a small prayer to whomever that I'll make it, and I'll be happy with that.

Would love to show you around if you can make it buddy. Don't know about your financies but would not a low interest loan fit the bill??

Originally Posted by Oberdan

Alas, the dream may only remain a dream. I don't care if you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddist, Pagan ... just say a small prayer to whomever that I'll make it, and I'll be happy with that.

You got it Ober, but I'm afraid I may have missed something, wheelchair?

A lot of times, airlines and hotels offer discounts to disabled customers. You might try looking into that should the need arise. (which hopefully it won't)

Maritxu,

You're a dream. When the time comes, we'll compare notes. Some travel agents like to make a nice commission.

Roach,

Since an operation in 2000, without being able to work, my personal credit is shot full of holes or I would do it in a flash. In the last 18 years of my marriage, I kept my credit and My Wife's credit seperate on purpose, in case something bad happened, we wouldnt be totally out in the street. Thank God I protected her Credit, because we would be up the creek by now as she is the only one who can bring in income.

Dubyas,

Thank you! I didn't know this and I can shop for those discounts if the need arises.

Sparta,

I have severe Degenerative Disc Disease. While the title is scary and mainly a misnomer since it's not really a disease that is catchable... it is degenerative. Right now, I walk with a cane and not very far. A trip to my mailbox is an effort, a trip to the grocery store will put me down for a day or two. Regardless of where I go, because of spinal compression, I am a fall risk. Sometimes I just lose all strength in my legs and I topple like a tree when someone yells 'Timber!". There is a shot to my spine I can get that is in the thousands of dollars that would make me able to move around ok for 8 weeks... but I can only have it once a year because it's powerfully toxic to my organs. I have no medical insurence and that is part of the cost for me to go to Europe so I can see everything.

The surgery I need is called Lumbar Fusion. As my discs compress, they turn slightly. Some turn to the left, others turn to the right. They would fuse them back into place with bone grafts and re-seperate the distance. However, it is a 50/50 chance for success.

That 50/50 isn't life and death, thank God. The good side of that, my pain goes away but I am permanently hobbling with a cane... that nerve damage is forever no matter what. The bad side of that is the other disks may start to compress and rotate that is right next to the fused bones. If that happenes, I will be unable to walk 'or' sit upright. I will end up bed-bound.

Because the bad side of that coin flip is so severe, I am opting not to have the extensive bone fusion. That will garuntee a life in the wheelchair farther down the road, but not being bed bound. They don't know when I will end up in one. 2 or 3 years... or as long as 5 years. But I will not make it to 45 without a wheelchair for certain. That's in 7 years... maximum time.

Hehe I hope that's a bad estimate, but I'm not so sure. I used to be 5 foot 9. Two years ago, I was 5 foot 7. Just not too long ago, I am now 5 foot 5. Once I hit 5 foot 2, that will be it. Too much crunch.

The real shitty part is the disability. Nobody while hire me of course, I'm more limited in abilities than most people who are in a wheelchair.

I could go on about how the Disability Doctor asked me to bend my knees and look down, and his staff had to help me off the floor and wheeled me out to my car, looked at the MRI where all the twisting and compression was and still said I could go to work. But that is a rant for a different thread.

Ah Oberdan how I know disability doctors and their sick twisted evil ways. I have a degenerative muscle disconnection disease and rheumatoid arthritis so I in fact REALLY feel your pain. Oh the shots are great for the symptom but the side effects are worse than the actual disease. I love the shakes I sometimes get...especially when I am sipping a nice cup of freshly brewed coffee at Starbucks and it ends up all over the front of my shirt. I have a few of those shirts I now use as dust rags. I don't get those shakes much now that most of my muscle has deteriorated...good thing I used to do body building or I might be gone already...LOL! Nah this thing won't kill me, unless I let it. I do everything in my willpower to keep myself otherwise healthy. I've fallen a few times, once just last week in fact but I usually am alone when that happens so I've made floor pillows and hope I am near one when that event takes place...usually one is...WHEW! I fell in a store once and someone said "She must be pretty drunk"...Nice huh? As my friend used to tell me "cure the pain through mind over matter"...Easier said than done but when I think of how I'll feel after taking the pain meds I've been given, I remember what he said and it's a piece of cake!

damn.
Kinda makes me happy for my good health, sorry if that seems a lil arrogant on my part.

sorry if that seems a lil arrogant on my part.

It doesn't at all. However I will say don't ever discount your health.

Maritxu,

You're a dream. When the time comes, we'll compare notes. Some travel agents like to make a nice commission.

I have never traveled with an agency, they just want to make money for something you can do through the internet. For everything you need, I'm just one PM away.