While reading the chapter by M. Nelson I became frustrated at the thought that men and women will never be considered equals in the sporting arenas.   I agree that woman are excluded and devalued when it comes to various sports and that women are not considered great athletes.  I would like to see a  football player go out and try to be a cheerleader or a gymnist, probably would  make for a great Funniest Home Video, but he wouldn’t do very well, just as a tiny gymnist wouldn’t do well on the football field other than get sandwiched by a 300 pound running back!  There are so many different sporting opportunites for a reason, people are made differently and have so many different talents, but still women are inferior to men.  This day and age there are more women and men taking an interest in a sport that at one time wouldn’t be considered for them but they participate because they are capable regardless of how it use to be.  I think men see women as a competetor and I hope that is the  way it continues so everyone’s mind set can change. 

While I was reading the Social Construction of Disability a good friend of mine came to mind and it was nice to go back and think about him and reflect on what he goes through every day.  I am from a small, rural town in South Dakota where kids are allowed to get a motorcycle license at a very young age,  as early as age 13, or we could back then I should say.  One  late afternoon he was riding into town on his motorcycle and a woman was blinded by the falling sun and pulled out and hit him, throwing him into the air and then coming in contact with a stop sign, alive but extremely critically injured.  He was hospitalized for a very long time, surgery after surgery to repair so much of his broken body but never could the doctors “fix” his legs.  The very tall, lanky athlete would never regain the use of his legs again, a whole new life would be his now.  He was only in the 10th grade at the time and he missed most of that year recooperating in rehab, but was able to catch up and eventually graduate with his class, no walking across that stage for him but at least he did it!  He was use to a life of wheelchairs and ramps and now the use of elevators no matter where he would go.  None of this would keep him down.  He attended a University in Minnesota and was a member of their w/c basketball team and also the  track team.  He is very capable of driving a car, I believe one of his current cars is a red Corvette and a Jeep so his whole family, wife and daughter, can ride together.  Nothing much really holds him down, he has always had a good outlook on life, as I believe in his mind he knows that he was given a second chance at life!  He doesn’t get angry about his disablity or the challenges that he faces on a daily basis and most people don’t look down on him as an invalid but as a very successful banker.   I believe he is doing well due to his strong beliefs, his ablity to look past the ignorant and continue to stay the positive person that he is. 

I am not sure if this is what I am suppose to be writing but this is something going through my head right now. It is Monday and we are all out of school/work today and here I am cleaning a bit around the house, doing the laundry and watching the kids but where is my husband? On the couch, he’s watching TV and ignoring the ding of the dryer. I take a quick shower between loads and after I get dressed I see him sitting there in front of the TV and say that I thought just maybe he would’ve at least gotten the clothes out but no he hadn’t even thought about it. Shortly after that he left with his buddy and our son to go dove hunting. How ironic, what I am doing?? Yes the rest of the laundry. Frustrated? Yes, quite!

Hello friends!  I know everyone is in disbelief but I successfully created my very own Blog!!  I hope you all are as impressed as I am with this!  I never knew what I was capable of, I have to keep in mind I can do anything!  

“If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right.” 

Henry Ford