I am sitting at my desk this Friday afternoon, taking long phone calls, checking statistics and now, musing a bit and now writing this blog. This is the part of my day that has not been made harder by the orthopedic boot wrapped around my left foot.

I don’t have a dramatic story to tell about a skiing accident or a life-threatening surgery. I just have a bone spur on my heel that has painfully slowed me down for the entire summer (and most of the spring come to think of it).  My kids are tired of hearing me “ooch!” and “ouch!” as I move through the house. My husband would rather not see ice packs tied to my elevated foot at night as we watch TV (especially on vacation.) It’s not that he was planning to take me dancing but he’d rather not be the one to fetch water, snacks, etc. that I decide I want after the foot is prepped for bed!

So, the sore foot is not new and not really a big deal (hmmm?). I have been limping on and off around the office, attempting to buy summer sandals soft enough to walk around BlogHer in San Diego with and not look like a fashion-don’t. During the conference, I took cabs for short distances and attempted to hail a pedi-cab with another blogger but decided to push on instead. I paid for that later!

But it finally reached that moment this week when the foot doctor said, “How do you feel about wearing a boot?”

So, hear I am learning a new lesson. I have been mom to a child who spent almost a year in a wheelchair and subsequent months on crutches and using a cane. She will always be reminded of having a restructured limb that will keep her from competing in sports or running to catch a friend. But that is now part of her life. For me, it's new. So when I tried to use crutches or a cane she laughed at me, told me I was uncoordinated and would end up hurting myself. She was right. I pulled an arm muscle trying to use the crutches around a mall after I spent the day cleaning out the soggy basement after Tropical Storm Irene flooded our house which left my foot inflamed from being on it too long that day.

So for the moment, I am one of the walking disabled. I have joined the ranks of almost 50 million Americans. Our colleague Jonathan Kaufman of Disability Works reminded me once that disability is the only affinity group everyone might join one day. And here I am.

Getting around the house or the office is no big deal (I can manage a few stairs at home) but getting around New York City is another story, proving The City may never sleep but it does not serve people with disabilities well. 

I commute by train from my suburban home, where I am driven to the station. As long as the single elevator is working I can get to the platform without much of an issue. Then onto Manhattan. This morning, after I thought I had taken a late enough train to arrive on a main-level platform in Grand Central Terminal (GCT), the conductor announced: “We are arriving on the lower-level track… “

“Oh, no!” I cried out loud.

That means we commuters are a flight-and-a-half of stairs below GCT’s lowest level. The handicapped elevator is so far away that it doubles the distance on foot (I have pushed a wheelchair there in the past). One option is a flight of stairs to a long ramp which, if you are walking, is the easiest of the three choices. That route takes you to the Terminal’s lower floor.  From there it’s a city block to an escalator (which was operating today). 

Then the next choice comes. I can walk slowly 10 slightly uphill and downhill blocks to work; or walk another block out of my way to a double flight downstairs to a subway entrance and a second flight down to the subway platform and on the other end do the reverse; or grab a cab for $5 if I can get one. Today was a beautiful day so I hobbled. I was tired when I got to work. Last night, it was raining so I chose the subway up to GCT. When I got there, I found the exit area did not have an elevator and I hobbled up what felt like 10 stories. It was really two long flights.

Now I sit here thinking how long will this disability last? And in the meantime what can I do to help raise the voices of those who fight this and more everyday? Tonight, I will attend the gala benefit for The Museum of Motherhood (MOM) with my newest fashion accessory on my foot!  Once again, I am grateful for the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) that I can ride an elevator once in a while or walk up a ramp but some things could still be easier! What's your experience?