Whenever a bell rings, an angel gets his wings AND an author gets published. Do you hear that bell dinging? Gary Presley's memoir is listed at Amazon and we can pre-order his books for delivery in October. Tra-la- tra-la. The angels are singing and waiting for their books to arrive.I've placed my order. Have you?
Why would I, you ask? Well, evidently you don't know Gary if you must ask. He's unique, and his life's story is a delightful blend of humor, anger, frustration and unvarnished truth with a touch of romance. You think life has been rough for you? Think about turning 17, anxious to step into manhood, ready to grab the world by the tail and make your mark. He was so ready to take that step and then polio made it impossible for him to ever take another step. For the past almost 50 years, Gary has fought for every minute of quality of life. First entombed in an iron lung he helplessly lived at the mercy of white hatted nurses, orderlies, doctors and that unfeeling machine that pumped air in and out of him when his own body refused.
His book "Seven Wheelchairs" tells about his journey 'boob high' to the world. He doesn't cover up, draw back or sugar coat anything.
The book, beautifully written, honestly told, is enough reason to put out $17 for a copy. But for us there is more to the story. Gary has been a friend for almost a decade, beginning as a fellow writer at the Internet Writing Workshop and then becoming my strength when my husband was diagnosed with ALS and we had to quickly learn about living with a disability.
Gary shared tips and contacts concerning wheelchairs, navigating in one, and where not to go. He mentioned opening doors -- who knew it could be so difficult to get into and out of a building or room based solely on the type of door handle and hinges? Who thought about taking along a urinal for those times when a handicapped accessible bathroom doesn't present itself.
Who knew how much anger we would feel when someone parked in a handicapped space, leaving my husband to try to walk across the parking lot. Then find out they were making a delivery -- no handicap sticker, just a big old Mercedes and a lot of ego, and the temerity to tell my husband that it wasn't a big deal.
Gary knew everything, including the anger. It took him alot of years to laugh it off. He's helping us to do it in a much shorter time.
If anyone wants a clearer understanding of living with disabilities, how to socialize and interact and understand a person who must go through so many more hoops just to get his pants on in the morning, then read Gary's book.
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