Shadow Shot Sunday - Egress

1989 Dodge B250, 21 April 1996

1998 Ford E150, 10 March 2010

2008 Grand Caravan, current steed

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 prompts us to look for shadows, often in unique views. Since I use a power wheelchair for ambulation and driving*, I need egress into said vehicle to traverse the land. Since 20 April 1996, there have been three trusty steeds to allow me to do so. How to enter each vehicle is by lifts and ramps, and with the doors opened on a sunny day, shadows add a pleasant effect to each otherwise utilitarian van conveyances, a 1989 Dodge B250, 1998 Ford E150 and the current 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, all outfitted for wheelchair entry. Shadows add style to functionality...

*- The light blue 1989 Dodge gives a clue to how I enter all of the vans: the driver's seat turns 90° and I line the chair alongside the driver's seat, turn it back 90° to face the steering wheel and drive (sort of) 'normally'...whatever that means :)

Shadow Shot Sunday - Elevating

For Shadow Shot Sunday (2) I am moving in different directions - up and down.

I started to use a wheelchair in November 1995, and it was not by choice...yet, it was not like life had ended, but became different.

In my walking days, I hadn't considered that one could actually drive - however, it can be. My three vehicles and their lifts are being showcased - as they also are full of shadows...Above was my first, taken on its second day at home, 21 April 1996. It was a used 1989 Dodge B250.

It was as hulking as it looks, and being used to driving a small Nissan Sentra (Sunny), I had to adjust, both to its size and the greater amount of petrol it needed.

The driver's seat is what the wheelchair transfers into,  and turns it 90° to drive normally, whatever that is :)
I was obtained my next vehicle on 26 May 1998, a new full-sized Ford E-150 van, also with a lift and actually a bit bigger than the last one. The shadows are now from the inside looking out. 

This picture was taken almost twelve years and 158,000 miles (254,000 km) later - just before I received my current ride...

A 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. This one is different than the last two, a minivan with floor modifications, a ramp entrance and shadows as well! From 10 March 2010, I have been enjoying this transportation device.

Smaller than its predecessors, although big enough at 4200 pounds (1906 kg), it rides more like a car and is quieter inside. Obviously, I would prefer to walk and not drive one of these - I would drive a small car and manual transmission if it were possible. However, acceptance is needed to move ahead, and since I am able to drive, it is the blessing we must accept with grace and not complaint...

Last week, I alluded to a YouTube video of the vacation slideshow. I actually made a 13  minute DVD with five classic Motown songs (Ain't that Peculiar, Get Ready, I Was Made to Love Her, I Can't Help Myself and Heatwave). However, YouTube is very conscious of copyrights and wouldn't allow its use. So, I found the old tunes - big band music and old black-white pictures go together well (there are duplicate pictures on both, but am still learning...)