This article, "All I Want for Christmas is a Vexel Quovis," originally appeared at Suite 101.com
All I Want for Christmas is a Vexel Quovis
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Miles of holiday lights dripping from the eaves of homes. Acres of Christmas tree forests springing up in handicapped parking spaces across America.
In the spirit of economy-priming consumption I have decided to share my Wish List with you. Actually, this will come in two parts. Part 1 will be gifts for me. Part 2, so you don’t think I’ve completely forgotten the spiritual side, will combine a gift list for others with a set of New Year’s resolutions I intend to make.
Let’s start with the practical gifts. Look at the weather. It’s getting cold. I need a new jacket.
I grew up in Seattle. So, naturally, I go to REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated)when I need something like this. After drifting over to the short course on outdoor clothing at Outside Away I think I’d recognize a good jacket if one found its way under my tree.
It’s the rainy season. My hands slip on the wheelchair push rims.
The best place I’ve found for half finger gloves is Rolli-Moden. I found a lot of other tempting items there too. Guess I need a copy of Rolli-Moden’s catalog
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And it’s going to get wetter as we spend the holidays in the Washington State’s Olympic Rainforest.
So I’ve been eyeing the Access Liner and Shell boots at the Vulpine web site. But I think I’ll also need a pair of these giant beach tires from the Tremor wheelchair to go mudding down the trail.
I’m sure warmer days are coming.
Waterskiing was never my forte. Maybe I’d do better sitting on Quickie’s Kanski . Even if I never master that watersport, I do want to spend a week at Clearwater House on Hat Creek when fishing season opens. Of course, that’s provided somebody sees it on my wish list and gives it to me as a Christmas present. Guess I’ll have to pull out the vise & hackle pliers and start tying more flies as a hint to Santa Claus.
When summer comes, I’ll need to be ready for the sun and the beach.
What I want is a wheelchair that won’t sink to its axles in the sand. So I went straight to Hank Weseman, Jr's Beach Cruzr site. Looks good! But then I made the mistake of looking at all the other choices in the Wheelchairs and Beach Access section of Don Krebs’ Access to Recreation site. Now I don’t know which one I want.
At the Abilities Expo I saw the stair-climbing, gyroscope-toting iBot wheelchair. Impressive! Spinning around on a level floor, perched up on only two wheels, it looks as agile as something from the Nutcracker Suite. I tried out its little sibling, the iGlide wheelchair. Responsive, and a nice break from pushing my full weight around all day. Alas, I fell in love and these two had no chance. My macho heart was stolen by that HumVee of outdoor wheelchairs, Permobil’s Trax wheelchair.
No, I have never been the practical one in the family.
Of course to carry any of these chairs I’d have to retire my hybrid gas/electric Toyota Prius before its time and buy a van. I’ve never been practical – but I am resourceful! So I’ve contacted the Vexel Quovis manufacturer in Spain to see if I can be the first one on my block to have one in Banana Slug Yellow. On this unique little vehicle a ramp drops down from the rear allowing the driver to roll right in and drive from a wheelchair. This cute little vehicle can get 100 miles per gallon and it looks like it will fit in spaces even a Mini Cooper would pass up!
That’s my list for Santa. Coming in Part 2: a few gifts I hope to give to others and some resolutions worth keeping.