by Joe Kirkpatrick

First of all, some of my  readers and fellow writers get all bent out of shape by my use of colorful words  such as "asses."  For these people,  I offer a few words of advice:  Get  a life!

Now that is out of the way  I can get on with what I have to say.

One of my personal pet peeves is seeing people who basically are so fat they can hardly walk occupying handicapped parking places.  It's a sad time when obesity is now classified as a handicap.  The other day, I saw an obese woman  struggling to get in her car which was parked in a handicap parking space at  Wal-Mart.  Blocking the drive waiting on her to vacate the space was another car with a grossly overweight man and woman inside.  Have you ever noticed a large percentage of people who park in handicap spaces are obese?  Have you ever noticed how few people who  park in those spaces are actually on crutches, in a wheel chair, or on  oxygen?  Now - don't get me wrong -  if you had a serious medical condition BEFORE you became obese, I am not talking  to you.

You know, heroes aren't just the people who run into a burning building to save someone's life.  Heroes come in all shapes and forms, but are brave

people who for some reason overcome insurmountable odds to accomplish  something.  I want to tell you about one of my personal heroes.  Oddly  enough, it's funny how someone can touch your life, yet you really know very little about them.  Furthermore, the  person I am talking about is someone I see most everyday, yet they are totally oblivious to my existence.  I do not  know their name, or what the circumstances are that led to them becoming a hero  to me. Hopefully, this will not be embarrassing for them, but will let them know  how courageous I think they are.

I go to Wal-Mart at the  same time 3 or 4 mornings a week on my way to work.  Many times, that is when I observe the  "Lard Asses" fighting for the handicap parking places.  However, there is one lady who is obviously very deserving of a handicap parking space, but chooses not to take the easy way out.  From what I have  observed, she might have MS, or maybe has had a stroke.  She parks at least midway out from the  store, and has some difficulty walking, even with a cane.  She is somewhat stooped over and walks  with a slow shuffled gait.  Her body  may be somewhat handicapped, but her face always wears a fierce look of  determination. I often wonder if the lard asses fighting for the handicap spaces  even notice as she shuffles by. She obviously does this for a reason:  She doesn't want to be in that  condition, and is doing everything in her power not to stay that way.   

I think many times it is human  nature to take the easy way out, or to give up too easily when times get  tough.  Perhaps at those times God  might just use a determined lady with a cane and a shuffled gait to show us maybe what we are facing isn't so tough after all!
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