By Pattie Mihalik

Sometimes something we see or read yanks us out of the present and plants us in the past swimming with memories.

That’s what happened to me when I read Marta Gouger’s touching column about taking a vacation with her husband, Ronnie, who has multiple sclerosis and uses two canes or a scooter to get around.

As one very familiar with all the preplanning needed to ensure someone with disabilities will be able to get around, I understood how much planning Marta had to do ahead of time. Fortunately, she’s good at that.

As many of you may know, when you travel with disabilities, there are always unanticipated obstacles and challenges.

The point to Marta’s story is not to hesitate to take those adventures, because there will always be good-hearted souls who will help if you get stuck.

If you need a little help, don’t be afraid to ask, Marta says.

She told how the airline made it easier for him by moving their seats to comfort seats in the front of the plane.

When they wanted to go on a pirate dinner cruise, they booked one with a handicapped restroom on the main deck.

But when they got to the dock they found there was no ramp for the scooter — just a plank almost a foot off the ground then another step into the boat.

That’s when “pirates” came to their rescue, lifting the scooter right onto the boat and helping Ronnie get safely on board.

Marta says they almost didn’t go on the vacation because it seemed too hard. But they asked for help when they needed it and people were happy to respond.

Yes, there are good people everywhere, and it’s always heartwarming to see how strangers will go out of their way to help.

I was glad she wrote the column, encouraging other people with disabilities.

Her column brought back so many memories of my years with my husband Andy. While many of those memories are precious, some are painful for me, too painful for me to dwell in yesteryear. So I avoid doing it.

Yet after I read Marta’s column, so many memories came back.

When Andy and I were getting ready to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, I declared I wanted to do a cruise, something we had never done before.

At first Andy resisted because he said it would be too difficult for him. When I persisted, he tried to put me off, saying we should wait for our 50th anniversary. There he was with three cases of cancer and paralysis due to two serious strokes. We both knew there would be no silver anniversary.

But we had the present, and I intended to make the most of it. I have to admit it took courage on both our parts, along with a big dose of trust that the two of us would be able to manage on the ship.

There were plenty of stumbling blocks, the biggest one being when we got on board we were told there were no more handicapped-equipped rooms. We later heard one fellow bragging he pretended to be disabled just so he could have that bigger room.

Our cabin was so small we couldn’t fit Andy’s wheelchair inside it. The bathroom was a bigger challenge.

We were on a Norwegian line going to the Caribbean. I can’t exactly recall where we went or what we saw. But what I will never forget is the kindness of strangers who were there to help every time we needed it.

I remember when we went into the dining room for the first night we thought we were entering an enchanted fairyland. Our cozy table was next to a window where spectacular water views added to our pleasure.

What we didn’t know was that men had to have dinner jackets in that dining room. A kind waiter, sensitive to Andy’s disabilities, helped him into a nice dinner jacket they provided. Best yet, the entire wait staff made Andy feel special, not compromised.

They treated him like a king, going so far as to bring him another entree when he needed to find something he could chew.

Getting through the heavy doors with a wheelchair while I struggled to push the wheelchair over a raised door frame was hard. But when others saw how I was struggling, they came to help.

Andy needed that trip to relax and feel good about himself. He laughed more on the cruise than he had in years.

What I loved and respected about him was that he never complained about what he could no longer do. Instead, he was thankful for all he could still do.

As a result, our days on the cruise were filled with tender, thankful moments.

It was our last big hurrah before he got too sick to travel.

I was thankful we listened to other travelers with disabilities who told us “we could do it.”

And to this day, I am thankful for all the good people who came forward to give us an unforgettable experience.

For those who may be tempted to take a handicapped parking spot even though they don’t need it, here’s a better idea.

Walk! Save the handicapped spot for those who can’t walk. Then say thank you that you can walk.

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.