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Warning- this is a bit of a rant, but I feel like I need to write it down or something. Long story is that I was looking for parking in downtown San Diego this morning for work, and chose a metered space. The meter was only for 2 hours, and I knew the meeting I was going into would be 4 hours, so I used my handicap placard (which I rarely use, maybe 1 time a month because I don't always feel handicapped and would like to save those spaces for those with more serious disabilities).
Anyways, as I'm exiting my car, another car looking for parking pulls up right next to my car, rolled down their passenger side window, and the driver (a maybe mid 30's white female) starts yelling at me. "You're not disabled, you're abusing the handicapped parking because you're too cheap to put money in the meter, how much did you have to pay you're doctor to say you needed the placard, better yet you probably stole it you piece of *****".
Once she was done I figured she would speed off, but she still sat there for what I assumed was my response. I calmly told her with very minimal swear words that I am a combat veteran of 2 tours, I served my country proudly as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy, and that I am using my handicap placard due to injuries (and complications of a FUBAR'd navy medicine surgery) sustained while overseas. Just because you can't see my disability does not mean that it doesn't exist.
This was the first time I ever played my "I'm a veteran" card (other than military discounts of course), and the reaction from the lady was not what I expected. She said "you're full of *****, there's actual vets out there with injuries, go fudge yourself you fudging idiot" then she sped off.
I was seeing red, i was tempted to let the PTSD/anger/anxiety take over, get in my car, chase her down, run her off the road, ziptie her hands behind her back, and shove my challenge coin down her throat. I didn't care that she didn't believe I was handicapped, but it offended me so deeply that she said I was lying about my service. A greenside 8404 Corpsman was my dream job since I was 13 and the fact that I can't do it anymore today still eats slowly away at my soul.
I was literally back in my car pulling down my sun shade off the windshield to chase her when I saw the pictures of my wife and daughter I keep pinned in my sun visor. The anger didn't melt away, but felt a lot more manageable. I remembered all the times that my wife told me that she's sorry I'm not in the service anymore because of how much it hurt me to leave it, but she's glad that I can be at home every night and be a father to our child. I remembered putting my daughter in marpat desert patterned onesies and secretly hoping that one day she might join the military with the understanding that some things are worth losing your life for, some things are worth defending to the last.
I DIDN'T CRY, but my eyes were sweating sitting in my car for a good half-hour. I felt ashamed that I had the initial reaction that I did, angry at the lady and myself, ashamed of myself for not looking like a veteran (I still don't know how to explain this), hating myself for not controlling my emotions.
Thanks everyone who read this whole thing. I'm not looking for sympathy, just understanding from other vets. Also if anyone sees a 250+ lb redheaded white lady with glasses getting into a silver Toyota Venza in downtown SD, please pop her tires or key her car or something. I'm still mad at her.
Anyways, as I'm exiting my car, another car looking for parking pulls up right next to my car, rolled down their passenger side window, and the driver (a maybe mid 30's white female) starts yelling at me. "You're not disabled, you're abusing the handicapped parking because you're too cheap to put money in the meter, how much did you have to pay you're doctor to say you needed the placard, better yet you probably stole it you piece of *****".
Once she was done I figured she would speed off, but she still sat there for what I assumed was my response. I calmly told her with very minimal swear words that I am a combat veteran of 2 tours, I served my country proudly as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy, and that I am using my handicap placard due to injuries (and complications of a FUBAR'd navy medicine surgery) sustained while overseas. Just because you can't see my disability does not mean that it doesn't exist.
This was the first time I ever played my "I'm a veteran" card (other than military discounts of course), and the reaction from the lady was not what I expected. She said "you're full of *****, there's actual vets out there with injuries, go fudge yourself you fudging idiot" then she sped off.
I was seeing red, i was tempted to let the PTSD/anger/anxiety take over, get in my car, chase her down, run her off the road, ziptie her hands behind her back, and shove my challenge coin down her throat. I didn't care that she didn't believe I was handicapped, but it offended me so deeply that she said I was lying about my service. A greenside 8404 Corpsman was my dream job since I was 13 and the fact that I can't do it anymore today still eats slowly away at my soul.
I was literally back in my car pulling down my sun shade off the windshield to chase her when I saw the pictures of my wife and daughter I keep pinned in my sun visor. The anger didn't melt away, but felt a lot more manageable. I remembered all the times that my wife told me that she's sorry I'm not in the service anymore because of how much it hurt me to leave it, but she's glad that I can be at home every night and be a father to our child. I remembered putting my daughter in marpat desert patterned onesies and secretly hoping that one day she might join the military with the understanding that some things are worth losing your life for, some things are worth defending to the last.
I DIDN'T CRY, but my eyes were sweating sitting in my car for a good half-hour. I felt ashamed that I had the initial reaction that I did, angry at the lady and myself, ashamed of myself for not looking like a veteran (I still don't know how to explain this), hating myself for not controlling my emotions.
Thanks everyone who read this whole thing. I'm not looking for sympathy, just understanding from other vets. Also if anyone sees a 250+ lb redheaded white lady with glasses getting into a silver Toyota Venza in downtown SD, please pop her tires or key her car or something. I'm still mad at her.
first off thank you for your service, that's what that liberal B should of said.
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