Post by JayBee on Feb 3, 2019 13:37:38 GMT
This happened on an overnight ferry from Tasmania to Victoria. I remember hearing a popping sound and seeing this young man using a walking stick. The pop happened when lifting the rubber on the end of the stick off the floor linoleum. Later I saw him trying to get through the door to the outside deck. There would have been about 8 inches between the bottom of the door and the floor so that the doors would keep out the sea in rough weather. That was when I saw the man's legs were stiff because he had braces, and he was having to manoeuvre them over that obstacle. When he was outside, I joined him and actually asked him, 'Why do you have to wear those things on your legs?' He replied 'I had polio when I was a kid.' I left the conversation at that.
I discovered later he was on his honeymoon. He was really stylishly dressed for those days - roll-neck jumper and coat, flares (good for wearing over braces!) and his shoes - they were the same, I think, no build-up - had about a 3/4-inch platform sole. This was 1972, so he was clearly able to keep up with fashion.
I remember he was good looking - I'd say late 20s - with styled hair that came well over his ears. Later in the evening I was with my parents in the lounge and he came in. He sat down at a nearby table, and I remember that after a while he lifted one leg with his hands and put it atop the other leg – something of course that we take for granted. I was going to get a bit more of a look at the brace going up that trouser leg, but as I started to move, my parents told me not to look.
The next morning when the boat arrived in Melbourne, drivers brought their cars off and onto the quay. He was driving an MG sports car. I remember he got out of the car to check the boot, and he moved sideways keeping his hands on the car to maintain his balance. So he couldn't balance without the stick, but he didn't require two crutches. I'm surprised that you could use hand controls in an MG; I didn't think they would have auto transmission. But I'm not a car buff.
That is my last extended contact with a man using braces – nearly 47 years ago.
I discovered later he was on his honeymoon. He was really stylishly dressed for those days - roll-neck jumper and coat, flares (good for wearing over braces!) and his shoes - they were the same, I think, no build-up - had about a 3/4-inch platform sole. This was 1972, so he was clearly able to keep up with fashion.
I remember he was good looking - I'd say late 20s - with styled hair that came well over his ears. Later in the evening I was with my parents in the lounge and he came in. He sat down at a nearby table, and I remember that after a while he lifted one leg with his hands and put it atop the other leg – something of course that we take for granted. I was going to get a bit more of a look at the brace going up that trouser leg, but as I started to move, my parents told me not to look.
The next morning when the boat arrived in Melbourne, drivers brought their cars off and onto the quay. He was driving an MG sports car. I remember he got out of the car to check the boot, and he moved sideways keeping his hands on the car to maintain his balance. So he couldn't balance without the stick, but he didn't require two crutches. I'm surprised that you could use hand controls in an MG; I didn't think they would have auto transmission. But I'm not a car buff.
That is my last extended contact with a man using braces – nearly 47 years ago.