A Story about the Coronavirus and Me

By Sonya Dickerson…The Mad Chronically Ill Girl Podcast

The caster wheels of my wheelchair flashed their usual bright lights of red, orange, blue, and green. There was nothing out of the ordinary of my visit to the grocery store that day. My worst fears of being in Whole Foods that day was being treated as if I were shoplifting.

Three years ago, my daughter was accused of stealing a bottle of shampoo and recently, I was followed repeatedly around the store by a woman. When she realized I knew she was following me, she immediately turned around to “look” at the lovely array of banana blueberry muffin mix on the shelf. I cropped the picture to hide as many identifying details as I could, but be aware that she has no basket with her, and she never once appeared to be actually shopping.

Did I mention that I am a black mother with a black child? I thought I mentioned that. Perhaps not…

She came out of a room and gave me a look of shock, as I started putting items in a bag. I was simply doing what some wheelchair users do. Put the items that we’re going to purchase in a bag, and then take that bag to the line where we check out our groceries. It is better for those who have some issue pushing a cart by themselves. I am sure she beleived I had no intention to pay for my items and that I was willing to simply…