What Happens When Two Dyslexics Go to Wal-Mart? Hilarity Ensues
“ We need to go to Walmart, we need to buy groceries.” I roll my eyes and shudder. My wife loves Walmart. I’m not looking forward to following her while pushing a shopping cart for hours.
She never thought of making a shopping list. I gave her the idea, but not before I spent months wandering the aisles of the popular box store.
I would sit and play with my cellphone while I waited
After several months, Olivia grew tired of my surly attitude. She had me sit down at the entrance or the pharmacy. I would sit and use the WiFi on my phone.
My wife and I are both Dyslexic, which makes things very interesting. We would be in the store so long, that we both would forget where I parked the car.
An hour of walking the parking lot
We both would be tired and irritable. Oftentimes, I would have her go back inside the store, while I wandered around the parking lot. I have been known to spend an hour or more trying to find my car.
At least we would go to Walmart during the day. I have trouble finding my car at night. Not only am I Dyslexic, but I’m colorblind as well.
The cellphone helps a lot
I have learned that to cope with Dyslexia, I have to have systems and routines for everything. I now use my cellphone. The first thing I do is get out of the car and take a picture of the sign telling me what row we’re parked on.
I then try to orient myself. I look at the entrance we will take. “ The one by SubWay,” I tell myself. Since I started doing that, there has been less aimless wandering in parking lots.
Trying to find my car after a concert? forget about it
When I was younger, I went to concerts on occasion. I always went alone, so there was no one to help to remember where my car was.
I would go to where people could see the tour buses. There would always be a small crowd waiting to see the performers get on their buses.
We would clap and cheer, then we would head to the now nearly empty parking area. I would have no problem finding my car. I have changed as I have grown older.
I would wallow in self-pity, but not anymore
At one time, I would beat myself up. My self-esteem would take a blow. I would be so ashamed of myself for losing my car or having to wander around a parking lot.
I laugh about it now. I laugh and get to work, I find my car, even if it takes hours. I no longer get upset about it. I have learned to accept what I can’t help.
Final thought:
Accept your limitations. You can’t help it that you have problems, so keep your head high and plow through it. Work out systems that will help you.
Don’t worry about being different. Your friends will be cool with it, and people that don’t know you don’t matter. The main thing, have a sense of humor.
You will think about it months later and laugh.