"Pardner, kin yew show me to the 2-holer?"

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Longview, TX



Today, we saw Chuck's VA doctor for the first time.......

Back before we went on vacation this summer, we scooted over to a Tyler store to check on getting a wheelchair lift for the back of my car for Chuck's wheelchair.  While there, we noticed they sold gently used conversion minivans where he could drive his wheelchair right up into it.  The dude told us that if Chuck was a veteran, which he is, then the VA would PAY for the conversion part of the van.  WhooHooo.......

But first, we had to get him enrolled in the VA.  So, after missing the first 3 appointments while on vacation, we had our first appointment this morning.  Right off the bat, the day started off freaky.  I had forgotten to put gas in the car yesterday, so I was practically on empty and had an hour drive on country roads ahead of me.....AND......we were running late.  Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........

We coasted into the VA Medical office on fumes precisely at 9:30, our appointment time.  Everything seemed to be clicking right along; even with a reception area full of people, they called us back first.  We were then introduced to Dr. Ravi Edular......

It took approximately 3 minutes to know that this was going to be interesting......Chuck in his sweet east Texas draaaaaawl says something like "Howdy Doc" and Dr. Ravi said, "क्या?" (That's "Huh" in Hindi) in his best Indian accent.  Chuck then says "Wert??" (That's "What" in E. Texas English) and then Dr. Ravi says "क्या?" again.  I think it was about this time that Chuck said "Pardner, kin yew show me to the 2-holer?"

Yep, things were going south pretty quickly when Dr. Ravi suddenly belched....BELCHED LOUDLY.

But I think my favorite part was when Chuck, sitting in his electric wheelchair, was asked by Dr. Ravi, "So, Mr. Etheridge, why do you think you need a conversion van?"