When Plans Change, Memories Can Still Be Made

When Plans Change, Memories Can Still Be Made

Back in the winter, I accidentally bought tickets to see Train twice, not realizing both concerts were on the same weekend. Originally, Jeff and I planned to turn one of them into a little getaway together. But life has a way of changing our plans. By July, jobs had changed, and he wasn’t able to take time off.

So I asked my daughter, Laura, if she’d like to go instead.

Without hesitation, she said yes.

On Friday, we headed to New Jersey, enjoyed the concert, spent the night at a hotel, and drove home on Saturday. It turned out to be a trip I’ll always treasure.

Living with cerebral palsy means I need assistance with many daily tasks, including dressing, eating, transferring, and using the bathroom. Laura has helped me enough over the years that she does it like a pro. She never makes me feel like a burden. She simply helps because she loves me, and I am incredibly grateful for that.

We laughed throughout the trip and had an amazing time together. Our accessible seats at the PNC Bank Arts Center were very good, allowing us to enjoy every song.

Most of the people we encountered were kind and respectful. However, there were a couple of reminders that disability stereotypes still exist. One employee made an obnoxious joke about me speeding in my wheelchair. Then, as we were leaving, another worker asked if I had enjoyed the concert—but spoke to me in an exaggerated baby voice.

Laura immediately looked at me and said, “Why do people talk to you like you’re stupid?”

It’s a question many people with disabilities have asked ourselves. A wheelchair affects how I move, not how I think. Respectful communication is one of the simplest ways to make the world more inclusive.

The drive back to the hotel was an adventure of its own. It was dark, the roads were full of deer, and Laura handled every mile with confidence. We sang along to The Beatles and AC/DC, laughed about everything, and simply enjoyed being together.

One of my favorite moments came when Laura said, “I love these times together and our adventures!” Hearing those words meant more to me than she probably realizes. As she gets older and continues building her own life, these moments become even more precious.

One pleasant surprise was our room at the Hilton in Holmdel, New Jersey. It was genuinely accessible, with a spacious bathroom and plenty of room for my wheelchair to move around comfortably. Accessible hotel rooms can vary widely, so it was wonderful to find one that truly met my needs.

Tomorrow, we’ll be seeing the same concert again, this time closer to home with my nephew and my son, Jason. I’ll be heading to work early Monday morning, probably a little tired.

But some weekends aren’t measured by how much sleep you get.

They’re measured by the memories you make.

Life doesn’t always unfold the way we planned. Sometimes the original plan falls apart, and something different takes its place. This weekend reminded me that those unexpected changes can become some of life’s greatest gifts.

As Laura continues her college journey and becomes more independent, I know these weekends together will become fewer and farther between. I’ll cherish these memories like a time capsule—something I can look back on years from now and remember exactly how special this season of our lives was.

The concerts were wonderful, but the time spent with Laura is what I’ll remember most. As our children grow into adults, those opportunities to simply enjoy each other’s company become even more precious.

The memories are truly priceless.