Yesterday I went to get an extra key made for the house to give to a caregiver.  John came with me to Lowe’s.   I am going to try to show the difficulty of doing the simplest task accompanied by John.

John is very slow while walking so he stops along the main aisle of the store and chats.  I was 20 feet in front of him and had to turn around and gather him closer as the confused faces told me that they did not understand his casual conversation.  I also realized, now, I am third in line at the counter.  Instantly, I knew I should have used a cart for John to lean on as this was going to be a few minutes standing here in line.

Now a minute passed and John said he needs to go to the bathroom.  I have heard that at every store within the first five minutes of shopping in the last year.  I now say, "we will be home soon".  It quiets that thought and John goes on to other phases like 'how long will this take' or 'what are we doing here'  or 'when can we go'. 

Finally the key is made and I head toward the checkout but not quickly or John will be talking to a mother of some children he spotted.  Quickly, I pay in cash and that shortens the conversation at the checkout.

I hold his hand walking toward the car or I would leave him in possible traffic. He approaches the car and open the back door instead of the front passage side.  Once settled in to the front, we work on the seat belt  and opening the window.  Great, we can go home.

Three blocks away, John decides to open his car door!  "What are you doing?" He closes it.  I take my eye off the road to check out this situation, I am entering a roundabout, I brake a truck that I should have seen!   I take a couple deep breathes and tell myself to remember not to do anything again with John along.