James Shepherd – What’s important for family and friends to understand?

I think the most important thing for families, friends, even new people you meet, is to be able to just ask “would you like or how may I help you?” “Would you like help, would you not like help?” I remember early on, my friends would go and play tennis, which I wasn’t able to play anymore, and I didn’t get an ask. And we were sitting at dinner one night about six months into being home, and I said, “you know, you all don’t ask me to come to the tennis courts.” “Well, you can’t play us.” I said, “I understand, but I like to lie, and tell stories and joke the same as I used to.” So, be inclusive, bring me along. And I don’t mind grabbing two people over the shoulders and being carried into a boat. I mean I want to be with you and it doesn’t matter that I am on wheels; it doesn’t matter that I can’t climb to the top of the tower on the boat. I still want to be on the boat. I still want to be in the dove fields shooting with you all hunting. I still want to tell lies about the biggest fish I caught. It didn’t change me.