WEBVTT

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>> Paw.

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>> Welcome to the
Kowaleski household.

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Paxton and Fenway [assumed
spellings] greet all visitors.

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>> Good. Hey, what's that?

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Come here?

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Thank you so much.

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I moved to Connecticut in
1993, after meeting my husband,

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and I became an instant mom
because he has three kids,

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and they were ages 12, 6, and 4.

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We ended up getting
married in August of 1993,

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and we just celebrated
our 24-year anniversary.

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I'm a step-mom, and a mom.

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My daughter was actually
born 9 years on the day,

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on the anniversary of my injury.

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Weird, just happened that way.

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So, quite frankly, she
has absolutely no regard

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for the fact I'm using a device
that rolls over her shoes,

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and her junk, and what have you.

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She treats me like she
treats everybody else.

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>> Shortly after Vicki
moved to Connecticut,

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she became a vocational rehab
counselor for the state.

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Work was a major part of her
life for more that 20 years.

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Like in any job, Vicky
had to prove herself.

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Having a disability made
that even more necessary.

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>> Like, with work, I felt
like I had to prove myself.

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That I had to make sure
everything was turned

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in before it was due.

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Because I, you know, I had an
experience with an interview

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where the person
didn't accept me

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because that person had
had a bad experience

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with somebody else
with a disability.

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And, I'm like, you don't know
me, all of us aren't the same.

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As far as keeping things
straight, and keeping, you know,

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a balance in life, I, you know,
while I was working it was hard.

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It got to a point, and this
is why I ended up retiring,

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that I was spending so much
time working that I was living

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to work, and it got
to where, you know,

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I realized, I just
can't do that.

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My health suffered.

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>> Having more time allows
for Vicki to participate

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in more wellness-related
activities.

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Those come with their
own challenges, though.

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Not because Vicki can't do them.

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But, because many places,
including fitness centers

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and pools aren't accessible,
or lack accommodations

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that would allow Vicki
more independence.

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>> When I was working,
our leisure time was going

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to movies, or just
hanging out with family,

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and that kind of stuff.

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Now, I've actually tried yoga.

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I go to a naturopathic
place where I'm getting back

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into working out, doing
some weights and stretching.

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Acupuncture, which is a new
thing for me, and you know,

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sometimes we have
our grandchildren,

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and we take them out.

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And, about, I'm a giant
stroller for the kids.

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They fight over who's
going to ride on me.

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31 years I just celebrated
using a chair.

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So, you know, it's
like, I'm proud of that.

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You know, I'm proud
that I worked.

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>> While Vicki has
retired from her career

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in vocational rehabilitation,
she continues to work

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in her husband's supermarket,
assisting with accounting tasks.

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The flexible position allows
for greater work/life balance.