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After reading everyones comments on invisible handicapped persons, I have to relate what happened at the library yesterday. One of the librarians had an irate patron, she was loud and getting louder, and not about to listen to reason or explaination. I was working with another patron and my colleague came over and asked if I would take her patron, as this librarian is new to us, and really didn't know what to say to this lady who was insisting that WE run upstairs and get a book for her, instead of the patron doing it herself. I went over and asked if I could be of assistance and she loudly proclaimed that she didn't intend to go up to the circulating books floor to get her book, she said to me "I'm in a hurry and you can just run up those stairs and get this book for me". With that ,I lifted my cane and said, "I'm sorry, but my days of running anywhere are over". With that, the ladies face turns red and she apologizes profusely and said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't see your handicap". I accepted her apology and said, "I can't leave the reference desk at this time, but if you can wait I'll see if I can get someone to replace me soon and we'll both take the elevator and go up and find you a book". With this she explained that she was out of time and would come back next week and get me and we'd indeed take the elevator and go find her a book. After she had left, my colleague comes over and says "What was the magic word? That was the fastest defusing job I've ever witnessed". Again I held up my cane, my colleague said "I'm going to go by myself a cane"!!!! That's probably the only time in my life my handicap came in handy!!! As Ever, Marjorie Moorefield just another librarian with PD 65/9