There's a perfectly rational and not unhealthy reason to fear that which outnumbers you. Bees. Killer ants. Toddlers. Tweens. Stairs. Yes, stairs. I have never been a fan of them. Even in my physical prime (oh, say 16-19, the glory years), I can remember avoiding stairs, always opting for their fun cousin, the escalator. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gwGcP8QbH8… Continue reading Staring down the enemy
Category: Struggles
The mother of all pain
Waking up in the middle of the night is never a good omen. Three summers ago, I awoke to the sound of our darling, dying Persian as he succumbed to his illness. It was but a small shriek, sounding like nothing I've ever heard before or since. I wish I could have absorbed his pain,… Continue reading The mother of all pain
Gotcha!
I meant to post this on Friday, when it was applicable. Better late than never, I suppose. And in case you are wondering if I am going to attempt to tie this to MS somehow, the answer is, "Of course I am." Multiple sclerosis is like a big April Fools joke, one that just keeps… Continue reading Gotcha!
Comedy is tragedy plus time
Funny, they never tell how how long this little formula for humor takes. How much distance you need before the sharp edges of a prickly reality dull somewhat. When it becomes palatable, these painful treatments, the uncertain future, the broken body. Multiple sclerosis is really no laughing matter. But I can have a chuckle at… Continue reading Comedy is tragedy plus time
Ramble on
What is it called when you get off an airplane? What is that body of water that is sometimes man-made and doesn't travel? Hell, what is that muscle in the top part of your arm? I've forgotten all of these in the past week. Week, people. Word retrieval has long been the bane of my… Continue reading Ramble on
Around my world in 180 days
Six months ago today I was in a hospital bed. My legs were these feeble, foreign-feeling abstractions of flesh and bone not living up to their purpose. Just work, dammit! I pleaded to them over and over and over. My head was swimming from a cocktail of steroids and pain medicine. My life had been… Continue reading Around my world in 180 days
Born to run?
Today is the Little Rock Marathon, an event that has drawn elite athletes and weekend runners and ... me. At least for the 5K. What can I say, I like wearing medals like I'm Mr. T. I've never much been into running as my calorie-burning activity of choice. I enjoy the scenery and the commune… Continue reading Born to run?
Enough
“Do you take pride in your hurt? Does it make you seem large and tragic? Well, think about it. Maybe you’re playing a part on a great stage with only yourself as audience.” — John Steinbeck, East of Eden The streamers are coming down, the balloons have all been popped. And I'm nursing a sugar… Continue reading Enough
Try a little tenderness
“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me” We've all at one time or another been too hard on ourselves and need a little Stuart Smalley-style affirmation. I never live up to the romanticized version of myself in which I am a size 10, never forget birthdays, live an MS-free life,… Continue reading Try a little tenderness
All fall down
It's been my experience with MS that when one system starts to fail in my body, they pretty much all do, like little leukocyte dominos lined up just waiting to be knocked over. Neck bone connected to the leg bone via three other bones and all that. Which is why I feel like a broken bobblehead… Continue reading All fall down
One, Wild & Precious 