April 20, 2010
The Flip Side
I feel like my last post was sort of a downer, so I decided it would only be fair to acknowledge that being sick does have its benefits. Here’s a list of good things about having ALS:
1. Sit around all day but no one can accuse me of being lazy.
2. Finally have the pretty nails I’ve wanted all my life, as since I barely use my hands my nails don’t break and my polish doesn’t chip.
3. Get all the good parking spots (when they’re available, that is — remind me to go off on a tirade about this in a future post).
4. Never have to be the designated driver.
5. No more diets — doctor’s orders!
6. Don’t have to clean the house or do laundry.
7. No guilt about not volunteering to do stuff for PTA.
8. Haven’t seen my basement in 18 months so don’t care if it’s messy.
9. Waited on hand and foot.
10. Can run people over if they are walking too slow; just like I always wanted to do in Penn Station back in the day.
11. The fatter you are the longer you live (I stole that one).
The best part of course is all the well wishes, prayers and good vibes from everyone around me, near and far. I’m humbled by how many hands have reached out to help me and how many people are cheering me on. I read somewhere that people with ALS who have a positive attitude and lots of support tend to do better than average. I’m going for it. Thanks everybody!
March 29, 2010
Hung Up on Dreams I’ll Never See
I had a dream last night that I was going to marry George Clooney. We were picking out floral arrangements for the reception. (This is what I get for watching “Platinum Weddings” right before bed.) But then in my dream I fell into a deep sleep and the paramedics wheeled me into the hospital for “tests.” Then I woke up. Rats! Just when things were getting interesting.
In my dreams I am almost never sick. On the contrary, usually I can walk and even run. Sometimes it is so real that I forget, when I wake up, that I can’t. Or sometimes I dream that things aren’t all that bad, like, I’m just limping a little. Lately I’ve been having a lot of dreams about sleeping. Then again I’m on a bunch of drugs that make me tired.
I’ve always had vivid dreams and I usually remember them. I’m so grateful for this now, because it gives me back the life I used to have, just for a night. Plus sometimes I get to marry George Clooney.
This is my favorite song about dreams: Dreams (click to play)
DREAMS by Gregg Allman
Just one more mornin’
I had to wake up with the blues
Pulled myself outta bed, yeah
Put on my walkin’ shoes
Went up on the mountain
To see what I could see
The whole world was fallin’
Right down in front of me
‘Cause I’m hung up on dreams
I’ll never see
Ah, help me baby
Or this will surely be the end of me
Pull myself together
Put on a new face
Climb down off the hilltop, baby
Get back in the race
‘Cause I’m hung up on dreams
I’ll never see
Ah, help me baby
Or this will surely be the end of me.
March 13, 2010
Depressing Thought of the Day
It’s conceivable that Keith Richards could outlive me. Keith Richards!
Now that’s just wrong.
February 7, 2010
Snow Day
We got over two feet of snow this weekend and today it’s beautiful–sun shining, snow sparkling, etc. So after breakfast Chris got me bundled up and I went outside for the first time in days. He had cleared a good patch of driveway yesterday so I parked it there while he started shoveling the sidewalk. It was cold, but so peaceful…no sound but the wind in the trees and some bird calls. It felt like a wilderness, rather than a suburban cul-de-sac. Then he put the portable radio on. Now, I like Blue Oyster Cult as much as the next person but it kind of killed the mood.
That's me shoveling -- NOT!
