MS Strength

Just a brief plug for Joan’s chat room. Her “A Short in the Cord” blog has a link to Friday night chats, which originally started as a place for Delaware MSers to convene. The schedule is two Fridays a month, and the next one is coming up this Friday (the 26th.)

I logged on during Sept.12th’s session and was greeted by Joan and two other ladies. Joan and (I believe) Nightmare stayed on and we rapped about our health, where we live, different MS societies and other MS associations, and support groups. Of course there were also jokes and laughs. I had never experienced a chat room and was fumbling to type fast enough (I look at the keyboard and my hands.) No matter— the errors were half the fun!

Check out Joan’s blog homepage for more info (upper right corner.) It would be cool to actually converse in real time and start some interesting discussions.

I’m sitting at my computer, imported beer at my side, and I’m thinking back about my day: my family and I took a lunch cruise that started in the Hudson River, swung down around Battery Park, and headed up the East River. There were four enormous waterfalls that an artist created along the shorelines of the East River. One actually stood underneath the Brooklyn Bridge. Fantastic. My cousin booked this excursion, and the majority of folks on the cruise were there for the live gospel performance. So live music, good food, great sights, a boat ride, and family. A unique trip that I ordinarily wouldn’t do. When do I listen to gospel music? Nevertheless, I found myself thinking, “I’m living well with MS.”

When it’s quiet and the dishes are all done, the plump cat is fed, the husband is napping, and I’m left with my thoughts, I realize that I feel…..well…..GOOD. Multiple sclerosis is pretty much a coin with unpredictable odds. Heads: you feel lousy and curse the world. Tails: you actually feel your personal best. Stories of struggling are much more common, since people need to reach out and find others’ support. But how many people announce that they have MS and they presently feel good?

I have two personal friends with multiple sclerosis. One has benign MS, and has very little day-to-day problems. The other one has a more progressive form. I am smack in the middle of both situations. I am moderate, and when I feel awful, I plunge to the depths of MS despair and rottenness. But when it remits, I am back to being a relatively functional person. Most of my symptoms remit, and those that don’t (bladder/bowel stuff, some fatigue, and left leg weakness) usually become manageable. I am currently in a position where I can relax a wee bit about money. My home is now my office. The monkey on my back has gotten off (probably to pester some other defenseless MSer.) When I speak to either of my MS friends, I tell them this and the one with mild MS is overjoyed, and the one with progressive MS is….. also overjoyed. They both want my personal happiness.

If you have MS and you are in remission, you’re having a great day, or you just want to celebrate yourself, then CELEBRATE! Your family and friends want your happiness. That’s why they love you so much. Now go tell everyone how good you feel.

I love this song. Check it out for some calm and peace of mind. Stunning video. It always lifts my spirits………Be back soon. I’m volunteering and feeling GOOD.