Category Archives: Life

Asking

Last week, Scarlett and I were out for lunch with some other family members, when she caught sight of a man who had prosthetic arms. Using the hooks on the ends, he deftly pulled a credit card out of his wallet and paid for his food. Scarlett stared. “Why does he have those?” she asked quietly.

I’ve faced a lot of curious looks since I got my walker, and now my wheelchair. Children will ask. Adults mostly do not. My least favorite times have been when I can hear a child ask their parent about me, and the parent shushes them or calls them nosy.

So my response to Scarlett was, “Ask him.” She did, and he told us that he was born without arms and uses his prosthetics to do everything he needs to do. Then he and I got into a discussion about asking. We both said we liked when kids asked. They’re curious, and we’re different. It’s ok. Read More>

|Categories: Age, Life, Parenting | Tags: , , | Permalink

Adventures at the DMV

I love my disabled parking placard. Of course I wish I didn’t need it, but I’m realistic. It makes my life much easier. Never mind the accessible handicap spots. Did you know you don’t EVER have to pay a meter if you have one of these magical plastic things?

Contain your envy.

But it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be to obtain my new blue friend, and that is because the DMV was involved.

I assume that nearly everyone reading this has been to the DMV at some point, and I also assume that exactly none of you enjoyed it. This is not a slam on anyone who works at the DMV. It’s just not a very enjoyable place. Read More>

|Categories: Doctors, Life, Progression, Venting | Tags: , , , | Permalink

Anxiety, with Seagulls

Sometimes I can’t believe that I ever worried about ANYTHING before ALS. I feel like if I could have my health and my life back the way it used to be, I would just walk around in a state of blissful gratitude all the time, totally irritating the hell out of other people.

But if it sounds like I’m suggesting that everyone who has it better than me should be happy and appreciative all the time, I’m not. That’s obviously nonsense. After all, by that logic, I should also be happy all the time, because the world contains many people whose lives are harder than mine.

These are the things I think about as I struggle to make sense of my disease and what it’s done to my life and the lives of those closest to me. I used to be ABLE. I took care of myself and my family, I cooked, ran, drove, stood on my head in yoga class (sort of. Whatever. That part is not important.) Now I need help to make a simple meal, and getting in and out of bed is a serious physical challenge. When my husband travels for work, I am overwhelmed by logistics. Who, when, what if? Read More>

| Categories: Life | Permalink