A Dog’s Purpose

~ msgracefulnot ~ 6 Comments

Superman, recommended this movie a long time ago, but I “bookmarked” it fearing I would cry too much especially after having just lost my best friend snuff. I watched it tonight, and I did cry alot, but I also laughed and loved alot… I Definitely have to recommend A dog’s journey. If you don’t believe me, read Supermans post 🙂

Billy Mac's avatarThe Tao of Bill

The other night, while strolling through the 179 channels of nothing that we pay too much for, I came across the movie A Dogs Purpose. I’d heard of it, in particular, that it was sad. I’ve wanted to watch it but I learned my lesson with Marley and Me after I barely recovered from the ending of Old Yeller some 45 years ago.

An aside, I can watch the worst horror movie jam packed with gratuitous sex, entrails hanging from the rafters and enough blood to fill a swimming pool and I will sit, unflinching as I munch popcorn. There is no limit to the depravity I can view and call it entertainment. But I lose my mind if an animal is harmed, especially a dog.

Curiosity prevailed and I selected it and sat back in my recliner. An hour and a half later I sat transfixed as the credits…

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Wheelchairs are NOT the enemy?!?!

~ msgracefulnot ~ 21 Comments

Over the years, my views on wheelchairs have run the full gamut.  When I was a little kid, they looked SO cool and were FUN to play in/with.  (Wheelchair races, wheelies, etc)  As I got older, and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the threat of being confined to a wheelchair terrorized me.  The keywords here are THREAT and CONFINED.  All I could focus on were the things I wouldn’t be able to do, instead of the additional things that using a wheelchair could help me do.

I’m not saying that I am excited about being in a wheelchair AGAIN, or that you should rush out and buy one, but after having to use a wheelchair many times over the last 20 years, I can FINALLY acknowledge that in some ways it makes my life easier.

Some examples include:

  1.  Airports-  Using a wheelchair allows me to continue traveling.  My legs have become so much weaker over the years that even a “quick run” to the grocery store wears me out and makes falling more likely.   The long lines and distances at the airports would make it very difficult if not impossible for me to fly.  I have written numerous times about traveling in a wheelchair via plane and train.  Air Travel with MS- Use the tools available, Just the Facts Please, and Your mission should you choose to accept it are a couple examples if you are looking for more information.
  2. The Risk of falling is minimized-  I can’t say that the risk is eliminated, (Have you met, Grace?) but it is definitely smaller.  Full disclosure here-  I launched myself down the steps of my parents porch the other day because I got  impatient and was resisting the help that was offered.  😦
  3. I can move faster.  I’m not talking about using a power wheelchair, although you really can haul ass in those.  I’m talking about general everyday tasks.  I “roll” faster than most people can walk.  In the beginning, I didn’t have much in the way of endurance.  My arms got tired quickly. The more I push myself though, the stronger my arms are becoming, which in turn is making other “everyday tasks” easier to do.

Finally, and best of all….it allows me to hold and move with my twin grandsons.  Again, I don’t have the risk of falling with them.  I have an “auto rocking chair”, which they think it’s cool as hell.  When I am rolling around or backing up, I make noises like a race car or a construction vehicle backing up… Beep beep beep….

Thanks for reading along today.  What are your thoughts on the use of wheelchairs?  Can you think of any other way they can make your life easier?

 

 

 

Living With MS during the Coronapocalypse

~ msgracefulnot ~ Leave a comment

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I do NOT like change. Especially when I feel that it has been forced on me. I imagine several of you are also struggling with the staying at home change. This is a post from someone that deals with those limitations all the time. Maybe you will find some of her words inspiring?

alixinwonderland's avatarAlix in Wonderland

I was recently asked to share my thoughts on the current pandemic, as someone who lives with an underlying chronic illness. A contact at the National MS Society is working on a story regarding the Covid-19 outbreak and how it has changed daily life and how some things have stayed the same. This is what I shared with her.

I have been watching the development of the Covid-19 outbreak since it started becoming prevalent in China. My god-mother lives in China with her husband and children, so was a bit anxious about it from the very beginning. As the virus continued to spread, rapidly, my anxiety grew stronger and stronger as my husband and I had our honeymoon planned for mid-March.

The week we were supposed to leave for our honeymoon I made an appointment with my Neuro to talk about the potential risks of the virus and my MS…

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Burning the Candle at Both Ends

~ msgracefulnot ~ 10 Comments

I am currently suffering from a ‘condition’ that is the exact opposite of having ‘Writer’s Block”.  I have no idea what that is called.  Maybe verbal diarrhea?

I have so much I want to say and SO many stories I want to tell.  What I am lacking is the TIME.  OK and the energy.  I am definitely lacking the energy as well.

I believe every post that I have written this year, with the possible exception of,  Hey, I’m doing alright, has been of a somewhat bleak or serious nature.  (Broken body parts, bad test results, surgeries, hearings etc.) For this reason, I don’t want to just ‘disappear’, and leave anyone thinking that I have died.  At this moment, and for the foreseeable future, I will be burning the candle at both ends.  Which means I have to prioritize where I am PRESENT, in order to not burn out completely.

What is so urgent that I am burning said candle?

  1. My oldest daughter (Thing 1), my son-in-law, and the grandbabies will be moving out of state.  While this is absolutely breaking my heart, they have been presented with an incredible opportunity that heart broken or not I have to support.  Time from job offer to relocation less than 2 weeks notice.  I will be riding out with my daughter and the twins next week.  Then turning around and flying home.
  2. When I get home I will be having Another surgery.  My ‘baby steps’ in the boot have already proven to be too much, so I will have to have the unhealed break fused together.
  3. It’s only taken me a year to do it, but I finally have insurance for LAST YEAR  (yes you read that correctly).  That means I have hours and hours of phone calls and letters to write.
  4. Also Great news, I do not have PML!!!! The doctor still cautions that my JCV levels are too high to maintain my current treatment and infusion schedule though, so I have had to lengthen the time between infusions and my ass is dragging.  While exploring my other drug options I had planned on going to an informational meeting  for Ocrevus, but it has been cancelled because of the Coronavirus fears.
  5. And finally, by the end of the month, my parents and their 50 year’s accumulation of belongings will be moving within 5 miles of me.  This IS a good thing, but they need help, and it is way more work that I can handle right now.

On that note, I am going to stop writing for today and catch my breath for a bit.  My stories and I will be back before you know it!