You had me at post-nasal drip!

You would think having a major neurological disorder would entitle you to a Get Out Of Jail Free card for other annoying stuff - like allergies, acid reflux, and teenage parenting stress!

But nooooooo . . . . That's not true. No passes for this chickie! Sometimes life just chips away at ya. But you have to keep a sense of humor. My husband Greg cracked me up last night. My allergies are in full swing. It was late and I went to join him in bed. He was reading his Kayaking magazine. I just finished my nightly shot. I was in my unconscious complaining mode: "Oh man, that shot hurt! Sting! Ouchie, Ouchie!" Whine, whine, whine. . . And then I started into "and these allergies are driving me nuts, at least the post-nasal drip which caused that tickle in my throat has let up. Boy that cough was annoying." With a handful of tissues I crawled into bed and continued "now it's going out the other way" as I blew my nose. My husband got a mischievous smile on his face, and said to me: "You had me at post-nasal drip." We both cracked up!

Boy, I'm grateful for a patient hubby who makes me laugh.

Raising Cane

Falling stinks! But, it's a regular occurrence for many of us with MS. In fact, a friend once said he was going to make T-shirts that read "I'm not drunk, I have MS." But falling in public, that stinks times a million.

Sunday, my youngest son and I went for lunch after church. I was all dressed up and I didn't think my cane was a good accessory to my snazzy outfit. So, I left it in the car. It wasn't that far and Ben could help me. After lunch Ben went to pay our bill and I slowly got up. I slung my purse over my right shoulder and carried my handy dandy iphone in my left hand. I walked very slowly because limping didn't gel with the look I was going for. Maybe if I walked slowly enough, no one would even notice. Each step felt like a cinder block was tied to my right foot. And then it happened. The cinder block won over my attempt at grace. My right foot did not lift up when I thought it did and I felt myself begin to fall. My first thought was "oh @#$%!" My second thought was thank God I have this Otter case on my iphone. My third thought was how to land with the least amount of damage.

Ker-plunk! It wasn't pretty. There I was, spread out across the floor. Maybe no one noticed. Ha! If I could have jumped up and run out I would have. Two or three waitresses and a kind woman across the way came running to my rescue: "are you okay, are you okay?" With a bashful shrug of my shoulders and a quiet "Yes, yes, I fall quite often" I began to situate myself. These nice people were asking "What can we do?" I sat on the cement floor with my right, helpless, limp leg sitting off to the side, mocking me. My right foot shoeless and pointing in the direction it chose. "It would be very nice if you could put my shoe on my foot." Someone did. Then two or three people pulled me up off the floor. One sweet waitress smiled and said to me "don't worry, I fall all the time."

Then Ben came back and met me. He had no idea what had happened. We saw his coach across the restaurant and we went to say hello. They didn't notice the fall. I kept my composure. Then Ben helped me out to the car. As I neared the door I warned Ben that I was about to cry. It hurt. I was bleeding and my knee was already swelling up, but more than that, my ego had been badly bruised.

I thought about how some people try to protect their kids from witnessing these times of weakness but I couldn't stop myself. Perhaps it's not so bad for our kids to see these things. Perhaps it will foster a sense of compassion. When we pulled up to the house I was happy to see Greg putting up Christmas lights outside. I was smiling and crying at the same time. He hugged me and held me for just the right amount of time.

Today, while driving to water therapy, I thought to myself how there's always a hidden blessing, but not this time. There wasn't a blessing to falling in public. No way! And then it hit me. My cane! The cane I left in the car! Silly girl. There was your blessing. Several friends have given me some very special canes over the years but this cane, the cane that I shunned today, was hand carved by a friend from church. On the side there is an engraving: . . . and your strength will support me. Ps 139.10 (Pictured below.)

So yeah, I'm raising Cain to all this falling stuff BUT I'm raising my cane triumphantly for the love and compassion that went into these beautiful gifts!

Craggy Thanksgiving

Craggy Thanksgiving

We went to Asheville, North Carolina for Thanksgiving. While there, we drove up to Craggy Gardens off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I've had a love affair with the mountains for most of my adult life. There's nowhere else that I feel God's peace and a part of his great creation then in a remote mountain setting. Once up there I told my family I would stay back and enjoy the view while they hiked to the top of Craggy. It's only a 1.4 mile hike roundtrip. I wouldn't have to wait long. But my husband insisted that I was going to the top.

I stumbled a few feet and said "no, that's okay, you guys go ahead." My husband Greg then took charge and told my seventeen year old son Galen to get on one side of me while he got on the other. He had me put my arms around each of their necks and they grasped hands below my knees and hoisted me up. They began to walk up the trail, with me in tow. The trail had all of the usual obstacles: slippery rocks, ledges, roots and puddles. I was nervous that they might get hurt or maybe they would fall or wouldn't be able to keep going or even worse, might drop me. Greg told me it was fine. We laughed along the way. They took short breaks and I stumbled a few feet holding on to whoever or whatever was closest to me. I don't get far before my limp leg trips me up or my lack of balance sends me falling. One time, after they put me down, my son fell a little and then I fell on top of him and I was laughing so hard I couldn't get up. He was pinned against the ground.

The sun was going down and the alpenglow on the surrounding mountains was beautiful. During one long section of being carried I thought about how the Lord works in mysterious ways. For years, my prayer has been to be healed so I can walk up mountains again. I've tried a plethora of medical treatments, alternative treatments and diets. I don't understand God's timing. But we're not really supposed to understand. We just need to trust. Healing can mean many things. That day, there was a healing of the heart. Me, independent Marjorie, I let my husband and son carry me to the top of Craggy. It was pretty amazing.

Once to the top, we got a few pictures and soaked in the vast beauty. Life circumstances have been beating me down lately. In the past, when life got hard, I was re-fueled by getting up to the mountains. I don't get that re-fueling much these days. But I did this day, this day of Thanksgiving.

Oh wait, the beautiful sunset also meant it was getting dark and we still had to get down the mountain. We had to get moving. About half way down, we saw a large puddle and Greg thought it was the parking lot down below. We were surprised and hopeful to almost be there. Once we realized it was a puddle, we all laughed. Greg gave Galen a head lamp and we kept going. We made it back to the van safely. My boys carried me 1.4 miles. I gave Galen a big hug and thanked my husband for his confidence.

I had a lot to be thankful for that day. I will cherish that memory forever.

I hear it's not if but when . . . Teenage Auto Mishaps

When I was 16 I totaled the family Volare Station Wagon. It was awful! I loved that brown station wagon. Penney and I, upside down in a ditch. Scary. Thank God we survived. Thanks to Facebook, Penney and I were reunited several years ago. We met up for lunch and she showed me her bent finger from that accident in 1983!. Wow!

As a parent of new drivers, I was going to prevent my kids from accidents. If I just "coached" them enough, signed them up for Driver's Ed, winced or gasped enough, they would get it. My son had a physics partner who was telling me about some of his accidents. He said, "Mrs. Perry, it's not a matter of IF your kid will get in an accident, it's a matter of WHEN they will get in an accident." I smiled and nodded my head.

I've now survived three teenage wrecks as a parent. The first one involved a brick wall. The second involved an elevated curb. This latest one, involved another car and it wasn't pretty. I sure hope and pray this latest wreck will be the worst.

It was Saturday morning. My husband was out of town. I asked my older son Galen, to take Ben to his lacrosse game and later we'd go watch the game. Having my son drive has been a huge help, especially now that I'm disabled. Then, I got the dreaded call. "Mom, I've been hit, I'm okay but I'm really scared. It was bad. It wasn't my fault." All of a sudden I turned into my mother and I'm screaming "Oh my God, Oh my God!" Calm down. Ask where he is. "Okay, where are you?" "I'll be right there."

I drove with such adrenalin, I was lucky I didn't get in an accident. I pulled up to the intersection and I could see police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks every where. The traffic was backing up. Where should I go? I pulled up on the curb. No, that wouldn't work. I beeped my horn once as I shouted "that's my son, that's my son!" I parked behind a police car and asked where to go. He said not there. He pointed me to a subdivision entrance close by but I told him "that's too far, I'm disabled." He then told me to park in front of the firetruck. I passed my son who was sitting on the curb quivering.

I limped over as quickly as possible to comfort my son and to assess the situation. There was a nice man who witnessed the entire thing and was there helping and guiding Galen. His truck was parked right next to us. I could see that he was an ex-marine. He became our angel ex-marine that day.

It was bad! All the airbags deployed. Clearly there were more angels protecting him then the ex-angel marine that day. I hugged my big tough kid who was so scared. As I limped around cleaning out the car, the EMTs asked if I was in the accident. I said "no, I limp. I just limp."

I glanced over at the woman who hit my son. I prayed she was okay but I couldn't leave Galen. I trusted that the police were handling everything. They had the place cleaned up in no time. I was impressed how the emergency personnel handled everything so efficiently and how they helped keep everyone calm and safe.

I had Galen checked out. He was a little bruised up but we're thankful, oh so thankful. It could have been worse!

A major accident seems to trigger everyone's major accident stories. My son has heard a bunch of them now (including mine). We never forget our first major wreck! Guess we never forget our kids' major wrecks either.

My two eldest have hopefully met their quota for accidents. My youngest turned 13 today. Maybe I can prevent him from having a wreck someday! (Um, yeah, I'm not holding my breath.)

I'm a parent of three teens! Happy Birthday Ben!

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Claim Your Day of Rest

             I escape my computer screen with moments of rest as I gaze out the window.


Yesterday was Labor Day and I needed to claim my day of rest, but it didn't come willingly. Outside influences battled to pull me away. I'm sure you've been there.

Kid: We should order a pizza.
Me: Dad just went shopping. We have tons of food and frozen pizzas in the freezer.

Kid: We should go to Rita's for an Italian ice. 
Me: Mhm.

Kid: We should go to Target.
Me: There are tornado watches and warnings all over Georgia. It's not safe.

Kid: I'm bored.
Me: Isn't it great to be bored for a change. We need to be bored more often.

Kid: We should go out and celebrate because it's Labor Day.
Me: We celebrated at the lake on Saturday. Today is our rest day.

Email: You should check me because this inbox will become unmanageable and it will take you forever to catch up.
Me: Okay, I'll give in but I think I need a break from you too.

Committees: You should address those pending issues because you have a little extra time.
Me: Okay, maybe I should. No! I need rest. Maybe just a little.

Laundry: Look at me piling up. Your husband needs clean underwear.
Me: Okay, I guess laundry qualifies as rest. Kind of.

Book: Read me! I must be read by Thursday! Don't forget to underline the important things.
Me: Okay. I can settle down enough to read. I like that. That feels like rest.

TV: Storms everywhere. Floods are coming. 24/7 coverage.
Me: It's nice to have an excuse to stay home. I hope we don't have to go to the basement. Should I gather flashlights? The TV is making me nervous. I wonder if I should take a shower in case the storm hits. I wouldn't want someone to find me with dirty hair.

Facebook: What's everyone doing? How are they faring in the storms? You might be missing something!
Me: Okay, I'll submit. It's kind of resting as I sit glaring at the computer. I break to look out the windows at the trees. That's restful.
  
iphone: Don't forget me. I'm going to follow you around in case you get an important text or tweet.
Me: Maybe I will leave you on the charger for a while. You need some rest too.

Pain: Ah-ha! A little rest day won't deter me. I like when you slow down so I can shout "I'm still here!"
Me: Damn you pain! I'll show you. I'm going to eat a cookie and later some ice cream.
Pain: Okay, I like that. It makes me come on a little stronger.
Me: Um, okay. I get your point. But that cookie tasted really good!

Kid: Tomorrow is a Senior Skip Day. About half are participating and half are not.
Me: Um, I think I will go with the half who are not. It's too soon in the school year and we just had a long weekend.
Kid: Scowl and grunt while stumping off.
Me: It's hard being the bad guy. I can feel my anxiety level rising. Be strong. Hold your ground.

Somehow, with all these diversions and challenges, it still felt like a day of rest. I didn't go anywhere. I didn't buy anything. I took care of a few things. I escaped a little here and there.

Does this sound familiar? Contrary to popular belief, we all need rest. We need to re-charge our batteries. Maybe you've evolved to a day of rest that doesn't involve conflict, anxiety, or challenges.   Sometimes it's a stretch, like zoning out while folding laundry. For now, I will take it where I can get it!

Find some rest today.

MS in Wonderland

Alice-

"Well, after this I should think nothing of falling down stairs."

I was so excited about my new blog and then I fell into a hole. A deep dark hole. Help, someone get me out. I'm stuck! Ever feel like Alice? You know, Alice in Wonderland? This Wonderland is far out!

My Wonderland is Multiple Sclerosis but it could be with any big challenge. Wandering around wondering where am I, who am I? One minute feeling immense joy and blessings and the next, sinking into despair. Despair because you don't understand why your body is rebelling, despair because of unmet expectations, and sometimes despair for no apparent reason.  

Alice - 

"It would be so nice if something made sense for a change."

One minute in Wonderland I'm reading a devotional or something that inspires me with a big nod of the head and a big Amen! The next minute I find myself sinking and falling back into that dark place. My Dad says to honor that dark place and accept it. That accepting it isn't giving into it. Once you accept it, it can open up a place for something else. That sits well with me.

Alice-

"I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!"

Most mornings when I awake, my legs flail around with spasticity and I know right away, I'm still in Wonderland, but I'm grateful for another day. Some mornings I wake up and my legs are calm and I wonder, is this the morning I will awake from this dream and I have my body back? I move my legs purposefully to the side of the bed and slowly arise, and move my feet to see if my leg is back. Will I walk without a limp? Will I be different? And then I find myself in Wonderland again. Sometimes it makes me smile and chuckle a little.

Alice-

"Curiouser and curiouser!"

I recently went to see my adorable niece in the play Alice in Wonderland. I found myself lost in the drama for a moment. And then my little niece said "Goodnight Alice." And I was so grateful to be watching her and sharing that moment.

So yeah, here I am, in Wonderland. Maybe you're in a Wonderland too. It's okay. Accept it.

Team Marj @ Large 29 Gifts Launch a Huge Success!

The Team Marj @ Large kickoff party was a big success! We only had about 31 folks there (out of about 80 teammates) but it was a great group! This will be Team Marj @ Large's 7th year participating in the Bike MS Atlanta Ride. We're committed to riding hard and having fun for a good cause, raising money to fight Multiple Sclerosis. Tonight, we had this Potluck Cookout for launching the month going into the ride and more importantly to launch our partnership with 29 Gifts. Begining Monday, August 15, the 29 Gifts site will make donating to Team Marj @ Large their cause for the month. WE ARE SO, SO EXCITED!!!!

We already had a few folks participating in the 29 Day Giving Challenge but we're encouraging our whole team to participate on some level during this month. Last night, the reception was great! Everyone loved the idea.

So far, we've had 23 folks sign up to participate on some level. Ten people purchased a signed copy of Cami's book.Thirteen Committed to the full 29 Gifts in 29 Days.Seven signed up to gift at least once in next next 29 days and 3 committed to getting 29 smiles in 29 days! Pretty good results for a launch. I'm expecting more. The sign up sheets in the picture were full by the end of the night! This is going to be fun! 

Won't you join us from August 15 - through the ride ending September 18? Join us in our month of giving: 29 Days of giving in 29 Days, or 1 day of giving in 29 days, or 29 smiles in 29 days! How about making your one day of giving to our team:  make a small donation, or offer up a prayer or sign up to volunteer. No gift is too small. Together we're making a difference.

I Love the enthusiasm from my team. We are pumped to give and make this the best ride yet! We'll be wearing our 29 Gift buttons with pride.

Sign up Team Marj @ Large or Donate

Join The Team Marj @ Large Facebook Fan Page

Visit the Team Marj @ Large Website

Visit the 29 Gifts Website

Join us! 

Super Excited About My New Blog Design

Now that my blog design is done, I will begin posting more regularly. I'm excited silly about the design. It's fun and quirky and represents a lot of important things to me.

1. Everyone knows, pink represents breast cancer. Well, guess what orange represents? Yep, it's the color the MS Society chose to represent the cause of Multiple Sclerosis.

2. The lady on the bike is taken from the Team Marj @ Large bike logo. She represents everyone working towards a cure. Everyone riding, walking, volunteering, researching, advocating, fundraising, donating, praying, etc.

3. The mountain represents so many things. One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 17:20. It says, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith, as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will ever be impossible for you." (NIV)

4.  My husband and I have always shared a love of the outdoors represented by the entire scene and the three flowers by the lake represent our children.

5. The winding path represents life's journey.

6. Last but not least, my faith is represented in multiple ways. Can you guess some of those ways?

Pick a Picture, Tell a Story - Bike MS Rides

Team Marj @ Large - Bike MS Atlanta Ride 2009

Team Marj @ Large

I started Team Marj @ Large after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in March 2005. Team Marj @ Large has been around for seven years, participates annually in the Bike MS Atlanta Ride, the Atlanta to Athens Bike MS Ride, Tour de Cure and more. We've had hundreds of teammates and have collectively raised over $250,000 for the National MS Society, Georgia Chapter and thousands more for Juvenile Diabetes.

We've won several fund raising awards and most spirited team. We do have fun! 

Learn more:

Team Marj @ Large Website

Team Marj @ Large Fundraising Page

Georgia Magazine - "The Ride of Her Life"

The 29-Day Giving Challenge

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Cami Walker, New York Times Bestselling author of 29 Gifts, How a Month of Giving Can Change your Life. Cami was in the Atlanta area for a week's worth of events. In the true spirit of giving, within the first few minutes of our meeting, she gave me a signed copy of her book.  A few days later I attended an intimate tea with Cami and twelve other fabulous ladies (pictured above).  I was especially fascinated to hear her story because Cami also struggles with Multiple Sclerosis.

This is an inspirational book full of gems. Visit the website at 29gifts.org to learn more. You can set up a personal blog and journal about your experiences and share in the community of giving. Today is day ONE of The 29-Giving Challenge for me. 

Here are a few of my favorite lines from the book:

Autographed inscription:
Marjorie, Good Giving = Good Living
You are a gift! Cami Walker

"[when giving] You're putting your consciousness on what you have to offer the world instead of what is scarce." p. 73 

". . . giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other." p. 139

And while I believe giving anonymously is important too, I agree with Cami that for this giving ritual, it's more about mindfulness and developing a conscious habit of reaching out to others. P. 155

"When I am in service to another person, I am moving from a place of self-centeredness to selflessness. The act of giving inherently carries gratitude in it. For me, it is impossible to give without feeling grateful." P. 216

This last year, I have been a front row student of receiving and feeling immense gratitude. I will write more about that in future blogs. Stay tuned!

Do you believe good giving = good living? Give it a try!

The Great Shoe Give Away

I have virtually no feeling in my right foot. It's like a wet noodle. It's difficult to limp in certain shoes: no flip-flops, no heels, no clogs, and no shoes without backs. I love shoes and had a closet full of various styles. Each pair of shoes represented a part of me. Letting go of those shoes represented letting go a part myself and it represented giving into MS.

There are times in our lives that we are being called to change. Called to transformation. But often there is resistance. Often for good reason. I liked the old me! Those trail running shoes represented a time when I could escape and run free. Those stylish boots represented a time when I could get out on the dance floor and dance the night away. Those heels represented a time when I looked hip and stylish. Those sandals represented a part of me that was more carefree, strolling along the beach.

I wasn't ready to give that up. I was pretty sure I could beat this. I'm naturally competitive and planned on winning. I was fighting for the old Marjorie. Eventually I realized it wasn't about fighting. That metaphor wasn't working for me anymore. My opponent or contender became my teacher. I don't always like my teacher and I still find myself fighting at times. The lessons aren't always easy and my teacher was telling me I had to let go of that part of me. So, why not have some fun with it?

I did something I love to do and threw a big party. I created a Facebook Event called The Great Shoe Give Away. I put out about fifty shoes lined up around my dining room. I invited a bunch of friends for wine and cookies and free shoe shopping! I could have sold the shoes and given the money to charity. I could have donated them for a tax write off. But, this was more fun! It was even fun for those who didn't wear a size 8 shoe.

It was hard letting go of those shoes but it gave me joy sharing them. It didn't mean that MS won. It didn't mean that I gave into MS. Guess what? If tomorrow I'm miraculously healed, it means I get to go out and buy all new shoes!

Do you have some old shoes? Is it time to let go of something to make room for something new? 

My New Theme Song

My friend Amy put this video on my Facebook wall after I got my stair lift. Love it!

My church small group is reading the book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Dr. Richard A. Swenson. We're still early on in the book but it's already hitting home. Swenson says, "We must have some room to breathe. We need freedom to think and permission to heal. Our relationships are being starved to death by velocity. No one has the time to listen, let alone love. Our children lay wounded on the ground, run over by our high-speed good intentions. Is God now pro-exhaustion? Doesn't He lead people beside the still waters anymore?"

We have little room left for margin. If you don't take time to create margin in your life, it may be created for you. Why not beat it to the punch line? I'm creating margin out of pure necessity.  For example, I have to sit down to dress myself now. I'm utterly amused by how long it takes to put on my right shoe. Today, just for the heck of it, sit down and slowly put on your shoes. Examine how your foot responds or doesn't respond and how all of the parts work to make that shoe get on your foot. Then, take a deep breath and be thankful.

Now, I hum this song from the movie Up as I slowly progress up and down my stairs. Carl doesn't seem particularly joyful about his situation but his pace is interesting contrasted to the very end of the video where he's shown in the middle of an ever-changing fast paced world that is losing its margin. Who is better off? What can we learn from this?

Too Brilliant Not To Share

Holy Moly, I've been contemplating a blog for years. I wake up with brilliant thoughts that NEED to be shared and then I get to my computer and forget all of them. Nada. It's part of MS or maybe it's living with too much junk in my head. Then I contemplate the usual, you've heard it, "I don't care who reads it, this will be my online journal."

BMS = Before Multiple Sclerosis

I met my husband playing Ultimate. I watched and observed Ultimate for a long time before playing. I visualized myself catching, throwing and diving. I studied the sport. And FINALLY started playing. I wasn't that good but I sure had fun.

I did the same with mountain biking. I was asked to do my first adventure race in 1999. I was already road cycling and had pretty good endurance. I purchased books and videos and studied the sport and to my surprise, I wasn't bad. Then kayaking. I studied the sport, watched videos, and took classes. And rock climbing. And kids. And let's not forget: PTA president, running a swim team, sitting on numerous boards, having my kids in a gazillion activities, team mom, class mom and more. It's no wonder my body cried "UNCLE!"

PMS = Post Multiple Sclerosis

MS told me I needed a break from ultimate, cycling, running, hiking and climbing. I needed a break from all the things I love! Huh? The things that defined me. Crap! Now what?

One thing BMS and PMS that didn't change is my faith. Sure, I've ranted and raved, questioned and cried out but there's no way I could walk through this valley without Him. 

I'm adjusting to a life BMS to a life PMS. A life of Hyper-doing to a life of Hyper-being. Even if I'm miraculously cured today, life will never be the same. Part of this journey involves letting go. Today, I'm letting go and opening up about this journey. 

Handicap Parking Dilemmas

I was diagnosed with MS in March 2005. I've had steady progression with weakness in my right leg and right side of my body. It started with an occasional limp, then dragging the foot, to pulling the right hip up and pulling my limp leg up and over. I KNEW I would soon overcome this because I am a very positive and proactive person.  I recall slumping my shoulders and asking the nurse practitioner, "at what point does one ask for one of those things that hang from the rear view mirror?" Yes, the dreaded handicap decal. And eventually my "Share the Road" cycling license plate was replaced with a "handicap" license plate.

At first I felt guilty parking there. I wouldn't take a spot unless there were at least three other spots. What if someone MORE handicap needs parking? Now, I'm annoyed when there aren't any handicap parking spots! How the heck am I supposed to get from here to there?  A walk to the mailbox looks like an eternity and I've lost count of the number of falls I've taken. And this coming from the person who hiked the John Muir Trail on my honeymoon (225 miles) and use to do multi-day adventure races! 

The other day I pulled up to a handicap spot in a crowded recreational park. I had my window rolled down and the maintenance man heard me say to my son, "this looks like a good spot." He replied "Oh no mam, that's a handicap spot." I smiled really big and said "I know I don't look handicap, but I am." When he saw me struggle to get out he came over and apologized and helped us get the scooter out of the back. I didn't mind. It's kind of like when you're 30 and someone asks to see your ID before buying alcohol. Of course, I wonder, what does it LOOK like to be handicap? 

The other day I went for yet another medical procedure and the disabled parking area was close to the entrance and there was no charge for that one area. Hot dog! I felt like I won the lottery. VIP parking!

Of course my overactive mind thinks constantly about what to call myself. I'm not crazy about labels. I've explained to my kids where the term "handicap" came from - a "crippled" person would sit on the sidewalk with their cap / hat reached out for money, begging. They just pulled out that Handy Cap and made a day of it. Well heck, I'm not a beggar. Then once I saw a license plate that read "DISABLED" but the person put a line through the "DIS" part. Does that mean some people will be offended if I say disabled?  And honestly, there are times I feel like the most ABLE person around! 

Aw shucks, call me whatever you want - just say it with a smile!