Skip to main content

Fairy Tales

What do London Bridge, Humpty Dumpty, The Three Little Pigs and Kathleen Piggins have in common?

 They all fall down! 

 Well with the Three Little Pigs it's not the pigs that fall but the house but I have three not-so-little Piggins and it just seemed appropos to include that fairy tale here!

 Because this is a tale about falling down. But it's also about getting back up!

 At last night's Douglas Social  my friend Kris and I meandered through the crowd greeting and often hugging friends along the way to the beer/wine tent - I spotted a friend that recently moved to the area and went to give her a big hug. and after proceeded to fall flat on my arse. Time seemed to stop and it felt that the all eyes in the crowd were on me as I landed and then proceeded to get back up with the help of friends. One of the saddest part of the fall, was that I had just gotten my first glass of wine and it was now all over me.  I thought "Thank goodness I was drinking white". And then, "I hope they don't think I was drunk!' - pride looks especially sad when you're on your ass.

 The saddest part, however, was my long-lost-friend thought she had something to do with the fall. Sorry, Sue, but I kind of wish that were true!

 For the record, I fall a lot. It's the reality for me with my MS right now. I know 'how to fall' so that I rise uninjured but I am taking chances, I know. The prescribed wheelchair that sits in the back of my van, has only been used once in four months. I even thought about using it last night but I didn't want to make everyone feel uncomfortable by seeing me in a wheelchair. Pride goest before the fall . . . I believe that's scripture so I must not be the first one not to want to seen in a wheelchair. I'm not very good at quoting scripture but I am very good at loving my God.

 Unlike Humpty Dumpty I cannot be put back together again. (How many times have you read an essay that quotes scripture and Mother Goose? It takes a special kind of mind to use them both in the same essay.) I can continue to take my chances and not wound my pride. Or I can let my pride take one for the team and get the formerly-on-the-grass ass in the wheelchair for occasions that will require going from point A to point B. I knew the day was coming - and just like when I had to start relying on the cane, I will go to this stage with humor and as much grace as I can muster. (Start praying that I may have as much grace as I will need to muster!) Just like I was "Too Sexy for my Cane", I will create a similar song/mantra to get me through this new phase.

 I have never learned lessons the easy way. And I know that God knows this about me so he's given me 'soft' falls until the day that I would finally say -
"this might be better for all if I didn't fall". I'm slow but I'm finally there. Here's a bright side - maybe I won't be so slow when I have wheels!


Comments

  1. Kim BehmerJune 29, 2013 at 12:24 AM

    I love you, you beautiful child of God!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

It's not a popularity contest, but ...

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

I put my pride aside and got my ass off the grass and into the wheelchair. {I spent a couple minutes deciding whether to put an exclamation mark after that declaration or to put the period after that statement. I think the period better suits my mood about getting said ass into the wheelchair!} On July 4, Saugatuck has a wonderfully unique parade that includes quirky participants like the artsy-fartsy campers at OxBow art colony and the LGBT members of a local foundation along with the more traditional participants like Girl Scouts, fire trucks, and local politicians. It had been a couple years since I had been to the parade, this year, though, my Mom and sister were in town and I wanted to take them. So we loaded up in the van, including Kerri's wheelchair and my own. Once we parked, John asked if I wanted to use my chair and I initially balked but then remembered that it can be a long, hot parade and it might be better to have a place to sit. So, I acquiesced and took the cha...
2 comments
Read more

Don't cry for me ...

Song lyrics or titles run through my mind to often sum up a situation or add humor to one. Today, it's "Don't Cry for Me Argentina". Only today the title is "Don't cry for me anybody"! I mean, I get it, that people feel bad that I've got breast cancer and that I've been living with MS for nearly 27 years. And I've had other issues that I've blogged about related to #metoo. I get that it seems like a lot looking in from the outside. I hear your comments and appreciate your support. But here's the thing, it doesn't feel overwhelming to me, looking out from the inside. Know what I mean? I live the life that I've been dealt and do it with the personality and faith I've been given. Which means, I could do one of the following: A. Have a miserable, pity-me attitude that would lead to being  miserable; B. Lean into my troubles and seek answers constantly either through research or angrily with God, which would lea...
1 comment
Read more

Christmas cards

I sat down to reluctantly address Christmas cards. While our list has slowly dwindled through the years it's still a sizeable number, especially when it's viewed as a task approached reluctantly . Know what I mean? Some Christmas 'tasks' are a lot less taskier - like decorating or shopping or eating or opening presents. I mean, there's a whole different level of enthusiasm associated with 'tasks' that aren't viewed as tasks - I can't ever remember a time when I sat down to reluctantly open a present or eat a Christmas cookie! Anyway, I approached the Christmas card addressing with a less-than-positive, more bah-humbugish attitude. I poured a cup of coffee, grabbed the markers (I had to have a green, a red and a black one), the list and of course the envelopes (which John had already stuffed with the card). I turned on some Christmas music, but not too loud or it would distract me (and it really doesn't take much to distract me. Squirrel!),...
Post a Comment
Read more