First Night Pending

It's New Year's Eve.  Seventeen months since I was diagnosed.  I am still going to work, happily.  If nothing else stands as testimony to the value of education, the fact that I can still do my work from a wheelchair should be proof enough that higher education is important.  So get an education!!

So much for my brief commercial message for MSU-Northern. 😉

I do realize that the reality of retirement due to disability is pending, if only because getting to work in my van by myself may be difficult.  Using the accelerator and brake takes a lot of concentration and energy (and at times, my right hand to lift my right leg).  In the spring, I can probably drive my fancy pants new wheelchair itself to work, but not so much now when it's snowy and 10 below!

Christmas was lovely and quiet,  with the nuclear family together and happy.  We had dinner at my very cool 84 year old friend's house, then a quiet evening after.  Although Dolan was disappointed that we didn't go to Whitefish for Christmas break, my need for accessibility overrode his desire to ski.  He was cool about it, though.  More disappointed that he didn't win the Montana Millionaire lottery after buying lots of chances!

Yesterday, I got an email about a woman with ALS whose blog I had followed.  She passed on the 23rd.   She was 9 years younger than me.  Although I am well aware that the likelihood of death is great in these ALS bloggers, it still gives me pause when one does pass on. As I suppose it will when I too leave.  

In the meantime, though, I will just continue to enjoy the life I am fortunate to have, and as we remarked on Christmas Day, we are truly blessed.  I have been given a great gift, and I intend to make the most of it.

Decking the halls

Christmas is just around the corner, and we are behind on decorating.  That was always something I did, and it's a difficult transition for the family.  Still, Dolan said he'd do the outside lights today, and Caroline decorated inside a bit.  Paul gets to do the tree! So hard to accept that I can't do any of it now.

Monday morning my serious wheelchair is due to be delivered.  Thank you, MUS BC/BS!  I am ready to move to it largely because my ankles really don't do well in the Jazzy all day at work and social events.  The new chair will allow me to raise my legs now and then.  Wahoo!!

Still enjoying working with students to help them succeed.  Attended the reception for December graduates yesterday.  One grad mentioned that he was the first person in his family ever to get a college degree.  That brought tears to my eyes: this is what our university us all about.  Actually changing the socioeconomic status of many of our students from low to middle class.  Despite the challenges the middle class faces, we are the backbone of the United States, and the more people who can be brought into this class, the stronger our country will be.

As for me, I can still stand up, although I need constant support (a wall, grab bars, a counter, a human to hold on to).  I am glad I can still be vertical!  My legs will support my weight a bit longer.

As the year winds down, I am still so very thankful for all I have, and feel blessed.  I have the opportunity to know pretty much what will happen to me, and have made my peace with it.  At this point, I want no tubes, feeding or otherwise.  I want to go naturally as much as possible.  Holding on to life with artificial means is repellent to me.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and that you count all your blessings often.  Merry Christmas!