On Disability–Have Ability

 

 

Having been on disability for a little over a year now…and slowly shuffling with a cane, conjures up the image of a fragile, helpless being in the eyes of others.

 

And with that…..PFFOOT—TOOY!

I spit in the face of the thought.  (That is, if  I could spit.  As a kid, I envied my buddies who could spit with the accuracy of a cobra.  When I tried, I would get a long string of spittle that had the elasticity of a bungee cord, hanging from my mouth. waist-length till I broke it off with my fingers!)

 

Please pardon my long aside.  Now, back to the story.

 

I may be disabled with MS–you may be as well–but that doesn’t mean the world stops for us.  The world keeps moving, and so should we.

 

People are often dumbfounded that I do what I do.  Let me explain.

 

Just last week, I was shoveling snow when the phone rang.  Moving with the speed of a glacier, it rang about six times before I could answer.

It was a friend.  I explained to her I was shoveling the driveway.  To which she asked “How are YOU shoveling snow?”

 

Pausing, I said…..”With a shovel?”

 

 

I knew what she meant.

I knew what she was referring to.

 

 

The same thing happened during a recent doctor’s appointment.  I was told to use a rollator more frequently.  I responded by saying I use one when working in the yard (My fumble-feet and bumpy grass don’t always agree!)

I continued, “I took my Halloween decorations down and used my rollator to transport a bale of hay to the shed in the backyard.”

The doctor blinked repeatedly like he was in an Oklahoma dust storm.

 

The point is, we may be “disabled,” but shit still needs done.  So you find a way to do it!

A task may take us three, four, five times as long to finish–but we (you) can do it with a little creative thought.

 

 

Now, I’m not suggesting you shovel snow, tote that barge or lift that bale–but by golly, you & I can be more productive than what others believe.

 

 

 

Yes, I’m still adjusting to this whole disability thing.  And struggling at times.  What am I supposed to do?  I can’t sit all day watching the endless TV commercials of lawyers yakking about Social Security disability.  (Sorry “Dewey, Cheat’em & Howe” law firm—thank God I didn’t need their services!)

 

I’d love to hear how you are coping.  Do you have the same feelings?  How do you handle the tasks at hand?

 

We may be on disability, but dammit, we have ability!

Do what you can—with what you have left.

Drain that gas can each day.  Don’t waste a drop.

You can do it.  I’ll help you.  And when I need help, you can help me.

Keep moving ladies and gents.

Friggin MS.