Sweaty Conversation
The morning was cool.
Perfect weather to forgo my usual solitary workout in the basement and drag my MS-laden body to the local high school track for a stroll.
I prefer walking on a track as there is no worry about uneven surfaces or hills.
The downside of going to the track is being on public display.
There are usually other people present and it makes me uncomfortable.
You see, I can walk. But it is an ugly walk. A “Walking Dead” walk. A “tin woodsman before the oil-can”, walk.
Therefore I would just rather avoid the glances & oddly-scripted conversation with others and stay huddled in my basement.
But I decided to pull-up my big boy britches and venture out to the track.
There, I wasn’t disappointed by the mindless comments of others.
A lady in a Cleveland Indians track suit zipped past me and sympathetically said…“Keep going. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other!”
Did I respond by saying:
A)- “Thanks lady, I plumb forgot how to walk–something I’ve done since I was two.”
Or
B)- “You got it. You do the best you can” as I offered a fake smile.
Well I chose “B” because I am polite. (But “A” was a very close 2nd.)
Moments later, another walker greeted me with her best Dr. Phil compassion when she said (in a tone as though talking to an ailing family pet)…”Getting some exercise, huuuh?” (with emphasis on the “huh.”)
Did I respond by saying:
A)- “No, I just escaped from jail & I’m making a slow get-away.”
Or
B)- “Yeah, you know—moving around.”
Again I bit my lip and chose “B” to avoid a scene.
Once everyone was gone and I was left alone, I had a tremendous time completing my little workout.
I don’t think of myself as being anti-social, but the further I get into this MS journey…I find myself retreating…trying to avoid the next sweaty conversation.
4 Replies to “Sweaty Conversation”
I totally agree oddsock. i also like to exercise alone and without “fake” conversations! Also, if one more person says ” you look great”, I think I’m gonna puke. I’m not able to walk very far at all and only with a walker. Unfortunately my health has been declining but I remain the best wall/furniture walker, oh, and butt scooter around. So have a great day and keep on moving 😉
Hello Mr. Odd Sock. I too do not consider myself anti-social, have a “walking dead” type stroll and find myself retreating after 5 yrs. of MS deterioration. I don’t experience disheartening conversations or cold stares like many MS’ers have shared but slowly my life is downsizing, including my activity level. It is blogs like yours that help keep my life interesting. Thanks for all you do.
JE
Coming from a MSer who can no longer walk, my advice to you is “just keep on keeping on”. The stares never stop. A disability is a disability, and I think people often wonder “how did it happen?”. Sometimes they make their own judgment. When I first became wheelchair bound at work, people in my building would come up to me and say ” sorry to hear about your stroke”. When you are in a wheelchair, the stares have that look “of pity” on their face. Unfortunately there are times when we have to be out in public, smile and greet each passerby, and just “suck it up”. I am still waiting for that miracle cure.
Margaret, Joanne & Johan,
I am glad I’m not alone in this. Thought maybe I was being a jerk with these thoughts. (I AM a jerk—but a nice jerk 🙂
Thanks for reading & commenting!