Naahh!

“Can you believe he goes out in public like that.”

“He use to be a runner, now look at him.”

“First, a cane.  Now a chair.  He has gone downhill fast.”

Have you heard comments like these?

I have.  Fortunately, I’ve only heard them in my own head.

That’s right.  With a head the size of a dirigible, one is very capable of having insensitive thoughts.

But that’s the thing I’ve realized about my 13 year slow-dance with multiple sclerosis….the embarrassment is in my head only.

A fig-newton of my imagination!

You must realize family and friends aren’t embarrassed by your condition–only concerned.  And once you face your own MonSter, the feeling is actually quite calming!

For me personally, using my cane, leg brace or wheelchair while on vacation was easy.  Always has been because no one knew me….

I was just another dude who looked like “Robocop.”

But within my own community, around town, around school–that’s when I choked up like when asking a girl on a date (First time I did this I was told she didn’t know my name!).

Publicly, it took me quite a while to get over the “hump” of embarrassment my MS would cause.  To this day, I still have some difficulty, but it IS getting easier!

Are you having issues with your own MS embarrassment?  Take a bit of advice from an odd sock–don’t let it drag you to the gutter like a discarded pop can.  Face up and realize what you are facing is in your head and only your head.  No stranger gives a rat’s you-know-what because you use a wheelchair, rollator or crutches.  (Actually they loathe you because you get the up-close parking!)

So put your boots on and get out there.  Hold your head high (especially if you’re in a wheelchair–who wants to stare at crotches all day!).  And go get’em!

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With the antagonist’s response, here is Hecklephant, the guy dressed as an elephant, who many years ago heckled my entire stand-up show in Florida…

“Wah wah, boo hoo hoo—I thought this was supposed to be a humor site!  Where’s the funny business?  You still suck!

My Odd Sock is getting all wishy-washy.  We want punchlines, you dope!  We want big laughs.  If we want this mopey-crap, we’ll watch “Dr. Phil.”  Now get writing, loser!  Thank you.”