Dancing with ALS and Life

dancingwithalsandlife.blogspot.com Time travel can be a way to connect and build relationships with people. In this blog, I will be talking about what my transportation experiences have looked like with ALS and my disabilities. However, before we do, let’s take a trip down memory lane. I remember the first time I got into a car with my drivers permit.  As a joke, my father put on a motorcycle helmet, looked at me and said, “I am now prepared to teach you how to drive!”  I laughed so hard, I almost peed my pants!  Looking back, he probably was pretty smart and realistic. My first car was a manual stick shift.  If you have ever driven stick shift, you know there is a learning curve to having smooth transitions between the gas, clutch and gears. After several months  of practicing my Mario Andretti skills, I officially passed my drivers test in 1988 at the age of 16.  I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel of the car and experience the feeling of independence...

 Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.   ~ Mother Theresa & Follow the LAW  (Love Always Wins) ~ Stacy & Christian   2/26  

dancingwithalsandlife.blogspot.com I try really hard to remain positive and to focus on all the good things that are in my life. And I try to live day by day and not think too far ahead in this shitty situation called dancing with ALS and life because I have been on this journey with symptoms starting six years ago. I learned early on constantly thinking about what I am losing or what will not be, takes me down a mesmerizing spiraling Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole, and I land in a very strange world that I don't recognize nor know where I fit in. When I do land in the strange world, I am determined to claw my way back up and out of the spiraling bunny hole.  I really hate when I feel like I'm wasting even one of my remaining days of life that God is giving me, because I'm just focusing on the negative shit! I find it is imperative to keep my mind busy to avoid further rabbit holes or strange lands.   However, I'm not always successful, and every once in a while, when ...

  “A Journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step” ~ Lao Tuzla  and “It’s your road and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you” ~ Rumi 1/26

dancingwithalsandlife.blogspot.com Experiencing slow but continual motor function loss of my arms, hands and now in my legs, sucks!. Prior to living with ALS, I was very active with a busy life consisting of my career and family. For self care, I enjoyed hobbies to help me decompress from the world.  In 2021, my busyness came to a screeching halt going from 100 miles an hour to nothing and gave me unbearable whiplash. I just felt so lost when everything was being stripped away from me, especially all my hobbies that required using my hands such as gardening, baking, crafts, crocheting, and reading. Focusing on the losses just threw me into a tailspin of deep depression and self isolation. I would spend countless hours scrolling through webpages on 101 hobbies to try, hoping and praying for hook, line and sinker that would fit my new normal. I even googled activities/hobbies for disabled individuals. Funny thing is, the website said disabled individuals should try gardening, puzzles...

  “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, but felt by the heart” ~ Helen Keller

  As a teenager, I loved growing up in the 80’s.  It was an era when everyone seemed to have fun.  No one was uptight about things such as being politically correct about everything you said or did. It was a time when you could have a Halloween party and not call it a fall fest or celebrate Christmas instead of calling it a holiday celebration. I especially loved all of the 80’s music from Prince, Joan Jett, The Go Go’s, Pat Benatar, Bruce Springsteen, The Cars, and Madonna. Mostly, I was obsessed with the launch of MTV and when they actually played music videos not reality TV shows. I remember I couldn’t wait to get home from school to check out the next new music video.  On the weekends, I’d stay up past midnight watching all those videos. I loved my walkman and purchasing music cassette tapes, then a cd player, using the money I earned from my waitress job. The 80’s were also known for blockbuster VHS/CDs and movies like Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, St. Elmo’s...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Go d, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.     Isaiah 9:6 Happy Holidays to all my Readers! Blessings for 2026!   Article from ALS Association:   Tips for Having an Enjoyable Holiday Season

 “The Best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.“ Buddy the Elf  12/25

This blog was written when the world opened back up after the horrific Covid pandemic.  Since Covid why do restaurants no longer provide customers with spoons and straws? Prior to Covid, I would get a fork, knife, spoon and straws. Now when I go to a restaurant, I only get a fork and a knife and maybe a straw. Did utensils and straws die during the Covid pandemic?  For someone who is losing motor function and has poor hand dexterity, I learned early on eating most of my food, including salads, with a spoon was much easier.  A straw for all drinks is a must because glasses are too heavy for me to lift to my mouth to take a drink.  Yes, I’m even talking about cocktails and coffee. I’m sure you can image the looks I have gotten when I ask for a glass of wine with a straw or need a straw for my piping hot mug of coffee! When I use a spoon, the material it is made out of greatly matters.  The metal can’t be too heavy because I can’t lift it.  But it can’t be pla...

   “ To give thanks in solitude is enough. Thanksgiving has wings and goes where it must go. Your prayer knows much more about it than you do.” Victor Hugo

dancingwithalsandlife.blogspot.com Picture of the White Bugatti Veyron  My father is a retired car dealer.  In my youth, I spent countless summer hours working at his business taking cars here and there to auto auctions.  While my girlfriends were reading Teen Beat, Teen, and Seventeen magazines with all the quizzes and tips about dating, pure pressure, make up and the latest boy bands, I was reading Car and Driver . Thanks to my father, I had an obsession with cars at an early age.  I couldn't wait until his Car and Driver magazine arrived in the mail so I could page through it to see all of the new hot trends.  During this time I was exposed to all sorts of cars such as high performance, luxury, convertibles, classics, and family vehicles.  Taking test drives just furthered my obsession.  I guess deep down at my core I could say Im a Motörhead.  Although the joyrides were fun, one thing I despised about my summer job working at the auto dealer...

 dancingwithalsandlife.blogspot.com “The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.” – Hannah Whitall Smith

          dancingwithalsandlife.blogspot.com OK, ladies, all of you will be able to relate to this. Have you ever been on a journey or quest to find a perfect bra, one that doesn't dig, poke or ride up? I have a few friends who are on this journey as well. The first thing they do when they get home is take off that spandex medieval contraption because it has been killing them all day.   Also, did you know that there are webpages devoted to 101 slang names for breast?  Some of the names are a pink nose puppies, milk monsters, over the shoulder boulders, hooters, jugs, airbags, bazooka, fun bags, boobs and knockers.  I had no idea our breasts got that much attention! I know when we were tweens, and we wore our first "training bra," it was a big freaking deal, pretty much a right of passage, until we quickly understood how “f” uncomfortable the dang thing was. Why do they call them training bras anyway? What is the training? Per, Wikipedia definition...

dancingwithalsandlife.blogspot.com   “Just one small positive thought in the morning will change your whole day.” Dalai Lama