Lady with the Cane.com

Pick Your Battles Life is not always a picnic but it’s easy to chase away those pesky ants if you pay attention to what is within your ability to control. Years of living as an MS Warrior have taught me who and what is truly important to a happy existence. People are going to talk no matter what. Society loves to criticize. Even when they have no clue what they're saying. I’ve been accused of faking my illness when my accuser preferred a more sensational explanation. “You say you’ve got MS but it looks like you’ve just had too many drinks!” I could not control her reaction to my stumbling gait nor was it worth the time of arguing. I am who I am and MS is what it is. The thought of clueless onlookers matters not. It can be hurtful, yes, but “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”; or so I’m told. While we cannot control the reactions, decisions, and behavior of others, a secret weapon of every MS Super Hero is that we CAN control our own. Choose your battles. What influences do you

OBSESSIONS not of the sexual persuasion Recently my household acquired an exterior security camera system. We now can spy on activities behind the house, in front of the house, and to the far side of the house. Now, keep in mind that our house is tiny. It at one time was probably considered rather fancy since it is a hand-built, river rock stone cottage unlike the majority of coal mining homes in this community. Photo by Ibiza Ibiza Ibiza on  Unsplash I love my little stone cottage and am not complaining about the extra protection; but, zounds, every neighborhood cat, errant bird, or fast-moving street traffic sets the crazy thing off. I actually don’t monitor it. My husband does. Constantly. And he reports it play-by-play. As if he was covering a football game. Daily. Yep, he’s retired and driving me bat-crap crazy. He’s obsessed with his new toy. Blink is his latest best friend. I guess I need to add it to our Christmas Card list? I’m just not that concerned with the added security.

JUsT not Feeling My BesT It’s one of THOSE days. Foot drop is really P…..g me off. Balance has taken an unexpected vacation. And to top it off, I get to go to every lady’s favorite doctor visit tomorrow morn. Yep. It’s mammo time for Lisa. Yeehaw! Photo by National Cancer Institute on  Unsplash Look at that technician smiling like this is the most fun ev-er. Or is she laughing ‘cause that’s not her mammary being pancaked at early o'clock in the morning? So, with March going out like a lion tonight (71 degrees yesterday, snow forecast tomorrow), this is my April Fools Day gift. Not funny. But, seriously, getting a mammogram is probably one of the most important medical tests. Don’t forget to schedule yours. Because of COVID, mine has been re-scheduled twice. If you have had one of the vaccines, this article may interest you. I had my second vaccine in mid-February, so I think I’m safe to proceed. Doctors urge women to delay mammogram until 4–6 weeks after COVID-19 vaccine https://w

I WILL Walk in the Sand MS Awareness Month 2021, Day 30 Photo by Loren Biser on  Unsplash I’ve mentioned the word goals several times this month and it got me thinking. I’ve worked hard at physical therapy and in-home exercises since March 1 without giving much thought to a personal physical goal. I now have a goal. In September I am going to the beach with a group of friends. I don’t really care for the beach anymore, but I love my friends and am hoping I won't end up being a party pooper because of the heat and/or my inability to walk well. They assure me this will not be the case and that I’ll be set up on the water’s edge in a beach chair and umbrella, personal cooler, and coconut drink. If incontinence becomes an issue, I can just pee in my seat and no one will be the wiser. (Too much info? Sorry, not sorry. that’s my reality.) If the heat gets to be too much someone will carry or roll me to across the sand to the elevator in our HUGE beach house. What I do once there is up t

ARE YOU GETTING SQUEEZED? MS Awareness Month 2021, Day 25 Do you ever feel like there is not enough time in the day to accomplish all that is expected of you? Before my retirement several years ago, I had no idea how my daily hours could be so full. Would it ever calm down? When was it my turn to breathe? Photo by Robert Thiemann on  Unsplash Six years later I am still trying to fit it all in. I admit most of my responsibilities are self-inflicted. I’m not happy if I’m not working toward a purpose. need to know I am moving forward and making progress. Unfortunately, there are times when we get stretched too thin and need to step back. For some folks, this is a welcome reprieve. It feels like punishment to me. During my devotional time early this morning, I came upon an article that spoke to this very issue. The author urged us to alleviate the pressures of our daily existence handing it all to God. “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need…” 2 Peter 1:3 By eliminating

MIGRAINES: IS IT MS, OR WAS I BORN WITH IT? MSAwareness Month 2021, Day 23 Photo by Anh Nguyen on  Unsplash Please accept my apology for missing a day in my pledge to post every day of the month of MS Awareness Month. I think this is the first time in years that my promise hasn’t been fulfilled. Lately, I have been plagued with migraines. I sincerely hope that you have never been afflicted. A migraine isn't just a headache. It is accompanied by blurred vision, nausea, tremors, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, even vomiting. It simply is NOT your run-of-the-mill headache. According to myChronicmigraine.com, 3.3 million people in the United States are living with Chronic Migraines. If all of those people made up a city, it’d be the 3rd largest city in the US! Migraine causes and triggers Why do people get migraines? There are many potential causes, here are some of the most common: GENETICS Studies suggest that half of the risk for migraines comes from your family history. If

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUNDS OF SPRING!!!!!!! MSAwareness Month 2021, Day 20 Photo by Katherine McCormack on  Unsplash This has been a LONG, LONG two winters. It’s is difficult to believe that the world has been under quarantine for basically over fifteen months. I am grateful EVERY day for another opportunity to greet the morning. Gratitude is an important driving force in our mental, emotional, and physical health. Even though the thermometer measures below 30 degrees in my little neck of the woods this morning, the sun is shining to welcome this fresh season. My job today: Put away all of my winter decorations and resurrect spring pretties. I’m ready. I don't do a lot of holiday decorating (except for Christmas), but I do like to bring in each season with corresponding dust collectors. So, goodbye snowmen. Hello, flowers and bumblebees! Lisa, Lady With the Cane