Seems Like Old Times

My friends, I cannot believe that I have not posted here since last July!  I'd like to think that it's a sign that I have been sooo busy living my life that I haven't had time to write about it.  But, of course, that wouldn't be true.   While I did have a busy summer and fall, I also just got lazy.  There - I've admitted it.   I was just lazy, and maybe a little depressed too.  And I really have been busy for much of the time.  But not too busy to write so I can't use that excuse.   I've had some challenges too - a few falls resulting in a torn tendon (we think) and visits from the cutest EMS responders ever.  But that said, let me wish you all a very happy 2012 and bring you up to date on what's been going on with MS, Music and Me. 

MS -  not much has changed.  My MS slowly progresses and I now have two scooters and two walkers that are useful for different situations.  The larger scooter (Big Red) is used around the condo complex, mostly to walk Bubba and to visit nearby friends.  The smaller black one fits in the car and is used for shopping and other outings.  A large 4 wheel walker is used in my home and a lightweight 3 wheel walker fits in the back seat of the car for going into restaurants or places where I'm going to be seated most of the time.  The summer proved that my heat sensitivity has been cured since my CCSVI procedure and I am so grateful for that benefit.  But my walking is slowing disintegrating and this latest fall and torn tendon sure didn't help.  It's still healing so time will tell.  Not on any medication for MS at this time - there just isn't anything out there for progressive MS - but you guys already know that.

Music - I'm always grateful to have music in my life.  Master Chorale did not meet over the summer and I started rehearsals again in late August, but I missed too many due to illness (some MS related, some not), and as a result was unable to sing in the November concert.  I actually wasn't as disappointed as I thought I'd be.  Turns out, the performance isn't that important to me - I love the rehearsals, learning new music, and ensemble singing with this talented group of excellent musicians.  The concerts went very well and garnered excellent reviews for our new conductor's debut in South Florida.  I started rehearing again last week for the spring concert series and I'm loving the new music.  Seeing old friends again and receiving the warm welcome I got was gratifying.  Hopefully I'll make the concerts in April but if not, so be it.  

In other music news, I got very involved with the SoJo Folk group.  The Organizer (head honcho) made me his Assistant Organizer, which was fine when he was there - but then, poof!, his job started demanding that he work on Saturdays which left me to run the group.  Oops!  Not what I signed up for and last week I bowed out. I just want to show up and sing and have fun.  But now we need to look for a new venue and I'm pretty involved in that, since I don't want the group to fall apart.  So I'm actually spending quite a bit of time working on SoJo.  Hopefully once the venue search is behind us, I can go back to being a member and having fun.  The group has really evolved from a bunch of strangers into a wonderful group of friends. Some of us get together outside the SoJo meetings and we network when we hear of things that might interest the others.  One member is performing in a play and some of us will go and see his performance.  I love this diverse group and am so glad I joined them.  A little work now is worth it to keep it going.

Me - What about other stuff in my life?  Well I'm happy and grateful for every day I'm given.  Bubba continues to be a delight and a wonderful companion.  I got to visit with Zack for 4 days when he came down before starting a temporary job in the Midwest.  Now he's moved to Massachusetts for his full time job and is busy setting up his loft apartment.  He has friends in his town that he knows from high school and I'm glad he's not completely alone there.  I got a chance to see friends from NY and other friends from HS who live down here.  Spent Christmas with a Master Chorale friend and had one of the best meals ever!  I've also started studying a book called A Course In Miracles or ACIM.   It's not a religion but more of a philosophy. I'm enjoying it and while I still don't "get" a lot of it, some of it I do.  It can takes years and years but for now, I like the study.  My friend Peter just  moved here and that means we can meet for lunch more often - I'm trying to introduce him to someone I know.  If I can't get Zack married off, maybe I'll have more success with Peter!  My Hollybrook friends and I have started a "Game Night" where we get together and play things like Scrabble, Taboo, Pictionary, etc.  I also go to a group once a month to play Euchre - a card game.  And finally, art classes start again tomorrow.  I'm only taking watercolor since that's the medium I enjoy best. So I'm keeping busy and I will vow to write more often - thanks for hanging in there with me!