My Life is Perfect!

I heard or read the other day that nobody's life could be as perfect as their Facebook posts make it appear to be. I immediately thought -- "Mine IS!"

Just then I turned and looked over at my walker.

Well, maybe my life isn't perfect after all. But in so many ways and at so many times it really does seem to be - at least to me.

Yes, I have an unnamed illness that seems quite a lot like MS but many neurologists insist that it isn't MS. Except for some neurologists who think that it might be some type of MS. But whatever it is, there doesn't seem to be any treatment any of them are willing to try that may work. Yeah, I guess that's not exactly perfect.

And this unknown illness makes me dizzy all of the time so I don't dare drive and requires me to use this walker. It doubles my vision so I have to concentrate extra hard just to read anything. And it makes parts of my body spasm up then hurt like crazy, while other parts of my body can never get warmed up. OK, that's kind of crummy.

But instead of worrying about all of that, I choose to think about all of the wonderful and perfect things in my life.

Joe has to be one of the best husbands in the world. He's handsome, funny, caring and loving. He worked so hard to provide a wonderful life for Phil and I. And now that he's retired he's become cook, housekeeper, chauffeur, caregiver and more because I can't do those things anymore. He'll do anything for his family. And he'll go a long way to help out his friends.

My son, Phil, has grown to be an incredible man. I am so proud to see him with his wife and son. He's learned a lot from his Dad. He works hard at his job, but his family is the most important thing in his life.

I have good friends even if I do now have to use Facebook to connect with many of them. And I've gotten to meet more new friends through my MS Aqua that Joe takes me to three days a week.

Speaking of MS Aqua and Yoga, it's been so wonderful to have found a way to move and exercise this body. I've built up more strength rather than just losing it.

I've found or gotten back to some great hobbies. My family tree is growing huge and I love finding out more and more about my past relations. Our photos are getting preserved electronically (well, I have to get back to that a little more). Crocheting actually helps to warm up my hands besides allowing me to make the cutest things for our grandson, Max.

And then there is Max. Just looking at him or photos of him make be feel so good. Hugging and playing with him is more wonderful than I even imagined.

Those perfect things are what I choose to think about all day. So yes, I have the perfect life. The rest is just static that I can usually keep in the background.

Our Court just isn't the same anymore

We built this house 26 years ago. We were the first house built on this court. There are only 8 houses on a cul-de-sac. Each house in our small subdivision is built on one acre of land. And the houses on our side of our court back up to undeveloped fields. It has been the perfect place to live and raise a family.

The families on this court remained the same for about 15 years. We were all friends and remain friends with several of them that have moved away. The new families that have moved in are all terrific people. There are new children who happily ride in strollers or ride bikes around our very safe court. It's been interesting to listen to the new owners talk to the old owners at some of our parties. And everyone still gets along very well.

Another house on our court was just put up for sale. And this one has me particularly melancholy. Roy and his wife Vi were the second family to move in. Their children were already grown but their daughter and son-in-law moved back with them for a while at the beginning and we all were happy to welcome the first grandchild born to neighbors on our little court.

Vi suffered from a brain tumor for many years and passed from us several years ago. After a few years Roy met and fell in love with Nancy who joined our group eagerly. And we were all so happy that Roy had found someone wonderful.

We live just outside of Chicago, and winters can and have been brutal. Summers get hot and sticky and an acre of land with a long steep driveway takes a lot of work. So it's very very understandable that Roy and Nancy want to move someplace warmer.

 But this is the fifth of the eight houses to sell. There will only be three of us originals left.

It could well have been us or Norm and Diane moving. Both Diane and I have problems walking. But we're both lucky that we built houses that have accommodated our life changes. Theirs is a ranch style home while ours has the master bedroom on the first floor.

And I guess you could say we've been some of "the old people" on the block for several years now. But Joe and I don't feel old. Well, at least not in our minds.

I'm sure after we say our goodbyes to Roy and Nancy, wish them happiness and good health and see them on their way, and welcome the new arrivals that I'll get over this funk. It's just so odd that I'm feeling this way and the reason that I'm writing this.