The McCarty Metro - My Final Thoughts

By Kelly McCarty

I would like to welcome to the McCarty Metro Lynne and David as subscribers. Welcome aboard. Spring arrives this month, and one thing that I know is that I am looking forward to the warmer weather that should be coming. It has been quite a cold and snowy winter thus far.

Here's something interesting that happened to me last week. It turned into a real learning experience. I was shopping at a small local Fraser market called Shotts. While shopping, I noticed a little old lady following me around. Now, my wife Margaret already thinks I'm paranoid when I get nervous and think people at Meijer's are all walking at me, but in this case, if I stopped in an aisle, she stopped. She also just kept on staring at me. She finally overtook me at the checkout, and she turned to me and said, "I hope I haven't made you feel ill at ease; it's just that you look so much like my late son." I answered, "Oh... That's okay." She said, "I know it's silly, but if you'd call out "Good bye, Mom" as I leave the store, it would make me feel so happy." It was a small place, so I didn't see the harm, so when she went through the checkout, and one her way out of the store, I called out, "Goodbye, Mom." The little old lady waved, and smiled back at me. I smiled and was pleased that I was able to bring a little sunshine into someone's day. I then went to pay for my groceries. "That comes to $121.85," said the clerk. "How come so much ... I only bought 5 items.." The clerk replied, "Yeah, but your Mother said you'd be paying for her things, too." Moral.... "Don't trust little Old Ladies"!!!

OK... that was a joke, but I still don't trust the little old ones!!! All right... That was a joke too. Just get on with the final thoughts Kelly...

Usually, when I see someone that I haven't seen in a while, the automatic question that I ask is "How's it going?". It is a common courtesy question that I don't really want to hear a detailed account of everything going on in their life, I just expect them to answer me with the traditional "Fine". Maybe I shouldn't be so automatic with that question. I should probably be a little more pointed with the question. Maybe I should also follow-up with another question.

Most people that know me, know I have Multiple Sclerosis. As an MS sufferer, the people that I don't see on a daily basis. the first thing they ask me is "How I've you been feeling?" To me, that is quite a bit different than my question. It is like I am defined by my illness. Now, I don't mind the question, because usually the first thing I say to them is "Fine", but then I usually get the follow-up question which is a little more pointed. When I get that follow-up, I realize that they won't accept my first answer. Now I'm the first one to tell you that I have good days and bad days health wise, but I do my best to keep my chin up.

While it's true that my medicine cabinet looks more like a Walgreen's pharmacy, it's my attitude that I worry about most. Yes, the medicines all help me try to feel physically feel better, but it is how I perceive life, and how I handle it that my friends and other people will see. To my friends... I'm sorry if I don't go into much detail about how much pain I am in, or what part of my body can't I feel, or why I have to be close to a bathroom at work. I hope you understand my real issues when I just say "Fine". The people that know me and love me are the one's who understand and can 'see' how I feel, and the other people I meet on a daily basis just know me as being fine.

As I work on the mental part of my illness, one outlook on life that I have read and do cherish is a short list created by the late Erma Bombeck. She wrote this after she found out she had cancer. It is called "If I Had My Life To Live Over. I know MS will not end my life, and I plan on being around for a long, long time, or at least until my brother Jerry runs out of Peanut and Jocko ideas or has to start talking about great-grandbrats in his Jerry's World, so I choose to look at her observations and try to incorporate her attitudes into my daily life.

If I Had My Life To Live Over by Erma Bombeck

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

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I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ... But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back

Enjoy life. I know I do. We'll see you again in May. I hope all our readers have a truly Happy and Blessed Easter.

	MARCH / APRIL 2008