What We Do For Love

Two weeks ago we drove to Wilmington, NC for nephew Bobby's wedding. Driving, or even flying can be an ordeal when one has TM. Any type of stress, and this includes things that aren't stressful for healthy people, increases the effects of Transverse Myelitis. Pain increases, fatigue increases, soreness increases, muscles and ligaments get tighter and, well everything gets worse.

But, when one gets to middle age, many family events are either weddings or funerals - and it's more fun to attend weddings.

So, after driving 9 hours on Friday, resting a bit, attending the rehearsal dinner until late, and then on Saturday attending the wedding and reception, I sat down in a corner of the reception hall and put my legs up on another chair.

I was spent. Completely. I didn't want to visit with anyone. I just wanted to sit and "check out" by going into my own little world. I had started to develop spasms in my legs and abdomen and the nerve tingling that always exists was at least twice as bad. My legs felt like I was carrying around a 20 pound weight on each ankle.

But then a little girl came to me and asked, "Poppy, will you dance with me?"

My thoughts went...

1. "I can't, Sweety. Poppy is just too tired. Why don't you ask Uncle Bob?"
2. to... "I don't want my grandchildren to think of me as this old man who doesn't do things with the family."
3. to... "Suck it up, Doug. You can rest next week."
4. to... "Sure, Ella. I'd love to."

So we stepped onto the dance floor.

First, dancing has never been part of my life. Over the years many people have said that I would have been a good dancer because I feel the rhythms. But even feeling the rhythms doesn't help when the legs are gone, balance is a struggle, and the feet don't move quickly or smoothly.

But for love, we danced. And for love I would do it again and again.