Sorry that it took so long for me to get back to you. I wanted to tell you
how much I enjoyed your cat story. I have a little tabby named Shayna, who
loves to bask in the morning sun as I wait for the Paratransit bus. There is
all this drama going on outside ( lots of birds, and a feral cat that runs by
with a mouse in her mouth), but she just drowses in the sun or gives herself
elaborate baths. Sometimes she "talks" to the birds, but if they are big
gulls or crows, she makes a strategic retreat...she can really tell off a
sparrow, though!
I love to watch her ...she is so complete and content with her innate
"catness." She just does her thing, with no apologies. As self-centered as
she is, I have to give her some credit. I didn't see her from April 12, when
I got sick, until Sept. 1, when my friends finished moving me down here. (I
had lived in a third floor walk-up in PA, and now I have a ground floor apt.
in DE with a sliding patio door.) After she hid for a while, she crept onto
the pillow beside me, and spent the next few months there. Now, this is a cat
that was never very affectionate, but somehow she knew that I needed her.
Just that warm little presence beside me was a comfort. I was having a pretty
rough time. I had just "escaped" after 3 months in hospitals and rehabs. I
couldn't even use a walker yet, I was still using the transfer board.
To switch gears a little, I have a few things to comment on after the posts of
the past week. I enjoyed your cat "tale," because it allowed me to get a
mental picture of you, and your life. It also was about something not
completely related to TM. That is the main purpose of this list, and I
wouldn't have it any other way. But some days, the only way I can survive is
to distract myself from this rotten disease. If I have to think about UTI's,
muscle spasms, and what the future holds, I'll go mad. I often tell my
friends to tell me about their kids and activities because I'm so sick of my
own problems.
Some days I post to the list,and some days I just read. But either way, I
look forward to the experience. Members of this group should be able to
express themselves freely. I have noticed that people I enjoyed reading are
not posting...or what they're doing is communicating off-list. What is the
purpose of having the list, if it is not to share with each other? I've
become so isolated and limited in my mobility...my "virtual family" broadens
my horizons. My other friends have "moved on". I'm old news now, and I'm not
"all better" yet.
In conclusion, let's be kind to each other...stop the "flaming." Use the list
responsibly. If you don't like something, hit the delete key. But don't stop
posting. Jim Lubin did a great thing when he established this list. Let's
make this a "safe habor" as well as a free forum. There are some issues that
only another TM sufferer can understand. I don't want to lose that...I've
lost enough already.
Maria, tell your cat to do more cute things...and then tell me all about it.
And I want regular updates on the weather in Tonawanda! Sorry to be so long-
winded and preachy. Take care.
Barb J.