Monday, December 22, 2008

Family Christmas Party And Some Random Thoughts

Well, as usual, my family Christmas party, which was this past Saturday was a success. Everyone that was expected to attend was there despite the nonstop snowfall. My cousin Stacy was the first to arrive along with her husband and their two sons. As I was showing my cousin where the party was going to be held, she told me that she was going to kill our uncle David because of a little prank he had played on her. She had called him when she arrived at the hospital and asked him where he was. He told her that he was laying on his couch watching football. My cousin asked him what he was doing at home when the party was today. He said that the party wasn't scheduled for Saturday, but rather Sunday. After he said this, there was a long pause of silence before my cousin responded saying that her aunt was going to kill her for giving her the wrong date. My uncle wanted to continue with the prank, but apparently he couldn't contain himself and finally told her that he was on his way. He really had her going for a few moments

Everyone in my family has a great sense of humor and love to laugh. There are never any arguments among members of my family. Sure, there are definitely disagreements, but not to the point of voices being raised or feelings getting hurt. Everybody gets along extremely well. I have heard of families that can't get along and are constantly arguing. I'm very grateful that my family is respectful and civilized to one another

After my cousin Stacy and I entered the room, other people began to trickle in. Before I knew it, most of my family was there and the kids were running around and having a great time with one another. I was getting tired just watching them. As I told a friend of mine, if we could harness the energy of children, we would never need to rely on oil again.

There was plenty of food, but unfortunately I had difficulty chewing most of it, so I didn't have very much. I really can't complain because I'm nearly 41 and I'm still able to eat by mouth and not need a feeding tube, which I once had before getting trached and had removed shortly thereafter.

This may sound strange to some of you, but for some reason I never feel completely comfortable around the children of my family. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy seeing them, but I get very self-conscious about my disability and become rather quiet day. This has been an issue for me for some time now.


Anyhow, a good time was had by all and we all look forward to doing it again next year.

Before I end this post, I want to wish all of you that read this a Merry Christmas. I won't say happy holidays because I find it ridiculous that there are people in this country that are offended by others traditions. It's time that people grow up and stop whining about somebody somewhere having a nativity scene in front of their home or what have you. I'm not exactly a religious person, but I have never been offended by how others celebrate their respective beliefs. I live in a Jewish rehab hospital and I don't take issue if I see a menorah. Although I'm a bit steamed about the hospital deciding that Christmas trees cannot be displayed at the nurses stations, but only in patient's rooms. Well, I rambled on long enough and kind of got off topic.

Peace,

Chris

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Unexpected Encouragement

I was speaking with Scott Sands briefly last evening on Yahoo Instant Messenger. He asked me why I haven't blogged recently and I told him that I feel that I never have anything interesting to write about. His reply really got me thinking. He said to write about uninteresting things. He's absolutely right! I don't have to have something spectacular happen to me to write. And it just now occurred to me that the title of my blog is about life with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. What he said was certainly unexpected encouragement.

I plan on trying my best to write something at least once a week. Hopefully I will be able to start making blogging more a part of my life as it should be. I can't let World of Warcraft become the only thing that keeps me occupied. Just because I live in a rehab hospital doesn't mean that I don't have something worthwhile to write about. I would say that my living in an institution should give me a lot to share with those of you that read my blog.

Before I end this post, I would like to share something good that's happening this coming Saturday. It has become somewhat of a tradition for my family to have a Christmas party here at the hospital. We have been doing this for about 5 years now and it's something I always look forward to because it's one out of two times a year that I have the opportunity to see family members I don't see very often. It's always a good time. I plan on blogging about it.

Well, the clock is close to striking 10:00pm, which is the time that the nurses come to get me into bed for the night, so I must say farewell for now.

Peace,

Chris