Socially UNacceptable

     Society and social are two words that have changed meanings for me over my years in dealing with this dictionary-altering disease. While I never was a people person, even as a child, I did not shun going out and about as much as I do now. Before, I could easily stop what I was doing, get in the car, and go meet someone for coffee, or lunch, or even a trip to a book store. 
     But now, the basic steps that I have to take to be able to go somewhere have changed. I get out of bed, rest, get showered, rest, get dressed, rest, use the bathroom, rest, walk out to the kitchen, rest, get to the door, rest, get in my scooter, rest, etc. Do you see the pattern? 😀
     Now, take that pattern and place it in a public scenario: a church, a grocery store, a coffee shop, or public pool. Social events became such an effort that, at one time, I avoided anything. Yet, there are some steps that I've developed to help me be more socially capable without messing myself, dropping food, saying the completely wrong thing, or worse. ALL of which I've done at the aforementioned places.

Steps I've Developed

💦I do not drink a lot until I am familiar with the place, where the restrooms are located, and how to get into them.

🔥I pay attention to the weather. If the forecast for the day is above 90°, then I do not leave the house unless where I am going has air conditioning AND my vehicle's been pre-cooling.

🏃I don't waste time. When I need to use the restroom, I do not say to myself, "I can wait." That used to be possible, but no longer. Trust me, getting up, walker/scooter included, and moving across a crowded room is FAR less embarrassing than losing one's bladder at church.

🙊I plan my speaking carefully. While it's not common for this MesS to impact speech in the same manner as strokes or other injuries do, MS can alter one's speech. I find that being aware of the possibility helps me keep my focus on saying what I mean to say.

     Of course, I could always just take up the life of a recluse, but that's never worked for anyone other than millionaires or poets. I am far being a millionaire, and I am closer to being a poetaster. 😅

Keep/Quit Fighting/Trying

Any combination works with those words.

     Despite living with this MesS for ten years, I still get surprised by events, symptoms, good news, and bad news.

Memory or, "Now, where was I?"
     Now, we all have had lapses in memory. Everyone goes through moments in which you lose your keys, or forget where you parked, or misplaced, "That one thing." I have had those moments as well. Yet with MS, not only are they more frequent, but also they're more severe. I don't just misplace keys; I lose them in my pockets. I don't just forget names, but I forget faces. It's still disturbing to see someone that I know but don't remember that I know. However, I am good at waiting in a conversation long enough to catch the name I'm missing.

Reading between the lines has taken a whole new meaning.
     Since high school I loved reading. I used to be able to read chapters at night and read assigned texts for class. In college I discovered even more authors, ideas, and styles. I fondly remember enjoying reading. Now, however, I'm lucky if I get through a chapter in a week. It's mainly due to my memory, but also to my inability to process properly. I don't like reading anymore mainly because it's a constant reminder of what I've lost and a gloomy prediction of what I will lose. But, I still refuse to quit entirely. I've had to read other blogs and articles in preparing for this. It just takes me longer, and often it takes me more than one try to read AND understand something.

Walking: heh. . . Walking
     It all started with a cane. Then that cane evolved into a rollator. The rollator is soon looking to become a walker. I know  wheelchair is on the horizon, but I need to win the lottery first so I can afford one. My mobility scooter still does well, and on the plus side, walking uses my arms so much that it's basically an upper body workout just to go 15 feet.