As I travel this new path, I’ve found it’s been really tough to adequately explain to people what is happening to me. I mean, the real, in-depth explanation of ALS, what happened, and how things are progressing is not only incredibly difficult to understand for normal people (yes, I’m including most of you in this … Read more
There are always going to be good days and bad days. When you are battling an incurable, and decidedly progressive, disease, reflecting on the minutiae of each day or moment can definitely create opportunities for a bad day. But I do not want an address in PityCity. And Baditude is a place I might visit … Read more
“Excellent.” Today, I would struggle to jump over the Amboy phone book… if there is such a thing anymore. But I wasn’t always that way. Today, I can throw together a few words and create a seemingly halfway coherent piece of content. But I wasn’t always that way. I’m flashing back to May, 1979, when … Read more
When you’re born and raised in Hazel Dell, USA, you know all about the Hazel Dell Parade of Bands. Whether you were a Band Geek (no hate mail… their name, not mine), a Little League baller, or part of some other fun community org, the Parade was a big deal each spring, whether you wanted … Read more
Note: To be honest, there are likely a couple more parts to this story, but for now, I’m spent. I’ll come back to it at some point soon to add, addend, and expand. There are a ton of things I want to share, but I am also very cognizant of the downside of oversharing. I … Read more
This may surprise you, but sometimes I think I know a lot. And every once in a while, I can be somewhat opinionated. (Stop laughing… you know I can see you laughing, right?). Anyway, after the dirty EMG (Electromyography, for those scoring at home), I started deep down the research rabbit hole (yes, the internet). … Read more
I love the snow. Some of most peaceful, reflective times I’ve ever spent have been late at night, surrounded by the deafening silence of the fresh fallen snow, basking in the brightness of a moonlit snowscape. Which makes it all the tougher that my first memories of something being really wrong with me were based … Read more
So how did we get here? We all get a little out of shape over time. Right? Ok, maybe some of us that became desk jockeys do more so than others. But I assumed that’s all it was. I mean, I had just recently turned 40… ok, ok, I hear you calling BS, so maybe … Read more
“Mitchell, I’m concerned you have ALS.” The Doctor’s statement stopped me in my tracks. My first thought was, wow, only my mom calls me Mitchell, and only when I’m in big trouble. This must be bad. I know, in reality that’s not really funny. But if I don’t laugh, I’m gonna cry. And candidly, I’m … Read more