My Sister, My Friend

Having a sister is like having an extra friend. My sister has always been able to cheer me up whenever I am down. We end up laughing in most of our conversations. We'll be reminiscing about the past, and laughing about something funny that happened (or something that was not that funny then, but is now), or sometimes we just laugh about the everyday things.

Like the other night. My sister called me all stressed out over her latest problems involving my two nephews, aged seven and seventeen. Between the youngster's mischievousness and the teenager's moodiness, she had a lot to tell me about. Her story became amusing, like something out of an Erma Bombeck book. Suddenly she was telling me of finding silverware under her bed while cleaning, and a peanut butter sandwich in the dvd player. She complained that my older nephew can't do anything for himself, and I suggested it is high time he learned things like how to do his own laundry. She said he'd probably use a whole bottle of laundry detergent for one load, and then we were both cracking up, imagining his younger brother getting involved and the possibility of silverware ending up in the washing machine, or a sandwich in the dryer. "You should write a blog," I told her.

My sister is the one person in my life I can really talk to. She understands what I'm going through, and I can tell her anything. She knows me better that anyone else, and I of course know her better than she knows herself! We are always there for each other, to advise, comfort, help, or just to listen. She has always been a very important part of my life, and always will be.

A sister will stand by you through good times and bad. She shares your memories, your hopes and dreams. I consider myself very lucky to have a sister. She truly is a great friend.

The Fight

With the arrival of spring, I can't help but be reminded that soon I will have the summer heat to contend with. Basically, the heat intensifies the fatigue I already feel every day. It's just part of the ongoing fight between me and MS, the condition I have been dealing with for the past eleven years.

We weren't always at odds with one another. In the beginning MS pretty much left me alone, but for a while now, MS seems to want to push me around, and is always challenging me. While my invisible opponent does have an unfair advantage, and does not fight fair, I feel I am a formidable contender.

Sometimes we go several rounds in a day as I push through the fatigue trying to get things done. It's like standing up to a bully and refusing to back down. It's not easy. Sometimes I get tired of the struggling. Sometimes I get so angry with this illness that I ball my hands into fists, challenging it right back.

It takes determination. I can't let MS keep me from doing things. It has already messed with my life enough. MS pushes, and I push back. Fighting back makes me feel good. I feel like it energizes me, and it helps me to stay positive. I feel proud of myself for being strong enough to keep fighting.

MS will not knock me out. I will stay on my feet. No matter how hard the fight, I will come out on top.

What I Love About Spring

Now that winter has finally released its grip, the robins have returned, and the grass is a lovely emerald green. While I wait for the April showers to bring May flowers, my thoughts turn to all the Spring things I enjoy that are just a couple of weeks away.

Like clipping lilacs and picking lily of the valley and enjoying their sweet fragrances. The warmer weather, the longer days. Opening up all the windows in the house and letting in the fresh air. Driving with my window rolled down listening to my favorite songs. And, of course, that wonderful Spring fever, with its rush of positive energy and feelings of optimism and excitement.

I can't wait to take advantage of that burst of energy and get started on my spring cleaning. This is the time of year to get organized, to clear out the clutter, pack away the winter gear and hang fresh curtains.

I'm looking forward to getting out of the house more, going to the park, maybe planting some flowers. Just to be spending time outdoors again will be such a welcome change after being cooped up in the house all winter long.

Spring is a time of rebirth and new beginnings. A time when everything feels fresh. A time to feel rejuvenated and hopeful again.




Welcome back, Spring!

As Luck Would Have It...

It's St. Patrick's Day, and while I have yet to catch that leprechaun and his pot of gold, I have to say yes to that old Clint Eastwood/Dirty Harry question: yes, I am feelin' lucky.

Luck plays a role in a lot of things that happen in life. Sometimes you're the lucky winner. Sometimes you find a bright shiny penny on the ground that presumably is a sign of luck. You avoid an accident, you make the shot that wins the game. Sometimes you survive something catastrophic, and you feel "lucky to be alive."

We test our luck. We gamble, we take chances. We rely on a good luck charm; we wear our lucky shirt. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Luck is fickle. And it's always there, deciding whether or not to jump in and favorably affect the outcome.

I feel lucky today. Lucky to have had the opportunities I have had. Lucky to be doing as well as I am physically, despite having MS. Despite my troubles, I do feel lucky. Maybe I don't have the luck of the Irish, but I feel like things are going to get better. I feel like more luck is due to come my way - it is not gone for good.

I will catch that leprechaun yet!

Treat Yourself!

Sometimes the budget gets a little tight and you have to cut back. That shouldn't mean you can't still treat yourself once in a while.

Although it may be necessary to rein in the spending if money is tight, always buying only the necessities and never buying something for yourself just because you want it is boring. Life is too short not to splurge once in a while. As long as you don't go overboard. It's all about enjoying the little things.


I read an article online a while back about financial problems and stress. A woman quoted in the article also appeared in the accompanying photo holding a plant at a store. There were numerous comments on the article, criticizing her purchase of the plant, in light of her financial stress. Really? I mean, she wasn't buying a diamond necklace, it was just a plant!


I think it's okay to buy a little something for yourself once in a while, albeit something you may not need, if it makes you happy. Of course you don't need to spend much or even any money to treat yourself. Outside of buying something for yourself, you can treat yourself to an afternoon nap, or a visit to a favorite spot like a park, museum or coffee shop.


There are good reasons to treat yourself - as a reward for a job well done, or to celebrate a success or a positive outcome. Maybe you just need a pick-me-up after a particularly rough day. Sometimes when I am stressed or feeling blue, I like to get a favorite takeout meal or treat, pick up some small item I've been wanting for my home if possible, or just go for a relaxing drive around one of my favorite parts of town.

No matter how limited the budget may be, we should always make room in it for an occasional little something extra for ourselves, just to break up the mundane routine, lift our spirits and help us keep a positive outlook.

My Favorite Things About Winter

Since the dog days of winter are still upon us, I am trying to feel better about it by thinking about, and making the most of, all the things I like about this season. Things that help to make it more bearable.


Being snowed in - While this is a negative situation, it does have a certain cozy, even romantic side to it. I'm a homebody, so staying in and curling up on the sofa works for me.


My comforter - Pretty, thick and floral. My toasty old comforter has seen me through the last nine or ten winters, and it is one of my favorite things overall.


Frost patterns on the windows - Only in winter do you get to enjoy free artwork like this.


Critters! - Always entertaining, the birds and squirrels practically perform for food in the winter, making for some great photos. I also love watching my cats play in the snow. My male cat likes to run through deep snow, and he looks so funny when he does.


Snow - We love to hate the white stuff, it's true. But in small amounts, it is not bad. It's pretty to look at, and no matter how old I get, there is always something magical about the first snowfall of the season. (And then I get cranky about having to brush it off the car.)


Winter fun - I am not a winter sports person, and I don't like to be out in the snow for too long these days, but I love when I see kids out having fun in the snow. It brings back fond memories of playing outside in the snow when I was a little girl. I used to love making snow angels. (I can't do that anymore, unfortunately). I also have some great old photos of the snow fort the adults built for my little sister and me one winter.


Spring will be here soon (I hope), and I hate to admit it, but I will miss my favorite things about winter.

Predictably Unpredictable

It's funny how we like our predictions. We like to read our horoscopes; some folks even consult psychics. This time of year we look to the groundhog to determine whether or not we'll see an early Spring. (At least one I know of said we will - yay!)



Sometimes we just want to know what the future holds. But sometimes we prefer the element of surprise.



My horoscope the other day played up the unpredictability of life. It read that as badly as I want to know what the coming year holds, there is a certain beauty to a blank slate, and this is the time to let my fantasies soar. So I guess it's time to think happy thoughts and hope for the best.



Predictability can lessen the appeal of some things at times, but there is a certain amount of comfort that can come from it. Even the "same old same old" routine or daily work schedule can be reassuring. Boring as it can seem, we are grateful for it.



Then there is the way you can know someone so well, you can predict what they are going to say or do. That kind of closeness is a precious thing.


Even though some things may be predictable, life in general is not. It is understandable that we'd want to know what is in store for us in the future. Still, no one can really predict what is going to happen. The suspense can be a good thing, though. There's no fun in seeing a new movie if you already know how it's going to end. It's more fun thinking of the possibilities.

The Comfort Zone

The other day, a friend of mine wrote on Facebook that she was anxious for springtime to arrive because she misses sitting on her deck in the mornings having her coffee. Then I was watching a sitcom rerun in which a little boy could not go to sleep without his favorite blanket and his recording of soothing sounds. These things got me thinking about how we all have our little rituals that we find comforting.

I have a few. After I get dressed in the morning, my one cat likes to sit with me for a while, and I pet her and rub her belly. It's actually more her ritual, as she will meow at me as if to remind me it is our time to sit together.

I have also made it a daily habit to eat lunch at my computer. It is just something that I have to do, even though I sometimes worry I will spill pop all over my keyboard. Thank goodness I have a backup keyboard.


I also regularly feed the outdoor critters. Even in frigid winter weather, I try to get out to the tree to fill the bird feeder as often as I can during the week. It is something I enjoy doing. I like seeing the birds come flying around the feeder, even before I have gotten back inside the house. It is like my little appointment with nature.



There are those parts of our daily routine, no matter how mundane, that can be comforting, help break up stress, and make us content by helping us to maintain a balance in life between the must-do and the want-to-do. The day just doesn't feel right without them, and in fact, not doing them can lead to a bad day.


Sometimes we just need our favorite blanket to get to sleep.

A Beautiful Day

It is a beautiful winter day today. I am not a fan of the cold, but the sky is so blue, and the sun has been shining so brightly all day. Despite the chill in the air, when I went outside to fill the bird feeder and scatter some nuts for the squirrels, I couldn't resist staying outside for a while to take some photos. It is the kind of day that makes the winter blues go away - at least for a while. Today reminds me of what a miracle nature is and how much I love it.

There are lots of things I love about nature, in every season. How do I love thee, nature? Let me count (some of) the ways:

I love your towering trees, their limbs outstretched toward the sky.

I love the way your clean white snow glistens in the sunlight (and moonlight).

I love how the squirrels come right up to me and sit up and beg for the walnuts they know I will give them. (They know I cannot resist their cuteness.)

I love your explosion of color in autumn, and the crunch of your fallen leaves under my feet.

I love the lush green the grass becomes in spring.

I love your scents - the smell before the rain, the fragrance of your flowers.

I love the music you play - birds chirping, the rushing and bubbling of the water in a creek, the sound of waves lapping a sandy beach.

It's amazing how nature has the power to cheer you up with all of its beautiful sights and sounds. A day like today lifts my spirits, and is a welcome respite from the dreariness that can be so prevalent this time of year. It is a good day.

Six Ways to Be Happier in the New Year

Every year I make a few New Year's resolutions - typical things like losing weight or getting organized. This year I have made just one: be happier in the new year. It's a big one, and a pretty tall order.

I have broken it down into some different ways I plan to have more happiness in my life this year. I made the following list for myself, and to share with anyone else whose New Year's resolution is the same as mine.

Here are my "Six Ways to be Happier in the New Year":

Pay more attention to what makes you happy - Spend more time with the people in your life who make you the happiest. Avoid the toxic folks as much as possible. Spend more time doing the things that make you happy - playing with the kids, going for walks, gardening. Pick up that enjoyable project you've been neglecting.

Minimize stress - Take the emphasis off of problems. Work on them, but don't let them consume you. Don't take on more than you can handle. Don't worry if you don't have time to get everything done in a day - it will still get done.

Appreciate what you have - Recognize all the good things in your life. Count your blessings. If there are things you need or want, keep a list, but don't worry if you don't have them yet.

Banish negative thinking - Don't let yourself feel bad about things that don't go as planned or get down on yourself because of mistakes you've made. Give yourself a break - remember you are a good person who deserves to be happy. Stop predicting that the outcome of every situation will leave you disappointed.

Treat yourself (and treat yourself better) - Pamper yourself as often as possible. Splurge on a latte, spa or salon visit, or just a night at home alone with a good movie and maybe some takeout. Indulge (within moderation and not in anything unhealthy, of course). In fact, cut back on or give up the stuff that's bad for you. (I personally need to cut back on sweets and reduce my salt intake.) Reward yourself for all your hard work and all the good things you do with little gifts for yourself, or just taking some time to relax.

Pursue your passion - Is there something you really want to do? Write a novel, make clothes, travel? Try to make this the year it happens. Focus on the things you love to do and how you may be able to get a new project, or even a new career, off the ground.

Just keep thinking - "It is going to be a great year."

Looking Down The Road

As the year draws to a close, it is time to do some reflecting. I like to think of this as a time for looking down the road - in both directions.

Looking back at the road behind you - The last days of the year are a good time for looking back over the previous twelve months and reviewing events and accomplishments, what went well, what didn't, and what we've learned from it all. Seeing how far you've come in making progress toward a goal, or just reminiscing about all the good things that have happened.

Looking forward at the road that stretches ahead - It is the time for making New Year's resolutions and setting goals for what we'd like to accomplish in the coming year. The road ahead holds the promise of new opportunities. A new year, a new chance to get it right. To make positive changes, begin new projects. As we look down the road toward a new year, there are limitless possibilities.

It's always good to evaluate things at the end of the year, take stock of where you are, and prepare to go forward. And hopefully, if the previous year was a not-so-good year, the next will be better.

The Time and Energy Dilemma

So little time, so much to do. Everyone probably has this problem to some degree. When you have MS, it can be an even bigger dilemma.

Since I have to deal with often feeling fatigued and generally moving slower than I'd like, time is a precious commodity for me. So is energy. I often find myself in a "use it or lose it" situation. I have to take advantage of the energy when I have it, and get things done before it runs out. So if I am suddenly feeling energetic at seven in the evening, that is the time to head off to the store.

Scheduling activities is next to impossible. You never know when fatigue will strike. There are certain times of the day that I tend to feel a little less tired, though, so I make all my appointments for around those times.



In a way, my time and energy dilemma has been a helpful thing. It has helped me to learn how to prioritize. I used to try to do too many things in one day. Now, since my energy is limited, I can only do so much in a day, and everything takes longer when you're slower. It's also helped me to feel less stressed. I used to be late for everything because I wasn't giving myself enough time to get where I needed to be. Now, I'm kind of forced to give myself extra time because of my slow walking. It feels good not to have to be rushing around anymore.



Sometimes I think it would be nice to have more hours in the day, and I'd like to move as fast as I used to, but I do welcome the challenge of getting things done in spite of the limitations with which I have to contend.

What to Do If You Run Into a Scary Monster

It's that time of year again. The time of creepy creatures, ghosts and goblins, and things that go bump in the night. Some monsters don't wait for Halloween, though - they come out year round.

They can sneak up on you at any time, and they come in all different shapes and sizes. Scary, right? Not if you know how to handle them.


I ran into a monster called MS, and it's been causing trouble for me for the last eleven years. At first I was frightened, but the longer I had to deal with this monster, the more I came to realize that fear was not my only option.

If you run into a monster:

Stare him down. It's like they say - you have to face your fears. You can't run away.

Be strong. Dealing with this condition made me find strength I never knew I had. Just like the horror movie heroine who battles the monster, I got to a point where I just refused to let fear take over. I didn't want this thing to have that much power over me.

Laugh in his face. MS may have ruined some things for me, but I won't let it keep me from enjoying my life. No matter what happens, we need to keep our spirits lifted, laugh often, and appreciate all the good things we have and that are around us.

Whether you have MS or some other monster problem, sometimes you have to overcome your fears and deal with it on your terms. I still get scared sometimes; it's not completely avoidable. But I always try to stay positive, and not let the monster "get" me.

Luckily, when it comes to all the little scary monsters who come to your front door on All Hallows' Eve (the best kind), you just need to give them some candy, and they'll go away.

A Little Lost

Sometimes I wish life came with a road map. It's easy to get lost on the journey through life when circumstances change or plans get derailed. You can find you've taken a wrong turn somewhere, and gotten off the main road on the way to your goals.


Or maybe you just feel lost because you don't know how to get out of a difficult situation.


To find our way again, sometimes we may need to:


Reconfirm our destination - Sometimes we may forget what it is we are after. We stray off the path toward our goals and dreams in favor of something else, or we get sidetracked by circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes we need to think about what it was we wanted, what we want now. Maybe our goals need to be re-evaluated, and our destination needs to change, or we just need to figure out a new way to get there.

Be willing to ask for directions. Asking for help isn't always easy, but sometimes we just can't get through something on our own. Reaching out for the help and support of others often yields very positive and surprising results. Sometimes the right advice from the right person is all we need to get back on the right path.

Explore the possibilities - Though we may feel we've lost our way sometimes, that can turn out to be a good thing. We can go exploring and maybe discover some new path to take. That's one of the great things about life - you can change it. You can always choose a new direction, a new goal.

Sometimes you may find you're not lost after all, instead you're right where you should be.

My Obstacle Course

Getting around when you have MS can be challenging at times. I never realized how much I took walking for granted until my walking got slower and, occasionally, a little unsteady. These days, with my troubled gait and bothersome fatigue fighting against me, I often feel like getting around in everyday situations is like making my way through an obstacle course.

To keep the fatigue from walking to a minimum, I try to keep it simple, remembering that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Still, there are those times when I have to change course when I'm walking, resulting in extra steps. There can be people or things that I have to go around when I am out and about. Little unexpected roadblocks. Just the other day, I had to walk around two parked bicycles that were blocking my path to the entrance of my local pharmacy. Sometimes I even have to walk around my cats, or step over them. They like to challenge me. I think it's their way of trying to keep me nimble.

Whenever I go somewhere new, I have to keep an eye out for steps, and scope out the parking situation to see how far I'll have to walk. Sometimes handicapped parking is not available, so I recently obtained a cane, which helps a bit with walking greater distances. I am mindful of curbs, or cracks in the pavement. Trip hazards. If I trip these days, I fall. I can't recover from a trip and regain my balance anymore. Another worry I have to contend with is winter travel. Walking through snow and over potentially slippery surfaces is always a concern. A little patch of ice and one wrong move, and down I'll go!



I try to look at getting around and performing daily tasks with my MS symptoms as an adventure. It isn't easy. Sometimes the obstacles I encounter can be frustrating. Maybe my arms get fatigued, and I find myself fighting with food packaging that's difficult to open, or dropping things repeatedly. Or I'm walking through a store, or wherever, and I feel like I just want to scream, "Everyone get out of my way!" But somehow, I get through it.



Life itself is sometimes an obstacle course. We make our way through it, bumping into this problem, or that dilemma. My own personal physical obstacle course has me dodging low energy here, having to take a longer walk there. Things that were once simple to do now require much more effort and attention to detail. Well, without obstacles, I guess life would be pretty boring.

August and Everything After

I decided to borrow the name of a Counting Crows album for this post because it seemed like a fitting title for it. As the month of August winds down and the end of summer draws near, my thoughts turn to the change that is in the air. The cooler days, the leaves turning color. I can already feel the autumn, the way you can sense that someone is standing behind you. I can recall how, as a child, at this time of year I would be anticipating the start of a new school year with a combination of nervousness and excitement.

Sure, it's a drag to have the summer fun end and to have to hunker down at school again, or to start getting ready for the inevitable onset of winter. Or maybe deal with times of uncertainty and feeling blue. But autumn is still a good time of the year.

While there are things to be missed (for now), the fall brings with it its own set of simple pleasures. The flowers may be gone, but they are replaced with the brilliant, colorful fall foliage unfolding and seeing the leaves drop from the trees, and drift slowly to the ground. Going barefoot outside gives way to hearing the crunch of leaves under your feet. I love that sound, as well as the swishing sound of the leaves being raked. And soon my cat will have a whole new pile of crisp, fragrant leaves in which to curl up and nap.

Things will change. It's inevitable. Maybe they will be good, maybe they will be rough. And then maybe they will get better.

Though sometimes we wish we could, we can't stop time from moving forward. Much as we may want to go back in life, to happier days or better times, we can't. We can try to fight it, we can cling to August with all our might, not wanting the summer to end, not wanting things to change. Grabbing every good moment we can and holding on to it for as long as we can.

But August has to end, and we have to move forward. There will be changes, and hopefully, there will be more good moments and happy days.

A Wish List for Life

It's an age-old, thought-provoking question - "If you could have one wish, what would it be?" Some might say a million dollars. A child might say a pony.

Of course, one wish is hard to pin down. Like a child making a list for Santa, one could easily fill a sheet of paper with a list of things one dreams of having.




A wish list should be more than just a list of what shiny new toys we'd like, however. At some point, it becomes more about making a wish list for life - a list of the things we'd like to do with the rest of our lives and the way we would like things to be. A list of "wishes" that, in some cases, we just might be able to make come true, without any help from a genie and a magic lamp, if we work hard enough at it.




A wish list can be more of a list of goals, of hopes and dreams we'd like to see realized, a sort of to-do list or motivational tool. Making a "wish list" for life means looking at what needs changing and what we'd like to work toward. A better job, a new house. A million dollars.




I wish I were debt-free. Financial security tops my wish list right now. Sure it is a practical thing, but it can lead to bigger and better things. That's one of my goals right now - to work on the financial situation. And there are still places I wish I could travel to. (Sigh), someday.




Of course there will always be those wishes we'll need a little help with, circumstances we can't bring about on our own. Such as world peace or a better government. There are things I wish I were physically able to do again - like running- that I can't make happen because of my health, but maybe someday that will change.



For some things, we just have to keep on wishing.

Finding Good Fortune

It's hard to feel fortunate sometimes. When life hits us with problems, or we are brought down by the state of affairs around us, feelings of hopelessness and "woe is me" can begin to creep in. The only way to stay positive is to focus on the good stuff and the things in life that we're fortunate to have.

Even if money and possessions are lacking (and those aren't the most important things anyway), when you take stock of things, fortune can be found in the form of friends and family, and any positive circumstances in your life, like a good job, an opportunity that comes along when you least expect it, or the helping hand that is there just when you need it.

Sometimes we worry too much about the things we don't have, and we feel less fortunate. Every once in a while I feel that way because I have MS and it slows me down. But I consider myself lucky to still be otherwise healthy and strong, despite not being able to walk as fast as I'd like. I've also been fortunate to have caring people around me who have helped me to deal with the troubles this condition has presented me with.

I am fortunate to have great friends, especially my very best friend, who is always there for me. And when I think of all the good things that have come my way in the past, it makes me feel more positive about the future.

It's true what they say - life is a gift. And no matter how down on your luck you may feel, there is always good fortune to be found in your life if you look for it.

The Happy Mask and Why Sue Heck is an Inspiration

"Now if there's a smile on my face, it's only there trying to fool the public". - Tears of A Clown, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

And the award for Best Actress goes to....me. People think I am happy and upbeat, yet nothing could be further from the truth these days. No matter how I seem when others are around, in private I am dealing with tears and panic attacks. Recent financial setbacks have left me feeling pretty gloomy. It's not always easy to keep my happy face on.

Lately, I am often fighting back tears and can't wait to duck into a ladies' room or get back to my car or home so I can have a cry. The good thing is, even though we all have those times when everything seems like it's going wrong, every so often we get a little pick-me-up that can come from simple things like a good moment, a nice gesture, something funny, or something that inspires us. One thing I have found inspiring recently is a character named Sue Heck, the teenage daughter on the sitcom, The Middle.

Sue is always optimistic and positive. She bounces back easily from disappointment. Despite never making any team or getting into any activity she tries out for at school, she never stops trying. She actually did make the cross country team in the season finale, after her mother convinced the school principal to offer a "no-cut" activity. But Sue's own perseverance in showing up and going around the track as required, even after having been injured and having to use crutches, was what really got her the spot on the team. Even in the face of adversity, she never gave up.



Of course, Sue has youth on her side. And then there's the fact that she is a TV character. But we all know someone like Sue in real life. Someone who doesn't let stuff get them down for too long and always looks on the bright side. I wish I could be more like her.


I wish that my happy exterior was real and not just a show I put on for others. I wish I could be optimistic enough to always believe good things will happen, that I will make the team. Well, that everything will work out anyway.


I just hope that I can get through this rough spot and that I won't need the happy mask anymore, because there will be a real smile on my face. Maybe, a little of that Sue Heck positive spirit will rub off on me.

Catching Fireflies and Chasing Dreams

I was sitting outside the other night watching the fireflies, recalling how, when I was a child, I used to catch them and put them in a jar. I'd watch the fireflies put on a light show just for me, then let them go flying back out into the darkness.

It got me thinking about not just the simple pleasures of childhood, but also about dreams, and how they change as we get older.

When you are young, it's easy to dream. It is so much easier to see possibilities when you're not confronted with obstacles and harsh realities. When you're a kid, the world is a blank canvas and the future wide open. Sadly, we grow up, and life becomes about work and responsibilities. Reality settles in, and maybe we get disillusioned. Dreams may be given up or put on hold as we deal with all that we have to do and the unexpected things life throws at us.

My dreams now revolve around things like financial stability and comfort. I think about my 'dream' home - a newer house in the outlying suburbs with a huge yard and lots of trees. I still dream of being a writer, though right now I am focused on finding a practical job that I can do despite my MS and that offers good pay.

I still dream of having children, though not as often as I used to. And there are still places I'd like to travel to.

I dream of having all my current problems be gone. Of having my life get easier. Of sitting at a desk in a sun-splashed room with a beautiful view, writing, while occasionally looking up to gaze out the window before deciding to take a break and venture outside.

And maybe spending a summer evening chasing fireflies and catching a dream.