I can remember my childhood telephone number: 207-794-8247 But I can’t remember the current cell phone number for either of my children. I do remember where I was when the planes crashed on 9/11 and when I heard about the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. However, I don’t remember President Kennedy being shot seven weeks after… Continue reading What I Remember and What I Don’t
MITCH STURGEON
Author and Blogger
Living With MS
Tag: General Musings
The Difficulty I have Accepting Compliments
I receive so much positive feedback for my blog posts. I am referred to as inspirational, or courageous, or any number of similar accolades. Of course this buoys my mood, and it motivates me to keep writing. We humans are programmed to welcome, even crave compliments. So please allow me to say a big THANK… Continue reading The Difficulty I have Accepting Compliments
I Have Difficulty Eating – But I’m Not Going to Starve
In the last year I’ve experienced increased difficulty getting food from my plate to my mouth. In an ironic twist, my skills at getting food on my shirt, on my pants, or on the floor have greatly improved. We’ve been implementing new eating strategies for a while. I have plates with high sides so that… Continue reading I Have Difficulty Eating – But I’m Not Going to Starve
Our Love Affair with Cobblestone Streets and Brick Sidewalks
People are moving back to the cities. After decades of migrating away from one another, and building on huge, wooded house lots that isolated us from our neighbors, people are living in close proximity again. It’s a wonderful thing to see. Cities like Portland and South Portland, Maine are experiencing revitalizations. As part of this… Continue reading Our Love Affair with Cobblestone Streets and Brick Sidewalks
A Firm Handshake
To say that I am a fan of the firm handshake doesn’t begin to do it justice. I don’t only enjoy or prefer a firm handshake. To me, it is essential. A wimpy handshake leaves me wholly unsatisfied with the interaction. Why bother to shake my hand if you can’t put a little effort into… Continue reading A Firm Handshake
Conveniently Incompetent
When I last updated you on my overhead lift system reimbursement from Anthem, I wrote: “My insurance company indicated they will reimburse all but $700 of the $12,000 product cost. I haven’t seen that check yet, and I won’t believe it until I do.” I was told by Anthem that all I had to do… Continue reading Conveniently Incompetent
Interacting with Wheelchair Users: A Memo
ali edwards My friend Andrew McLaughlin recently posted the following status on Facebook, after visiting our home town of Lincoln, Maine, during its homecoming celebration: “While having lunch at the Knights of Columbus BBQ after Saturday’s parade, with Kimberly, I noticed a Lincoln icon sitting alone, in his motorized wheelchair, at the end of a… Continue reading Interacting with Wheelchair Users: A Memo
My Do’s and Don’ts
I don’t walk in the woods anymore, but I do sit by the ocean. I don’t sleep well at night, but I do take naps during the day. I don’t travel much, but people visit me often. I don’t work, but I remain relevant. I don’t walk, run, swim, or bike, but I still breathe,… Continue reading My Do’s and Don’ts
My New Sure Hands Overhead Lift System
My April 29 post said: “The Sure Hands lift system has the unique characteristic of allowing a disabled person to control the entire process. If I had one of these, I could transfer from bed to Invacare wheelchair to shower chair to iBot wheelchair to toilet, or any combination thereof –all by myself. How cool… Continue reading My New Sure Hands Overhead Lift System
Driverless Cars – Yes Please
I enjoy the thought exercise where I imagine how people 100 years in the future will regard our generation. I hope that they will be horrified by what MS patients had to endure, because the disease will have been eradicated for many years by then. I also hope they will be appalled by our mindless… Continue reading Driverless Cars – Yes Please