The Debate Within

The MS community is a little daunting for the newly diagnosed.  It is so daunting, that after finding it, I decided to go it alone.  The on line community that I found five (yes, five) years ago was small, defeatist, and depressing.  There were shining spots, but I didn't feel the love that I later found in other communities.  Like the knitting community. 

I was recently found by Lisa Emrich who fosters Brass and Ivory, a blog which finds and cultivates the very community environment that I so badly needed five years ago.  I may still need it now.  And if I don't need it now, I may find myself profoundly grateful for it in the future.

Lisa is looking for people to contribute to an upcoming issue of Carnival of MS Bloggers.  She is looking specifically for bits on what we do to express ourselves creatively.  I thought about it for a while.  This is not an MS blog.  It's a knitting and cats and whimsies and life blog.  Its blogger just happens to have MS.  But, you know, I really kind of like what Lisa is doing.  Life is hard.  It's harder alone.  While I have many, wonderful, various friends, I don't have many people I can call on that have MS.  I know most of you would listen and come over in a flash if I fell and couldn't get up, but sometimes you just want someone who understands.  If you don't understand that, you've never excitedly run through the house full of non-knitters trying to find someone to impress with your new technique on how to turn a heel.  No matter how much they love you, most people just can't wrap their heads around it.  In hopes that there will always be someone around who understands the humor behind fall down and getting up before anyone knows you fell, I do believe I'll write.

But about what facet?  The fact that I started knitting after my MS felt it wise to steel my hands is a good one,  but I've written it before.  I'm proud of it.  There are other things that could be said, though.  I'm sure.  The fact that I have such wonderful friends and great things to look forward to each week is a result of my knitting, so why not that?  I just don't know, but if I'm going to help, I'll have to know soon. 

To cheer me up from the writers' block, I have good news!  The Champions of Cumulative Action is now 4 strong, with Melissa having joined us.   That goal is looking better every day.

It gets even better, though.  I am a little bit more overjoyed with each donation, and I want to show all of you people just how wonderful I think you all are.  I didn't think I was going to be able to do this before, but... I'm going to draw some names and award some prizes for my lovely pledge makers.

Each 10 dollar donation will get your name entered into the drawing.  Prizes are not yet solidified, but there will be 2 skeins of Heather's new sock yarn, Can-Do, (I urge you to go read this post and learn what goes into the making and selling of this wonderful colorway) and a gift certificate for Wollmeise yarn.   More to come.

So thank you to everyone who has helped us raise money, and thank you to everyone who is thinking of it, and thank you to everyone who has spread the word on your own blogs.  You are my community, and you keep me strong, even if you don't find falling down the stairs funny under the right circumstances :D

More soon.  Good night everyone!  Go Red Sox!

Comments

[Caroline]

Ericka, out of desperation I am tagging Chris for a meme (if you don't mind his borrowing your blog). Rules are on my blog.