LUCKY ME (#11 an "unlucky" poem)

Apparently, I'm special,

One of ninety, out of one

Hundred thousand, lucky me.

Plus, being that I'm female,

Two or three times as likely

As a man to get this...gift.

Although most cases are found

In northern states and colder 

Climates, I live in So Cal.

The age bracket is between

Twenty and forty, but me...

Diagnosed at twenty three.

There's no cure, but it can be

Slowed down a bit, with a shot

Three times a week, oh goody!

Feeling better already. 

Thank God for good insurance. 

Shots are seven thousand bucks.

Still, I'm luckier than some

I have friends and family

And a wonderful husband.

I have four beautiful kids

And if that wasn't enough

Now I'm even a grandma.

I have a lot of bad days,

I have really good ones too

And although those tend to be 

Fewer, I know that I must

Make them count, and knowing that

Makes me luckier than most.

Caren E. Salas

A really good day "Muck Fest" 2014 

For more information on Multiple Sclerosis, check out https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS

FIGHT (#5 a Self Destruct poem)

Who needs enemies?

My body attacks itself

Every day's a fight.

Caren E. Salas

I Have Returned...

Sorry about the long absence, but these last couple years have been a roller coaster. There has been good and not so good, stress and excitement. I was recently fortunate enough to see the musical
"Hamilton" and the lyrics of one of the songs ("Non Stop") says "Why do you write like you're running out of time?" (Thank you Lin-Manuel Miranda). This is a feeling I've had for a while: like I'm running out of time. Not that I have a terminal disease of anything, but because between my MS and a increasingly worsening case of arthritis in my hands, it is getting difficult to write and type. Oh, I know there are dictation apps I could use, but considering the MS affects my speech, that will be difficult too. However, as long as my brain is still functioning, I will find a way to create.  I normally  don't like talking about my health, but sometimes I feel like you will be able to understand why I write some of the things I write.  Maybe some of you will be able to relate. 

 
So here I go. Robert Lee Brewer is having his November Poem-a-Day Challenge. His daily prompts push me to keep writing and fight the block.

A special thanks to my husband Bill (a lot of his photos are ones used for this blog) for pushing me to be daring while I still can. Last May he convinced me to go skydiving (tandem of course, lol) among other craziness. I appreciate encouragement whenever or wherever I can find it. I'm hoping you all will follow my poetry journey for the next month and comment when you can. Thanks for reading this. 

Weightless

The water is cold; 

Hard to get into sometimes,

But I push myself,

Closing my eyes, believing

For a while, that I'm...weightless.

Counting Spoons

Twenty-four shiny measuring spoons

One for each hour of my day

How will I use them? What will I do?

Can't let them be wasted away.

Three to wake up, shower, get dressed

Taking my daughter to school: one more

Making my breakfast takes maybe a half

But shopping for groceries takes four.

A third of them gone and it's not even noon,

And there's so much left to be done.

To dust and to vacuum sucks up about five

If I sit folding clothes that's just one.

When I pick up my daughter, I'll stop at the bank

And stop at the dry cleaners too

That's about six gone, but dinner and dishes

Will take up five more and I'm through!

I'm over my budget of energy spoons

So tomorrow I'll be starting with less

Twenty-two and a half, but a new list of chores

You just can't imagine my stress.

Which, by the way, takes it's own toll in spoons

Depleting the few I can use.

And sadly the deficit continues to grow

There's nothing about this I'd choose.

But once in a while I have a great day

And somehow that seems to renew

My little supply of slightly bruised spoons

Sometimes even extras accrue.

So I plug along, counting my spoons

Knowing all will work out in the end

As long as I have a few really good times

And the help of my family and friends.

Caren E. Salas

Inspired by "The Spoon Theory" by Christine Misorandino

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/