Yeah, she was something special, one of the good people. I always used to keep this kind of running list in my head of people I would marry for any reason, any time, if they were in some kind of trouble (isn't it crazy how our brain plays stupid games like that--like a situation like that would every arise, short of a green card, which she definitely didn't need!).
I have said on here before that I have been just amazingly blessed by the friends I have made who have stuck by me at every twist and turn of this &%$(*& disease. In many forums, including here, I've read heart-wrenching stories of people who have all of their friends desert them at the first sign of adversity, who have to put up with friends that make ignorant comments like some of the ones we've read in this thread.
Somehow, I never had to worry about any of that, and I don't think I'll every have to. Throughout my college years, my friends stayed with me, even though it would have been easy to forget someone who couldn't walk well and who looked a bit "funny" at a time when your entire life is about being on the go and meeting that one person to spend your life with. As things got worse, and I needed more help just to do simple things like go to a movie, or eat out at a restaurant, or even attend a party at someone's house, I met many new friends who were quick to help out. They never questioned why, they just quietly did whatever it took to get me where they were going with as little muss and fuss as possible.
Even now, as the regular march of time that catches up with everyone starts to partner with the AS to make things even MORE interesting (didn't think it was possible, did ya?), my old friends are there to help me out in ways that have become routine to them through the years, all while I'm still out there meeting new friends, friends who share my love of poker or my rabid maize and blue addiction. One example of how good people have been: Even though many of the guys that I play poker with at this one club come from very different backgrounds than I do, and even though I probably wouldn't have a ton in common with most of the folks outside this poker club, when we come together to play the game we all love, then I quickly relearn time and time again that poker players are about the nicest group of people you'll find anywhere. So many complete strangers going out of their way to help me in so many different ways, many of which lead to mild inconveniences for them!
Bottom line, as I read this thread I've thought often about the other side of the coin, about the people we all have in our lives who make our day-to-day existence better and who help remind us why we do indeed want to hang around for a few more years instead of checking out early. I love to tell tales about life's inequities as much as the next guy, but I'll go ahead and offer up this one post as a counterbalance to all the bad things we have happen to us every day, often from those who we love and trust the most. Let this post be the one to "cleanse the palate" after all these truly disheartening tales, and let it serve as the jumping off poitn for each of you who reads his far to wander down your own memory lane to recall the people who WERE always there for you, or who at least made your life better for a little while. Remember them, and remember how the good they brought to your life outweighs the bad--usually. I won't play Pollyanna and assume that everyone has these heroes in their past, or an look back on as many fond memories as I can. I know that would be naive. Not in the mood to visit Sunnytown with me right now? No problemo, mi amigas. Go back, kick and scream a little bit more, but know that no matter when you get tired of cursing the darkness, you're always welcome to stroll back over here and get started on those good memories, no matter what time it is, no matter where in the world you are.
Sometimes post go in unexpected directions, I tell ya.
Peace,
Brad
