It is what it is... segues into How I met my Husband

My multiple sclerosis, that is -- that's what I'm talking about.

It is what it is, and that's all it is.

A blessing, a curse, a teacher, a rude awakening.

It brought loss, and pain, and patience, and change.

It stopped my life in its tracks, and started it up again on a whole 'nother path. That path started with learning to walk again, then to swim, then to persevere.

I was in my mid-20's and just wanted to have fun. So, without a regular job (which I had to give up shortly after diagnosis), and with a few steadfast friends, I lived my solitary life (meaning I was not married nor attached) living at my parents' house with nary a care in the world. It was under those circumstances that I was able to focus solely on myself. Frankly, I don't know if I would have done as well as I did if I was married at the time. If I was married then to my current husband, perhaps - but I probably wouldn't have been attracted to him then, nor he to me, because I think we each were going through big changes at the time. He was becoming more serious after screwing off all during high school, and I just wanted to have fun, after being the good girl all through college. I seriously doubt we would have tolerated each other.



As a matter of fact, I'll tell you how we met. I placed a personal ad in the Seattle Weekly with a $25 budget (to limit the # of words, and pay for a POB.) It read: Willing to barter: If you will teach me the I-Ching, perhaps I will laugh at your jokes. SWF, 29, seeks intelligent, articulate, enigmatic, open-minded man, 25-35. Reply to POB # ???.

I got 18 responses, which I narrowed down to three quite easily. I went out with one who was a Mensa member, something he was quite proud of, and we went for brunch at a place in the Roosevelt neighborhood. The conversation was painful. When he brought me home (I KNOW - BIG MISTAKE TO LET HIM PICK ME UP, I WASN'T THINKING!), he said "Well, not much chemistry, what do you think?" And I replied, "I think you are absolutely correct," and blah blah blah, good-bye.

The next guy was nice and we got along fine, and had I not met DH three days before... well. We had lunch at a restaurant three blocks from where I lived - (but he didn't know that!) Here's the thing - I am embarrassed to admit it but I do judge people on some superficial attributes, and I don't think I could have matched up with him simply because he was maybe 5' tall - on a good day, and I am 5'4". Yes, I know. Don't judge me because I'm fat, but I can't possibly match up with you because you're too short. I get it. It's wrong of me to feel that way, but there it is.

So on to number three. After several phone calls which went well enough, we decided to meet. Oh, I loved his voice! He has a wonderful phone voice. I, too, have a nice phone voice, or so I've been told. So we were both interested on that note alone, apparently. We decided to meet at a coffee shop on Queen Anne, the neighborhood I had lived in all my life. (Neutral territory!)

He was dressed conservatively, in light blue slacks and a button down shirt; His posture was impeccable. He came in to the shop with a copy of the I-Ching, and I flashed my earrings at him. I had told him I had very short light brown hair, glasses, would be wearing jeans "and something," and that I'd have on my "most garish pair of earrings." [They were irridescent-like pink triangles with three black & rhinestone beads hanging from the points on short chains.] I know.

We talked. He taught me the basics of the I-Ching. We had lattes. It got late. Then, after he showed me his apartment, we went to Julia's on Eastlake which was a few short blocks away (and which is no longer there) for dinner. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Upon reading this, over my shoulder, he said "I remember that day like it was yesterday." That makes me smile. As for Personal Ads, I say be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. A scary thought.

Good Night, TTYL and Be Well

Someday I might tell you about some of the fun I had during my mid 20's, before meeting my DH. Maybe.