RE: Edna - long reply from n -

[Guest guest]

Hi n,. I am so impressed by all you and Edna do. A question I hope doesn’t overstep, but don’t you or Edna suffer from pain and fatigue much? I can hardly do anything inside my house without help from Steve, and going out even in my power chair is a major undertaking. Just getting me ready and in the chair, into the van and out is so fatiguing, and my pain levels skyrocket even with me taking pain medication. I marvel that you both can do so much with all your and her challenges. Steve’s Aunt had MS, and she said she didn’t have any pain, so I know there are some who are fortunate enough not to have to deal with that on top of everything else. It’s so nice hearing about all your jaunts, and explanations of places you go. Thank you for sharing.Hugs and love, Jackie J From: MSersLife [mailto:MSersLife ] On Behalf Of marion j rojasSent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 9:56 PMTo: MSersLife Subject: Re: Edna - long reply from n - Edna has much more severe MS than do I, and she has injuriesand surgeries from a serious automobile accident 40+ years ago.She has two replaced hips, and one replaced knee, chronicbursitis, and some mild cognitive impairment. She is severelydiabetic and has a lot of trouble controlling that. So, her elderson, who lives with her, and I do what we can to help her.She does, despite all this, remain my dearest friend and we havebeen friends for 51.5 years. Edna is ten months older than am I,and despite all my medical conditions, I am very aware that in somany ways she is so much more " elderly " than am I.Our children grew up as friends and remain friends, so that iswonderful. Edna sends her love and appreciation to you all, andher apologies for not being able to " cope with " computers!So, with her consent, I pass on information from and about her.Edna gets into my car, and we start out on our jaunts, and shejust wakes up! She is an encyclopedia of nature: animals, birds,plants, water, beaches, all of it. She is not acquiring a lot of newinformation right now, but what she has known is still there.Edna, although she has a B.A. in biology, did not ever obtain ateacher's credential, so became a teacher's aid and then a teacher's assistant in the Berkeley school district. She taughtmany children--both the more typical children and the developmentally delayed--how to read, to do math, to understand languageusage, and to have an interest in the world about them.One day, we were out on a walk--some years back--and a youngman approached Edna, and said to his wife, " This is the womanwho taught me to read, when no one else had been able to do so. " Edna was so pleased and shook hands with each of them.I am so proud of Edna, and so respectful of all that she has over-come. Her husband was a brilliant man, an artist, and a charmingcompanion. However, he had both dyslexia (inability to read easily) and dysgraphia (inability to write easily), and because of thatwas not able to follow his original urges: to study paleontologyand geology--just could not do all that reading and writing.So, he enriched so many of Berkeley homes by building decks,porches, stairways, additions, all that, and became a painter,and completed a Master's Degree in Art at the University of California at Berkeley (CAL). He was unusually gifted in manyways, however. He could memorize and recite anything that he had heard. Nowadays such a student would be more understood and given help to achieve his/her goals--but not back inthe 1950s. Edna's husband was named Elwood and he lived until about four years ago, dying in his early 80s.They have two sons, one of whom is a high achiever, and oneof whom may be achieving even more by taking care of theirmother, and doing it dilligently.The last of their many dogs, and of five wolf dogs, is still livingwith them--age about 15--good thing that Edna owns a smallhouse on two lots--one of them is filled with departed pets. Theyalso have several apple trees, avocado trees, pear trees, andflowering plants in abundance.Edna's favorite flowering plant is the orchid--in all its varieties.Fortunately, the University of California has a wonderful gardenin the Regional park where they have most every species of plantimaginable; we do go there often.So, you now have an update on Edna. I am doing pretty well,and despite MS, can still drive. We plan next to drive out toPoint Reyes to Tomales Point to see the Tule Elk, the deer,the cattle, the Coyotes, the Turkey Vultures, the Golden Eagles,the goats and the horses--and the ocean and the whales!Love from me, and from Edna,nSubject: Re: What's for dinner? - reply from n -To: " MSersLife " <MSersLife >Date: Saturday, December 10, 2011, 8:02 PM All are good vegetables! I am a veggie lover myself:) Your breakfast sounds excellent and the jaunt interesting. love SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.