SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2001
Each time I come back here the state of my health is in a worse state than the last entry. Maybe this site should be called, "The Hovel, Melbourne Online Journal of dis-ease". I have been battling a really terrible flu and cold, both caught consecutively. Maude is going out of her mind and frankly I'm sick of it. Literally. My sister was married last week, I was responsible for the photographs. Holding a medium format camera plus flash and hacking away like a consumptive wreck. Dad was driving his old 1968 Mark 10 Jag. Unbeknownst to my sister, the car's generator was shot and was running on battery alone- it had life for only 3 ignition starts. Any lights or heater used and the bride may have been stranded between Toorak and Elwood. Lucky for her (and us all) the temperamental beast decided not to start until after the reception. The whole day was a complete success, though there was the unexpected and sudden wobbly by our Miss Maude at 10:15 p.m needing to take a "bit of a lie down".
A couple of weeks ago, something strange happened. As some of my more regular readers may know, I have this form of arthritis that turns my body into a walking statue, the spine is calcified into a single bone. When I get into a bad mood Miss Maude says I make movements like an evil puppet, hence her pet name for me. I was having a quick bite to eat after my walk at lunchtime. Whilst eating, I noticed a very tall badly dressed young man being helped down the stairs into the food court by his carer/girlfriend. His motor skills were limited and his restriction in bending and turning were similar if not exactly the same as mine. I took it for granted he had my condition. Every now and again I come across young males afflicted with ankylosing spondylitis. I only know of one that I have had a conversation with, who just happens to work for the same company as I. Usually when I have tried to make conversation with these people I am either ignored or in some way rebuked through some sort of fear. I think it may have to do with confronting themselves in another person. I suppose I am deluding myself thinking others are comfortable with this malady as I am. I only wanted to get some shared experience which I am yet to find. On this occasion this tall gangly fellow dismissed me with a grunt and moan, as I tried to tactfully approach him while his girlfriend was ordering lunch. Miss Maude believes I cannot take all people for granted, believing they have the strength to carry what I have. Next time I will leave it well alone.
C O N T A C T
