Shelley is my childhood friend who lives in my hometown in California. She has ALS and has lived with it for over thirteen years. Shelley is paralyzed from the neck down and on a breathing machine. YET, she lives a fuller life than most who have working arms and legs. She lives true to the motto, "Do the best you can with what you have." When I hang out with Shelley I soon realize how trivial are the things that get under my skin. Shelley gives the gift of perspective, and she gives it not by words of sorrow or regret, but with with her obvious desire to live and live it with joy.
Shelley is my hero.
Eric, Shelley's husband is her hero, and he is Superman.
A Request
Her hands recall the pleasure,
of holding the day to day petals,
of life's simple pleasures.
Setting the table,
preparing the meal,
wiping her brow.
Her hand imagines the tenderness of her child's skin,
the silk like velvet of youth.
She remembers burying her nose within the folds and smelling her perfume.
My childhood friend Shelley has A.L.S. A disease that robs her, day by day of her life. I have never heard her complain, never seen her shed a tear. She wears courage and grace, as if it were the most natural thing to put on. When your eyes meet hers, you forget that she is seriously ill. Shelley makes you feel like you are the center of the world, she crowns you with her sparkling eyes, and weaves you on adventures with her words.
I have a favor to ask of you. Can you send an email to my friend Shelley? A note of cheer. She cannot respond A.L.S. has taken her movements away.
Can you send her your link, or a site you enjoy, or photo, a video clip, ...Shelley loves interior design, decorating, celebrating, crafts, family, gardening, flea markets, vintage anything...She loves life.
Happy Birthday Beautiful Shelley, and here is to many more days of hope and joy!Photo: A 19th century large
engraving of Madonna and child, that I found at the flea market, in the
bottom of a box.