MS Truck

All ready for the MS truck...

Do you ever have those times in life where you realize that there were things, events or people all around you that you never noticed before, that is until an event linked you to those things? That didn't make sense, here is an example: when we were looking for a car, we researched and looked everywhere for specific cars. We finally narrowed it down to a few specific types of cars we liked. While deciding I couldn't help notice how often I started to see those specific cars around, they were everywhere! Why hadn't I noticed them before? They were always there, but now I finally had a link to them that made them noticeable to me. Anyways, that probably still doesn't make sense, but I've realized this is kind of how it is like with most diseases. We don't really notice, know or learn a lot about most of the diseases out there until we are faced with watching a loved one or our own self dealing with it. Before Aaron's diagnosis, I had no idea what MS was. In fact we had learned a friend of Aaron's husband had been diagnosed with it and we just both felt like that poor guy, dealing with that disease whatever it is. Not that we meant any disrespect, but we just never had experienced it before. Well, obviously now we know more than we wished we had to. I notice MS things everywhere now. It is a part of life and we will always be linked to it. I realized the other day that for years I had been receiving a flier from the MS association advertising their truck. It comes to people's homes, picks up unwanted items and then takes them and uses the funds it receives from them to help with MS research. For years I've chucked that flier even before I read it, it was junk mail! But, of course, this time around, I read it and saved it. It is linked to me and I noticed it. I made an appointment for the truck to come to our house. Then I took all the stuff I was going to sell at a garage sale and packed it up and put it on my door step. I felt I had to do this. It was weird. I had to show my support and prove that Aaron's health and future wellness was more important to me than the $200 I was going to make trying to sell everything. I know that my few donated items don't do much, but it was more a symbolic representation to me that I was accepting the fact that Aaron does have MS. He will always have MS and I will have to be his biggest support system through it all. I know, I am strange, but it was a feel of peace as I did. Anyways, if you have a lot of stuff and don't want to drag it to DI (which is another great cause that Aaron's work endorses) call the MS truck, or another truck with a disease... support those who have to live life a little bit differently because they have some type of something holding them back from the life you live. Notice things if you can and find ways to support them. I am grateful that I learned this lesson about being a little more aware of the surroundings, people and circumstances around me. Thanks MS truck for this experience. See you again soon! Jamie