Our youngest daughter and her family recently moved back to God's country (or I guess I should say COUNTY).  In fact, they live right down the street from us.

They have two children, one toddler girl who refuses to talk, and one five year old girl who can't stop.  The five year old resides in that funny realm somewhere between fantasy, reality and insanity.  We notice there is alot more glitter on the couch since their arrival from Japan, and other than BOB's gasp of dismay upon seeing, PINK babies in the toy chest that had been previously the home of nothing but steel gray transformers and toy guns, we've all adapted well to their return.

Miss Mess 3 and I were discussing ALS and the effect on her Pappy.  She was bemoaning the fact he couldn't lift his arms any longer and she said, "It's like his battery died."  This was about the most succinct description of ALS I'd ever heard.   And then she proceeded to tell me how she is going to marry Sonic the Hedgehog and have his babies.

Why do we do anything?

I know some people wonder why I'm writing this blog.  I can only attribute it to Pavlov and his dogs.

A while back I was a columnist for one of the local papers in our County of Alamance.  No restrictions on what I wrote, I just had to keep it clean and free of politics.  No problem there - I was writing during the Clinton Administration, I was able to avoid both simultaneously.

Whenever I had a dearth of ideas, I would go for a stroll around the driveway or out in the horse pasture.  I never left the property-for some reason, there were too many scary dogs. (BIG ONES- I have since learned it is the tiny ones that have the sharpest, quickest teeth.)

Within 5 minutes of walking, the stories would just emerge from  wherever they'd been hiding and I could knock the column out and get it in right under the deadline.

Over the past 14 months since we found out that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis was going to be a part of our life, I've had a couple of people mention I should write about it. I had to wait until  I had something to share and  I didn't want to do write if it was just going to be a whiney, maudlin, Pat as posterboy sort of thing. 

Then, when I began my walking regimen about a month ago,   I started thinking about this ALS Rodeo and so there you are. I honestly don't think this is therapy for me. I'm not sure why I do it, but I think it has something to do with those dogs that salivate at the sound of a bell.  I walk, I write.

And, if this ever turns into a whiney, maudlin, Pat as posterboy sort of thing, then y'all have the right to grab your mouse and give me a great big ole cyber-slap in the kisser.