We were putting away the chairs and tables. It was a well attended meeting and we ended in good spirits. The new member we were expecting to arrive did not. But Audrey (or was it Jennifer?) had cautioned that she may not come. There had been rumors circulating that the local artist, Peggy Chun, was recently diagnosed with ALS. Fortunately, no one else in the group knew she was supposed to come, so only I was disappointed when she did not.
We were almost done with our task when she breezed into the auditorium. She was dressed in slacks and brought a wind of energy into the room with her. She still had her hat on and was carrying a beach straw bag. She hugged Audrey and then, me. She effusively said her apologies for being late. We continued putting away stuff while she described the many things she had been busy with lately. She was busy, she said, preparing for her death.
I had never met this lady before but I thought then, that people must find it hard to stop her when she is in this kind of mood - expansive, garrulous, effusive. When she finally paused for a second, I asked her, "So, you are prepared for dying. But have you prepared yourself for living with ALS?"
She looked at me and blinked, as if she had never thought of that before. Then she said, "Oh, yeah. That's right." She blinks several more times, smiles, turns, and continues to speak with Audrey, the thought now tucked somewhere in consciousness.
I can't remember what else happened that night. But in the six years following her diagnosis, Peggy has taught us how to live with ALS: a life without fear, fun without reservations.
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