A Note from Michelle

If I didn’t have ALS....

I would learn Brazilian jujitsu

I would try one of the careers that I should have done first

…. Police officer

(except I can’t hold a gun steady, or run, and I’d probably end up cuffing myself in a scuffle)

…. CIA agent

(crippled spy? i would be unsuspecting!)

…. Forensic scientist

(can’t even hold a cup of coffee steady. evidence contamination, anyone?)

…. Flight nurse

(still nursing. but I don’t think a power-chair would fit in the helicopter)

I would carry my daughter every second of every day

I would take piano lessons again

Or maybe even upright bass….

I would learn to restore an old car with my own hands

…. buy a busted up ’53 chevy coupe

…. make it the most beautiful car ever

I would hike a very large mountain

(bet I could still, would just take 2 weeks)

I would learn to fly a plane

(steering with your feet takes mad skill)

I wouldn’t worry if I’ll be able to braid Aislyn’s hair one day.

I wouldn’t worry about not being here for my family.

I wouldn’t incessantly rewrite my last wishes in my head.

I wouldn’t need to be thankful for what I still can do, because there wouldn’t be things thing I can't do, reminding me that every small limitation is slowly growing into a much larger one, and there isn’t a thing to do about it except wait - and dream for a cure.

A cure would mean I wouldn’t have ALS anymore.