Small steps, long pauses

“Come fast! Fast!! Quick... quick!!” “Hurry up, will you?!?!” Words of advice? Never say these words to somebody who has MS. Not because they might get offended, but because they just cannot be fast or hurry up… for anything! Be it to catch something from falling down, or doing a quick turn to head back to complete a missed chore or simply if he/she has to go to the loo!! (And that particular activity takes up most of their time in a day-and night-because of the sheer  number of times they have to do it!)  Words like ‘fast,’ ‘quick’ or ‘hurry' have no place in an MSer’s vocabulary. They can only move at one pace. Imagine a three legged stool with one leg wobbling. It will most certainly fall, isn't it? That's how it is for someone with MS, one has to balance the whole body on just one leg, with the other not offering much.. So every move is a fight against trying to avoid falling and staying upright. In such a scenario, there is no question of trying to walk fast, ever. And...

“Kya aapko paralysis hai? (Do you have paralysis?)" As my mom and I walked towards the mall exit after a fair amount of window and grocery shopping, a young man in his early 20s whizzed past us. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and turned around, staring at us. He walked back to us and, pointing to my legs, asked me, "kya aapko paralysis hai? (do you have paralysis?)" Not believing my ears, I stared back at him. He repeated his question. Unsure how to answer, I replied, "Nahi, kuch aur… (no, something else...)” Smiling sheepishly, he nodded and hurriedly walked away. He must have asked this because of my strange way of walking - right leg straight as a rod, making a small semi circle every time I brought it forward, instead of bending at the knee when I took a step. This incident took place in 2017 and I remember it like it was yesterday. It made me think...would he have understood if I had simply replied that I had MS? Would it have made any sense? Absolutely n...