I made it through the reunion weekend without having committed a major faux pas. I think anyway. But it was close. There was one guy that I initially misidentified as one of our other classmates when he came up to us. I greeted him by the wrong name, but since my words were slurred and unintelligible, I had a chance to glance at his name tag when he asked me to repeat myself. The second time around I inserted the correct name in a clearer voice and an awkward situation was averted. Thanks ALS!
Seriously, not having the physical ability to carry on a normal conversation definitely limited my enjoyment of the weekend. Hard to catch up with people when you can’t converse. The best part of the reunion was hanging out with people who make me laugh. Sitting around a table and ripping on each other brought back a lot of great memories. I mostly listened, but when you are in a group, it is a little easier to blend in.
Many of my best friends didn’t make it back. You know who you are. While that was disappointing (though not unexpected), it allowed me the opportunity to spend what felt like adequate time with my dear friends who were there. Sometimes that is better anyway. I remember Christmas celebrations growing up when everyone would come home. Sure, it was nice to see everybody gathered around the dinner table. But two days later they were all gone and it felt like I hadn’t caught up with any of them. Smaller groups have their benefits.
The majority of people we ran into treated me “normally”. Like I am the same guy I always have been. This is greatly appreciated. But there were some who talked to me as if I had suffered a brain injury or something. I have encountered those types of reactions sporadically for over two years. Definitely not the norm, but it happens. This was one of the first times that Ann noticed it and I think it really bothered her.
When people said that they read this blog, it put me more at ease because then I knew that they were aware that my mind has not turned to complete mush. I knew that they wouldn’t talk down to me. I didn’t feel the need to prove that I still have something rattling between my ears. When you slur your words as badly as I do, that’s not easy to accomplish. So once again, thank you for reading this.
It was fun to be back on campus, but as always, it is good to be home. I know Ann and Ylvi without having to rely on name tags.
at 9:09 am
Great writeup again Nicholas!! Glad you enjoyed the weekend. The more people are aware of the disease ALS, and what it does to someone, the more people are going to know that you are the very same person you were before as far as everything else except for your physical ability. I’m so proud to have you for our son!! When I saw Troy at the wedding Saturday I told him you still have your sense of humor, and his eyes lit up!! He said that’s something you’ve always had and is SO glad that ALS has not changed your personality!
Love and hugs to you and Ann
at 10:59 am
Nick,
You are a braver person than I am … I’m slightly terrified of crowds and any Lutherite remembers how terrible it is parking on Homecoming weekend – so I skipped my five year class reunion (and my 10th high school reunion, come to think of it …). I’m glad you got to traverse ye olde campus and catch up with some friends. Maybe I’ll brave the crunch next year.
-Shelley
at 11:49 am
Bet both Ann and Ylvi are thrilled they don’t have to wear nametags around you anymore!!!!
It was so wonderful to be with you and Ann for a little bit…wish it had been longer and around a table with pizza or whatever…and I do apologize for my abrupt and wierd exit…by the time I ran down the hill to Good Shepherd, it was too late to show up and do any good as cantor…so I just walked back to the store and drove home. Felt like an idiot. That’s how much you distracted me! Seriously, I can’t tell you how happy I was to see you finally sitting up in the sports box/cafeteria/? –I’ve really missed you!
Shelley’s right…most of us are nervous about reunions…we all feel uncomfortable about what people will think/not think…I’m so glad you haven’t stopped living because of ALS–you are so fun and funny and dear–I loved your comment about the guy you called the wrong name and then re-slurred it correctly! YOU NUT! By the way, tho I missed some of your words, I really was surprised how much I caught. That pleased me. With more practice, I could do better, I bet. I’ll get over that way yet.
And of course I will keep getting my blog-fix here daily. thanks to both you and Ann for making the trip over…it was just grand to see you. hugs to you and your name-tagless housemates!
Jennifer
at 8:00 pm
It would have been nice to have been there, no question. In the same vein that I know another Luther alum (or two) is not thrilled with their current station in life, the reunion brought some interesting thoughts my way, even at a two thousand mile distance. 5 years. Even scarier – next year will be 10 years since high school. The judgemental prick in me leaps at first question, “and what have you accomplished?” I don’t know that I could quantify my answer to that… certainly I had and continue to have high hopes… but no regrets. No. No regrets. You make choices and you live with them, and I certainly don’t regret moving to Portland, not by any stretch of the imagination. But it would have been nice to be back at Luther in the autumn, to see some football, and more than anything else… to see you and Ann, and other people who I miss.
at 9:22 pm
You are way ahead of me Nick. I have yet to make it to any of my college class reunions. The excuse of living too far away has ended. My 20th came and went w/out my really even thinking about it-and all I would have had to have done to get there was drive across town. The Vikes had to loose another homecoming game w/out me. Some things never change!
Glad you and Ann made the trek to the Land of Luther. Did Ylvi get to go along to see her building??
at 12:19 am
I am glad your brain hasn’t turned to mush. I enjoy reading your blog. Well I am back to hanging out with Cuba and MJ in my apartment that resembles a backstage.
at 11:53 am
Hey Nick, just found out about your blog so thought I’d check it out. It was great seeing you and Ann this past weekend and getting to hang out again. I got so wrapped up in the chit chat and laughs that I forgot to make fun of Ann for being Canadian, doh! So next time you see her, let her know that I think of her everytime I eat ham (or what she would call “bacon”)
-Tim
P.S. Ok, ok, so you don’t feel left out, Nick, I think you you everytime I see that sport on TV with the sticks and balls where people run around in circles but mostly just sit there eating sunflower seeds and munching on chaw. Hrmm, my lack of sporting knowledge becomes apparent….
at 7:50 am
Sorry that I wasn’t around…it would have been great to see you and Ann (that tennis conference thing)! Enjoy some good baseball…let me know the next time you get over here to D-town.
-Luther