Page 1¢, The Herald, Tuesday, June 24, 1980.

.
+

Handicapped? No, —
i Just Inconvenienced
By Abigail Van Buren. ;

© {980 by Universal Press Syndicate
‘

DEAR ABBY: I read you regularly, but I've never writien
before becauae I haven't had any problems, However, I must
comment about the letter from the woman with multiple
sclerosis. -

She asked if she should tell her 13-year-old daughter about
4 hercondition. [ speak from experience as a woman who hos
i had MS for about 23 years, (The first 10 years I didn'teven
know 1 had it, aa I had no visible symptoms — just fatigue.)

Lhave been in a wheelchair for nine years, but it hasn't
curtailed my activities. It's electric, and I zip around
everywhere. I drive a van with a wheelchair lift, 80 I'm
fairly mobile. ae

Firat, that woman should tell all her children that she has
MS without making a big deal out of it. When J was finally:
diagnosed, our three boys were 2, 5 and 6. 1 can’t recall
actually telling them — they just grew up knowing.

The easiest way to explain MS to children, and adults as
well, is to explain that the messages from the brain are
carried through the spinal cord to the other parts of the body
much like the electricity for a lamp is carried from the plug

cord has insulation around it, as the spinal cord hae myelin.
Multiple sclerosis means “many sears.” The inaulation on
an electric cord should not be cut into at various places, ora.
short circuit might result, (What child has not been told not
to play with electrical plugs and cords?) Multiple sclerosis
_ simply means that there are many Scars in the myelin, or
insulation, so that the messages from the brain are unable
to get through properly to make the body work. A person's
particular disabilities depend upon where the scars are,
: which is why everyone who has MS has different problems.
Kids readily gragp this idea; certainly a 13-year-old will!
My husband said from the very onset that I should do
only what 1 WANTED to do and save my energy for family
fun. Whatever I want to do, he says, “No problem, honey,”
and we do it. . .
He's packed me up five flights in temples in Japan and
carried me on and off Mexican airplanes, without once
. hinting that being married to me was at times inconvenient,
Our boya grew up sharing this attitude,. and. her.children
will, too. In return she'd better try to keepiner weight down.
She should also thank God it is she, no
has MS, because it would be harder for'HER to get HIM up
and down stairs.
As for it being a
_ help at home,
. could go to thé bank, cash a check for $100, do the grocery’
shopping from my list and come home with the correct

“heavy burden” for her 13-year-old to

a beds and manage maney.
At first I used to
mother can’t play baseball with them,” but I soon stop
after seeing how much more self-sufficient they were than
other boys. My eldest is now in his second year of college —
2000 miles from home. We all had hysterics when we read
hia letter describing how the other boys threw their red 7-
shirts irito the washing machine; alo giwith their white
pants, and they were running, around with;pink clothes after
doing their first laundry at college — away from Mom. Not
my Kurt; he'd ‘been doing the family laundry for five years!
Our middle son, Dirk, ia a super cook and‘baker, and the
youngest (Clark) does the home repaira — including

angels, they aren't. They're just ordinary boys, now 19, 18
and 15. But they're very special to me.

MS has brought our family closer together. We tend to do
things NOW rather than postponing them; becauee things
may get'worge, we're having: our fun while we-can. If
everyone lived that way, the world would be a happier place.

MS is no fun, but there are woree things. I consider myself
very lucky. I am only. inconvenienced — not handicapped.

BECKY ZELLER IN PORTLAND
_ . DEAR BECKY: Yours is one of the longest — but
one of the moat
printed. Thanks for a real ‘‘ypper.” And God bless.

.

in the wall outlet to the switch and light bulb. The électrical -

er husband, who -

it won't be. By the time my eldest was 8, he.

#4 change. All my sons can cook, sew, do the laundry, make

eee. gp SAGTETARIUS. 2" Sah ey.
lament to myself, “Pook Baye thelr “ ost ote Demat) a .

servicing my wheelchair. If I've made them sound like -

heart-warming - letters I’ve ever *

oe

~

our Individual :

“> Hofoscope -.

- Frances Drake:
FOR WEDNESDAY,
JUNE: 25, 1980

Though matters at a
distance aren’t favored now, .
exciting new work. projects
meet with success. Make

ARIES ee ee
(Mar, 21 to Ape: 19) eS

ingenuity and originality your

keywords. : -
TAURUS
(Apr. 20 to May 20) “er

The adventurous will benefit

o.

nowy Widen your horizons,‘

Sports, recreational activities
and romance all afford you
pleasant surprises. ~ 7
GEMINI.

(May 21 to June 20) ° .

Romantic interests may be -

difficult to get along with now.

Put your energy into work...
_ (June 21 to July 2, BEY

Ashort trip could lead to an

’ “exciting ‘new romance. Be

to
Job
self-

careful though not
jeopardize health.:
matters require
discipline.

LEO

(July 23 to Aug, 22) NE

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Kennedys wax! _ ee
Si Falls behind }Af -” Yesterday’s Cryptoquip — VARIED PREVARICATIONS' .
32 Office- _ TRIP UP DISCONSOLATE SOUL. eae .
a3 Whvaial A Today's Cryptoquip clue: K equals M cat .
usi oF -in-wi
A , val: - The Cryptoquip is a simple substitution cipher in-which each —
cancion 5 Tatler teed stands for another. If you think that X equals , It -
3. inane f will equal O throughout the.puzzle. Single letters, short words,
of Miss. a : HIG az inquire ”*__- . and words using an apostrophe can give you clues to locating :
35 Picnic pest Answer to yesterday's purale. 49GJ's address”. and error.

. One of those days when —

"| money ‘slips through your

fingers. Make worthwhile -

purchases. rather than

wasteful expenditure on.

pleasures.

VIRGO tC
(Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) wy

_A flash of intuition provides

you with answers, Be willing
to act quickly on ideas. Don’t
let domestic duties slide. Be
conscientious: | —

Ash

LIBRA. ;
(Sept. 23 to Oct, 2) ==".
It may require some behind-
the-scenes negotiating to
capitalize on a favorable
money deal, Mum is the word
for today’s happenings.
SCORPIO —
(Oct. 23 to Nov, 21) Me
If you feel the urge to have a
party, do so. Be careful though

financial proposal is off base.

You'll” work effectively
without fanfare for now.

. with: expenditures. A friend’s _

Dealings with institutions - .

favored. You must downplay

ego for success,
Wiat'

CAPRICORN
(Dec, 22 to Jan. 19)

If you have the sudden urge.

for travel, go with it. A distant
friend would like to see you.
Don't be lax though in
preparations.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20 to Peb.1) 70 .

Friends will prove a

“muilsance now in - business.

You'll do best to push your
interests yourself.
direct uy with higher ups.

P ot

(Feb, 19 to Mar. 20) HEX
_ ‘There may be a change in
plans re travel, but you'll love
the alternative. Beware of big
talk in career dealings or f
promises. .

a

oo for youl”

ings ~~. ; Py
. Uy 00r Atnkevand Brom Sundimte , of?

“| don’t know why bother cooking

the WIZARD OF 1D

Deal .-

due

the AMAZING SPIDERMAN

vowels, Solution is accomplished by trial

ee By ‘Stan Lee and John Romita |

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hatte

“QNCE AGAIN; A MISUNDERSTANOING FRUSTRATES |

‘

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) -scgmoy Ghicade Treune NY MewaSynd Ing,

E'S

Tg he ugk I 4*cAROL
REVEAL
SECRET

Now! : a

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DUSTRNLS

DAY CADENCE

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+ GOPTRIGHT © 1900 MARVEL COMNCS GROUP.

Roger Bollen and Gary Peterman’.

( WELL... ALMOST"
ALL LIV

CORP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED REGISTER AMD TRIBUNE SYROXCATE,

Eoway! zr!

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Bir
STONE

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By Brant Parker and Johnny Hart

a.

By Johnny’ Hart

is BE TER Te HAVE

LOVED AND Lest THAN |
NEVER To HAVE LOVED

AT ALL’

/TIMAT CAN | EA WUT
“ eeUNDHe LIKE A CERIPLETE.
Lier?"

36

_ By Garry Trudeau ~