Unexpected Return

I have to be careful when I talk about never doing something again. Certainly it's notthing with my legs. Anything associated with full use of my legs will never come round again, short of a cure for ALS that includes recovery of dead muscles. There are things associated with my weakening arms which I will never do again, like pick up a wine kit all on my own, or make a complete lift and transfer without sliding.

On the other hand, I forget that loss of strength can sometimes be replaced by willpower and creative thinking. Other times, it's just plain good fortune. About five months after my diagnosis, shortly after going into my wheelchair full time, I decided to go to Cuba. I had a great time there; the people were wonderful, the setting fascinating, and the bar was always open. When I was checking out, one of the staff said they hoped to see me again. I demurred, explaining my situation and saying this would be my only trip to Cuba.

Nothing in life is certain, not even failure. I am headed to Cuba again! Katherine said a while ago that she would like to go to Havana. I told her about my trip to Cuba, the benefits of staying outside of Havana instead of in the city, the beauty of the beaches, the many excursion options from the resorts out in Varadero. She said "let's go".

Of course it would be unlike me to take a simple thing and leave it simple. I struggled greatly with having Katherine pay the full costs of both of us going on a vacation. I don't mind some subsidy, but these days I have no ability to contribute whatsoever. So I fussed and worried and stressed and needled. In the end, I just had to realize that she was in the lead on this, that she would make the decision.

After all my emotional wrangling, she decided, once again, that we would go to Cuba, preferably before the end of January. So we booked a package trip to Varadero; we leave January 25th and return February 1st. She will go back to work shortly after that.

I'm very excited about my second trip to Cuba. I did not think, did not even suspect, that I would get to do this again, get to travel on such an adventure. Katherine is making this possible, for herself and for me. It's going to be so much fun. I can hardly wait for next Monday.