Out Of Milk

I'm out of milk. How can I possibly run out of milk? It's one of the most basic things in my fridge, for coffee, for cooking, for the odd child who drops by. Coffee is the biggest one. I have a cup of coffee with a bit of milk each and every morning of my life, or afternoon if that's when I finally get out of bed.

Now I am not going to complain about being forced to lighten my coffee with Rum Chata. I have been known to delay a trip across the street to Safeway simply because I knew I had a back to milk. Bailey's is another good backup, although not a creamy. It's not as if there is a ton of stress over this.

The reason I run ouf of milk is perhaps a bit more complicated. Home Care now makes breakfast for me. This includes my morning coffee with milk in it. It also includes whatever they choose to make for me, sometimes including milk. Today, for example, Kathy made crepes. The recipe is simple; one egg, one cup of milk, one cup of flour, sugar and salt to taste. Note the use of milk.

In this situation, I now rarely handle the milk container. It's heavy for me. It can be awkward for me to pour. So I leave it to those caring for me. Then, suddenly, I am out of milk. I haven't checked it in days, so I really don't know what the supply is like. I don't have to check it now; I've been told I am out of milk and I need some more.

This is all, of course, an example of how having ALS has changed my life in odd, different ways. I'm not all that strong anymore. Milk is heavy. I don't like to pick up heavy things anymore. Pretty much everything is a heavy thing now. Sure, everybody runs out of milk now and again. It's just that the process of knowing, and of getting more, requires extra effort for me. That's what living with ALS is like; everything you do requires extra effort. Milk. I wonder if I need anything else at Safeway?