Here is the audio version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLrzz-HOKUE
There is a phenomenon that continues to happen in my life.... and I am pretty sure that the blame, all the shout-outs, and a significant amount of the credit should go to Ataxia. Well...that and the fact that while attending College, I spent a portion of my study time repeatedly sending a little steel ball (that had done nothing wrong, mind you) shooting and bouncing around inside a lighted arena..... an electronic game board that was full of numerous and varied chances for the ball to become shot around ....violently and seemingly without end.
Two friends and I would go, at least once a week, to a 24-hour restaurant that was located at an all-night truck stop. During our spurts of studying....(which, really, could be defined more as long sessions of eating pie, french fries, milkshakes, and/or drinking gallons of coffee)....we would take rejuvenation breaks, in which we would visit the game room in the back of the establishment and play copious amounts of Pinball.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AKbUm8GrbM
Never once, while vigorously and rather enthusiastically batting the ball back into active service with the button-activated flippers, did I stop to ponder, reflect, or even consider the possibility that there was a day coming shortly when the spirit of the little steel balls everywhere would exact their revenge. I didn't think this way 32 years ago, but I do now. I reflect on my likeness to that steel ball from yester-year, every time I ram my shoulder into something and I am sent springing into another object. I either bounce back and forth between these two items, or I am sent into a third obstacle. I walk around my house all day feeling like I am trapped within a giant Pinball venue, and all that is missing is the large scoreboard that tallies the growing score, with the sound of the constant beeps and whistles.
Ataxia is not easy...nor is it a good time....but I have always tried to find the positive side, and dwell on these things in my dealings with my Neurological sidekick. Being like a ball in a pinball game is not always easy...or fun either....but it does require movement, and keeps me on my feet. Even though it becomes increasingly challenging to navigate and move around sometimes, I believe strongly in the motto that says, " If you don't use it, you'll lose it".
The ball is also producing some positive results....as it flies around and racks up points. I'm not saying that I fly around....but at the end of the day I can look back and see that I have at least tried to be productive.
Ataxia has brought back certain aspects of bounciness, and large amounts of springing and ricocheting into my life, and I just keep trying to beat my own top score!
There is a phenomenon that continues to happen in my life.... and I am pretty sure that the blame, all the shout-outs, and a significant amount of the credit should go to Ataxia. Well...that and the fact that while attending College, I spent a portion of my study time repeatedly sending a little steel ball (that had done nothing wrong, mind you) shooting and bouncing around inside a lighted arena..... an electronic game board that was full of numerous and varied chances for the ball to become shot around ....violently and seemingly without end.
Two friends and I would go, at least once a week, to a 24-hour restaurant that was located at an all-night truck stop. During our spurts of studying....(which, really, could be defined more as long sessions of eating pie, french fries, milkshakes, and/or drinking gallons of coffee)....we would take rejuvenation breaks, in which we would visit the game room in the back of the establishment and play copious amounts of Pinball.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AKbUm8GrbM
Never once, while vigorously and rather enthusiastically batting the ball back into active service with the button-activated flippers, did I stop to ponder, reflect, or even consider the possibility that there was a day coming shortly when the spirit of the little steel balls everywhere would exact their revenge. I didn't think this way 32 years ago, but I do now. I reflect on my likeness to that steel ball from yester-year, every time I ram my shoulder into something and I am sent springing into another object. I either bounce back and forth between these two items, or I am sent into a third obstacle. I walk around my house all day feeling like I am trapped within a giant Pinball venue, and all that is missing is the large scoreboard that tallies the growing score, with the sound of the constant beeps and whistles.
Ataxia is not easy...nor is it a good time....but I have always tried to find the positive side, and dwell on these things in my dealings with my Neurological sidekick. Being like a ball in a pinball game is not always easy...or fun either....but it does require movement, and keeps me on my feet. Even though it becomes increasingly challenging to navigate and move around sometimes, I believe strongly in the motto that says, " If you don't use it, you'll lose it".
The ball is also producing some positive results....as it flies around and racks up points. I'm not saying that I fly around....but at the end of the day I can look back and see that I have at least tried to be productive.
Ataxia has brought back certain aspects of bounciness, and large amounts of springing and ricocheting into my life, and I just keep trying to beat my own top score!
