Morning Rush Hour

 

It’s a race every morning.

A grit-your-teeth, forehead-vein-popping, tendons-in-the-neck-straining, all-out-footrace-to-the-bathroom struggle to make it before it’s too late.

 

Call it the “morning rush,” “bladder patter,” “porcelain jog,” or the “rush to flush,” however you refer to it, making it to the bathroom in the morning for me can be trouble.

If you too have multiple sclerosis, you know exactly what I am talking about!

 

 

MS has stolen my bladder control and locked it away in a nondescript self-storage unit!

 

 

 

That very first calling in the morning is my most demanding task of the day.

Let me take you through my paces.

 

 

I rise each morning like Frankenstein coming to life in the lab.

Surly as Frankie and moving as stiffly as the Wizard of Oz’s Tin Man (before the oil), this Odd Sock trudges down the upstairs hallway, pausing at the bathroom door.

Occupied.  A family member is already in the shower, forcing me to take my “Kidney’s Overflowith” to the bathroom downstairs.

 

 

Turning to my left, my biggest challenge lies before me.

Thirteen stairs.

Yes, thirteen is an unlucky number.

But 13 stairs with a full bladder is REALLY unlucky!

 

 

 

I have flashbacks to the Goodyear Tire TV commercial where the vehicle drives over a bumpy obstacle test track!

 

 

 

I begin my descent with as much trepidation as the Chilean miner rescue!

Will I make it?  Or, will I need to call for Lysol and a sponge mop?

So far—so good.

Three steps to go.

And…..touchdown.  My feet firmly on the ground floor, I somewhat understand the relief “Sully” felt when he landed that airliner in the Hudson River!

 

But now begins my 20 foot shuffle to the bathroom.

With my cane in my left hand, I am forced to hold myself with my right (Think of that four-year old above who really has to go!).

The closer you get to the bathroom—the stronger the urge.

(That’s one of Newton’s unwritten laws of physics!)

Finally, after what seems like time standing still……I cross the threshold into the bathroom.

 

 

                                                         I feel victorious!! 

 

 

 

I have won!

 

 

 

 

Here is my morning moment of joy!

 

 

 

 

 

Today was a success.  Yesterday is in the past.  And I’ll worry about tomorrow when the time comes.

In the meantime, do you care to share a comment about your morning “commute?”  I know you have one because we’re all in this MS thing together.

Oh by the way, if you happen to see my kidneys—give a honk & a wave.  (They’re the ones speeding in the carpool lane.)