Took some time to absorb this and to respond (obviously). Thanks for the trust in sending your background. I cannot imagine how you get through the days and admire you for a rare character substance --- ability to laugh at yourself --- let alone with all your health challenges. If they gave out Olympic medals for that you’d deserve the gold and the silver and the bronze – maybe a special one as well. I have had other Mayo Connect comments about mine to you --- the respect you have and the appreciation for the positive impact your hilarious comments have on others is truly touching.

From: Mayo Clinic Connect < nf+38c92551+19406918@n1.hubapplication.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 8, 2024 1:53 PM
To: jojoferr@yahoo.com
Subject: @kamama94 mentioned you in comment on Mayo Clinic Connect

## reply above this line ##

Mayo Clinic Connect

< https://connect.mayoclinic.org/member/00-b8130551bdf3a2b9160722/?utm_source=connect.mayoclinic.org&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mention&utm_content=mention_intro_userlink&gt; @kamama94 mentioned you in comment on Sun, Sep 8.

Message
@joaf37 I love the sit-down comic line!

BTW, I also joke about my hand tremors, renal disease, and gastroparesis but that's in person to people I know and not here very often because I don't want to - er, ah, pardon me if you've lost some of them - anyone's toes. Truth is, much of the time I am physically miserable and adding to the misery are major clinical depression and an anxiety disorder. So I try to see the humor in all of it since laughter releases endorphins and such.

Case in point:

Once I slid out of my recliner to the floor and couldn't pull myself back up or reach the wheelchair but managed to grab my cell phone and call 911 then called a neighbor with a key to my place to let the paramedics in so they wouldn't have to break down the door.

I was pretty hefty back then (later lost 150 lbs from gastroparesis, a heckuva way to "diet") and wondered how a couple of paramedics could pick me up. So by the time they arrived I had painted myself a picture of an ambulance crew attaching me to a crane to lift me off the floor and this made me giggle. When I shared that vision with the paramedics, they thought it was funny, too. But it all tuned out okay because they were 4 pretty big fellas - one for my shoulders, one on each side for my waist and one on each side for my oversized bottom. And thank goodness for good neighbors; despite laughing, mine knew exactly when to turn on my power chair and steer it toward the backs of my knees while the ambulance crew kept me on my feet long enough for my neighbor to be able to get the chair to me.

I can be a very cranky old lady but laughter sure helps soften those cranky-rough edges.

Oh, and I can be very good at shaking hands with someone. I can even shake hands when there's no one around. < wink, wink>