Sylvia Bock:  

For three years, I've been held captive in my own body; the mind's been working overtime; the body not so much. The good news is my health is returning, albeit slowly. The bad news I've probably offended most of you by not responding to your messages, friend requests, etc. About 7 years ago, I got a spinal cord injury that affected parts (but some very important parts--like my calves and feet!) of my lower body. It was a big adjustment and I began to envy Weebles because they don't fall down; I did. A lot. The nerves that helped keep me vertical were gone. It was kind of like walking on stilts w/o circus training. After the mandatory period of self-pity, I adjusted pretty well, actually. I wheeled myself around for about twenty seconds and said, "This mode of transportation isn't for me. I'm a hiker; I can't take this thing up a trail! I'm not ready for the Rascal Scooter yet, dammit." So I did my best to rely on my own two legs. As Julia Sweeney puts it, "God said, 'Hah!'" Hence, the oodles of splatfalls (Gravity:100; Me:0--every time). (I wish I had video of some of them--there have been some specTACular ones!) But you fall; you get up. Life goes on. I defined normal as I knew it (even though I can hear those of you out there snickering at the concept I ever was normal). I even had fun and found a new beau! Fast forward to present day (3/31/09). The fact that I am typing this is significant. Because 3 years ago I suddenly lost all the mobility in m...Expand for more