Food fights and alien languages: Finding humor in life with MS

Dee Eklund, riding her Alinker, finishes a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving 2024. (Photos courtesy of Dee Eklund)

Day 18 of 31

This is Dee Eklund’s story:

I am a firm believer everything happens for a reason. Maybe we have some things to learn, teach, or even both. With the anniversary of my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis right around the corner, I’ve figured out a way to deal with some of the unusual symptoms.

Eklund hikes in the Arizona desert.

I do not want this post to be a sad account of the things I can no longer do. I am blessed that I’m still here and able to write. I’m always learning new ways to participate and accomplish goals.

I have not lost my sense of humor or the ability to laugh. I think it has helped me to be able to laugh about the crazy stuff I do or say. Luckily, my husband shares the same goofy sense of humor.

I remember one of my first hand tremors. My husband and I were eating some sort of sandwich at lunch. I transferred my sandwich to my left hand so I could grab my iced tea with the right one, but my left hand must have been in a bad mood because it threw my sandwich on the floor. WTF?

I was a bit surprised. I wasn’t quite sure what had happened. My husband must have figured out the situation and told me that was not the way to have a food fight. Then he tossed his pickle at me. We both laughed. It was a fabulous distraction and no tears were shed over the loss of my sandwich or the addition of my hand tremors.

Eklund hikes at the Indiana Dunes.

A more recent example of my MS madness is my ability to take one or more words completely out of context or even make up new words. My husband was going to the kitchen and asked if I wanted something. I asked him to bring me a Neptune. He wasn’t sure what a Neptune was and asked if I would settle for a Jupiter. Huh?

I didn’t know what he was talking about. I had to concentrate on this conversation that was clearly nonsense. It took too long for my brain to sort it out. He came back from the kitchen with nothing for me. I asked him where my nectarine was.

Aha!

But it gets better. Maybe I can speak in tongues? Maybe I can speak a new language? Maybe I’m inventing a new language? I don’t know how to even spell some of the stuff I say. And sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing it until my husband repeats my words back to me. I tell him he’s speaking alien and we laugh.

If you’re dealing with something that is out of your control, tears are an option, but for me, laughter is the best medicine.

In recognition of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in March, the MS Community Spotlight campaign features a series of stories highlighting the real-life experiences of people affected by MS, written in their own words. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Pinterest for more stories like this, using the hashtag #MSSpotlight, or read the full series.