Re: ta - da! We did it! KATHI G

[Guest guest]

Ms. Kathi, sounds like ya'll had FUN. If ya get tapes made, I might like one

too. Can't wait to see Rita's & 's? interview either. Also, thank you for

the kind words recently and everyone else who posted. I reckon I needed a lift.

I've heard direct from the one whom I thought was offended and I was badly

mistaken.

I feel good now! And Galen's certificate made my day.

Bless all of you folks.

Thanks,

, N. Fla

ta - da! We did it!

Hi group,

I just got back from the TV Studio and watched the TV interview show that

and I just did. I think it went terrific! In fact, I'm thinking it

might

be good to consider having it available to watch at some of our events. I

might take it to the next TeamWalk committee meeting. It's 1/2 hour long.

Of course I can make copies for people who want one for themselves or to

share with their neurologists. I just need to find out what it will cost to

reproduce and mail out. Later on that. Hey Rita, maybe you can send a copy

to the

producer you know and we can end up on network tv!

and I each talked a little bit about our diseases -- what they are and

some of our personal experience with them. We explained what's going wrong in

the nervous system. It was good I brought that flyer I made last night with

the diagram of the brain and spinal cord and the upper and lower motor

neurons! got to show his pedal wheelchair, which we had on the stage.

He found

that when our MA group went to the Abilities Expo 2 years ago as a Connection

outing. It has been a God-send for him to exercise his legs and allow him to

continue some activities. He and his wife used it last week to see the

Boston Museum of Art and he uses it on the bike trail.

I shared about how our communities formed and got organized and how we

started our own Foundation so we could speed research as well as help the

people who

need information and support - all volunteers - our community is amazing.

And how we are making $240,000 available in Research Awards this year. And

about our TeamWalk and National Research and Beyond Conference coming up here

in Massachusetts.

Whew, I think we covered just about all the main things.

The Director of the TV Station was fascinated with 's wheelchair that he

wants us to consider developing a Documentary about wheelchairs. He offered

all the studio's help in filming it, but it would still need some funding and

would take a lot of work! Maybe after TeamWalk is over!

Now, here's the inside scoop on my getting ready for this premier, LOL.

First, I wasn't really THAT nervous, I thought. I have been interviewed on TV

before through my career, although it's been a long time.

I was mostly concerned with making sure that could get comfortably down

the half-flight of stairs into the studio, since his legs are worse than mine.

I told him to meet me there a bit before 9:00 a.m. I was worried about

getting there on time (one of my idiosyncracies, if you don't know me...), and

we

have lots of road construction going on in my time so I left extra early.

I got there way early at 8:30. After I parked, I looked in the mirror to

apply my lipstick before going into the building and was horrified to see that

I

had forgotten to put on mascara! I had eyeliner on, so at first thought I'd

just have to go with it. But, I knew they'd do some close-ups of me and my

ego

took over and I decided to run out to the drug store to buy some and pray I'd

be back in time for 's arrival. So, off I zoomed. Of course, the rush

hour traffic was worse, and so half-way, I considered turning around. But I

decided it wouldn't be a catastrophe if I got back a few minutes after so

on I went. I bought the mascara and put it on at a stop light and made it

back

just as arrived, at 8:57. LOL.

We got the help we needed to get downstairs into the studio and everything

went fine. had experience being on camera when he was still working as a

pulminary physician, so he wasn't nervous at all. I was a little nervous, but

relaxed as we got into it. 's wife Bobbie was our cheering audience.

So, it's a good interview to hear a bit about our disorders, see people

dealing them and hear about our community. I'm really glad we had the

opportunity

to do it.

Now I need a nap!

best,

Kathi