It's been awhile since I last posted! The following post is a bit of catch-up from the last few months. I haven't written many in-depth-ish posts for a long while, but I just feel like writing about all these feels right now. :)

Long story: It took a few listens, but Florence + The Machine's recently released Ceremonials made its way to the #1 spot of my Top Albums of 2011 playlist. That album has resonated with me pretty deeply. "Shake It Out" and its middle-eight bit ("And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't..." and especially that "And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope" line) has actually brought tears to my eyes. (I'll get to why it makes me teary-eyed in a bit, but I've gotta give some backstory first.)

I haven't posted about this yet (of course, I hardly post at all!), but in late July I was diagnosed with MS. When I had optic neuritis in summer 2009, I learned that it can be a precursor to MS. But since my follow-up MRIs from the rest of 2009 and then in 2010 were normal, and my neurologist said everything seemed OK, I just put the thought of MS out of my mind. (Because what else can ya do, really?)

So anyways, after reviewing my latest MRI and finding two new lesions, my neurologist diagnosed the MS and decided that I should start meds. To make a longer story a bit shorter, I'll fast-forward to now: I'll be starting Copaxone, a daily injection, in mid-December, and then hopefully life will get back to normal (whatever that is!).

So. All things considered, it could be a lot worse. I haven't had any symptoms since the initial episode of optic neuritis, so that's a good sign. Still, it's all a bit of a shock to the system! It's like, I finally get my OCD to a great, manageable level, and start getting back on my feet - and then I get diagnosed with MS. That's not cool! I'm still processing and coming to grips with it all. It gets me down, worrying about the future and the unknown and whatnot.

But, what's really important is that I have my amazing family, friends, and great doctors and peeps to support and encourage me. It sounds trite, but things really will be OK. Just gotta let some time go by and get used to everything. :)

Oh yeah. The Question Of The Day! So "Shake It Out" makes me blubber a bit because, in particular, that "And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope" line hits a nerve. I haven't felt like my usual determined self lately, but I'm kinda getting there again - and so that lyric makes sense to me: I'm ready to be strong and brave and suffer if I have to in order to be OK, but at the same time I'm ready to hope and be happy. /cool story, bro

Short story: I listened to "Shake It Out" and all I got were these tears!

Cheery bye, Scarlett