Hey, I went on a "date" over the weekend and we went "bowling"! Woo hooo! I never thought I would bowl again! But, as I said in one of the other posts, if it wasn't for the info. I've learned here in these boards about vitamins, etc. I would still be at home dealing with the pain and crying.

Actually, I haven't yet told him (it was a blind date, my sister set me up with him) that I have PN, because he couldn't tell! How cool is that! Three months ago I couldn't walk down the hall at work without a cane and in so much pain I dreaded having to go to the bathroom.

Now I still have the burning, and at night the pins and needles, if I push myself too hard I get the shooting pains again, AND I feel it moving into my hands now, but the incredible debilitating pain I had before has been cut down by 80% because of the advice I have taken away from these boards. I've changed my diet, I've started vitamins, and make sure I get as much rest as I need.

You don't know how cool it was to actually go out on a date again! I doubt I'll ever get back on the dance floor, or in a sexy dress with high heels again, but hey, a single 47 year old woman can dream!

My daughter bought the "cutest" pair of shoes the other day, and they have the most adorable heels on them! Leopard print, black 4" heels, oh, so sexy. I asked her if I could borrow them... she just laughed! I didn't say I wanted to "walk" in them, I just want to put them on my feet and look at them! Maybe have a picture taken in them!

Thank you all! Happy New Year!

Terri

Thats wonderful Terry. Us single moms still have some life left in us!!!!

Yea, but my score was a mizerable 89! I had to use a 10 pound ball, but you know what? I had a great time and didn't care how terrible I bowled! I was out having a good time!
My daughter's boyfriend asked her what could he buy me for Christmas that would help me get out of the house more often, and she said, "Something that would take away her pain"... (He's 26 and she's 22, and he own's his own home, so he's not trying to get rid of me if that's what you're thinking! He really "likes" me!)
I was worried about bowling, I thought the shoes would hurt, then I thought the ball might stick to my hand, and I thought about all the things that could go wrong... and my daughter said, "Mom, you never know if you don't try!" So I tried, and I handled it for one game, and then we went to dinner, and we talked for hours! He really is a nice man!

Next week we're going to the movies. Weeee.....

Thats fantastic Terri, I am really happy for you, you must be healing well, good on you.
Its so nice to read a post like yours, it may give inspiration to others that are not feeling so good at the present time, no body knows what tommorow may bring
wishing you continued success,
Brian

The most I get out of Alan is breakfast at Dunkin Donuts.

You must keep in touch and let us know how your 'ROMANCE" is going.

Just have fun!!!


And don't discount a romance yet. You are not over the hill at 47. If I can wear a blond wig and flirt with Radio Shack guys, and I'm 59 years old, you my dear can have a romance!!!!

Just be careful!!!!

Melody

Terri,
That's wonderful!! I am so tickled that you are doing so well. Good news we love to hear. Good food, good water, proper nutrients and exercise are what the body lives on. Great you are having so much fun.
Go for it!
Billye

Now THAT is impressive. I hope you have many more dates and are out there bowing 200... Hang in there.

I do have a suggestion... You might want to think about not mentioning the PN for some time, at least until he really gets to know what a sweetheart you are... I just got kicked out of a quilting group. Not that this is like dating, but I think they had a hard time handling all of my health issues and I couldn't attend much, soooo, it was bye bye... People don't understand, especially if they have good health and have never been around people who don't have the good fortune to have it...

Cathie

I just got kicked out of a quilting group That is TERRIBLE!!!! I am a quilter myself and I can't believe that quilters would be so mean. Usually they are some of the nicest people around. However, they can also be some of the most picky, perfectionist, stuffy old ladies around! It's kind of like a "social club" to them! I used to teach in a quilting store, but I taught how to use the new High Tech embroidery machines. My opinion is, sometimes you are better off without people who think they are too good for you!

Anyway, psssst Mel, I've also been corresponding with my high school sweetheart who is coming to visit me in May. He has that type of arthritis you get when you are a child, so he is very understanding of someone who has PN, as a matter of fact, his mother has PN, and she just adores me. I went to visit them in December when I went back to my mom's for Christmas. He lost his wife 10 years ago to cancer and wants to try to move on.
So, the new guy lives about 90 miles away, and we met 1/2 way to see each other. The high school sweetheart lives 2500 miles away!
I'd really like it to work out with the High school sweetheart, but went out on the blind date because my sister pushed me into getting out of the house... it was fun, something I didn't think I could do, but now that I've done it, I really feel kind of guilty about it.

O.K., enough romance chatter, this is about PN and how we are doing! I'm doing well, thank you.

And thank you all for your support and advice! I come here every day, sometimes three or four times a day just to see what you all are up to and how everyone is doing.

Terri

GIRLS JUST GOTTA HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whooee! Fun? PLAY? Who'd have thought it was allowed? Go for it!!!!!!!!!

As for dating per se: It's the person INSIDE, not the appearances and physical OUTSIDE that are important....

If you can go PLAY - well Im double dogged durned jealous? GOT IT! Can I live vicariously thru you?

Remember tho, don't forget that old B-12 regimen... No relapes allowed!?! - j

Okay, here's my advice on both of these men.

The blind date you just had!!!. Was there chemistry with this guy? It either WAS, or it WASN'T. I don't care if you're 47, or 87, chemistry is chemistry. Just ask Sean Connery or Anthony Quinn (I know he's dead but before he died he was still kicking if you know what I mean, he had like 13 kids). So chemistry is still chemistry. If it was there with the blind date, go out on another blind date and see if the chemistry leads to a combustible experience!!!

Now, because you know what the blind date looks like, you have that OUT OF THE WAY!!

How long has it been since you've seen the high school sweetheart? If you've exchanged photos, I bet they were OLD photos, which people often do, so you don't exactly know what this guy looks like. If you are 47 (and you obviously know your way around a computer, you probably have a webcam). So if he's your age then he probably might have a computer, webcam, instant message, e-mail etc. etc.

This is what I would do. I would make a video on the webcam, send it to him and have him do the same. Believe me, you'll know right away if there might be chemistry or not. You have a good chance because the high school sweetheart (USED TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART) so there was already chemistry to begin with. So once you have that out of the way, you can meet up with him, have a merry old time, see where it leads and maybe have a long distance relationship. You can have MORE than one gentleman friend in your life you know, IT'S ALLOWED!!!!

You just have to see who you get along with the best, and who you have the most chemistry with. Nothing is worse than going on a date with someone, sitting across the table and thinking, "oh my god, how do I get out of this?". You want to go, have a nice drink, have some friendly conversation and enjoy yourself.

The reason I mention chemistry is a very funny story that happened to me a few years ago that some of you may remember but not all of you so you will laugh your asses off if you read this. And please forgive me if I've posted this but as you can tell, I have no memory but this will be a fresh funny story for many of you. And it's all true!!!!

Now you have to understand, I'm 59 and have no memory. I don't remember people, faces, names, whatever. I'm good at movie trivia but that's it.
Alan knows this and laughs his butt off everytime people come up to me and say "oh Melody, it's been a long time, how are you and I look at them like they are from Mars". This happens every day and Alan is used to this.
We were coming out of Costco a few years ago, and Alan is parking the car W A Y A C R O S S the parking lot so I'm alone for a good 5 minutes.
A little man approaches me, (about 5 feet tall), with a cane, he's 5 feet both ways, has no hair on his head an has things growing on his face (I won't mention what things). He looked almost like Lou Costello (from Abbot and Costello) He walks straight up to me and says "Melody, how are you, you are more beautiful than ever". I look at him (like HE IS FROM MARS) and the first thing that pops into my mind (I swear to god), is "Lord, please don't let me have gotten drunk when I was 20, had an affair with this man and he remembers me). Now I do NOT drink whatsoever but as a young woman of course, after work, I used to go to Happy Hour and have maybe one drink that I would nurse for two hours while you got a free meal.

So he's smiling at me and saying "how have you been, gee you haven't changed". I look at him completely clueless and I ask him "how long has it been?" and he goes: "35 years". and I'm thinking "this guy remembers me from 35 years ago, and thinks I haven't changed??? and there's Alan, taking this whole scene in, walking slowly over to us, laughing his head off because he knows exactly what's happening, that I DON'T KNOW THIS PERSON FROM A HOLE IN THE WALL'.

He then said: You do know I had the biggest crush on you.?" Now I went to an all girls catholic school, so there couldn't have been any boy with a crush on me. So I went on further: "I said "let's see how good your memory is, when was the last time we got together?". I figured, he would jog SOMETHING IN MY MEMORY".
He says :"Oh I remember exactly, it's when you bought the donuts, and I bought the coffee"., I said to myself "I had coffee and donuts with this guy and he had a major crush on me, okay, start your brain working Melody".

Absolutely nothing came to mind. "I went on further. "Okay, what was my pet name for you?" He goes. "No, you didn't have a pet name, you just called me David". I throw my arms around him and go "David, it's so good to see you again".... Alan walks up to me at that moment, I turn to Alan, and I say 'oh Alan, please meet David, an old friend from 35 years ago". Alan is laughing and grabs his hand and David goes: "I had such a crush on your wife". Alan goes, "oh that's okay, I married her". And they both laughed.

Now I'm going completely nuts and I go "when exactly did we last see each other and he said "oh don't you remember, it was during the 1965 or 1966 train strike and we took the car in and our boss drove us to work and I got to sit next to the girl I was nuts about, and we all ate donuts and drank coffee all the way into work". I responded "Oh of course, that's the last time we rode in a car together till I quit that job. He said "Yeah, I felt so bad, I never had the courage to ask you on a date".

We said our goodbyes and as Alan and I are walking into Costco, Alan whispers in my ear "You have no idea who this guy is do you". and I said "Not a clue".

I absolutely hate having no memory, it stinks. But thankfully, my virtue is still intact.

So best of luck on your new beaus. Enjoy!!!

Melody