like you are a leper? Last evening my husband and I went out to dinner with another engineer he works with and his wife. Michael told me we were going for "his sake", as this gent is above him in the coporate ladder and he felt this was the proper thing to do in order to move up in his department. This gent is in his mid 50's, so I assumed his wife would be in the same age category as well. We were going to a restaurant that was close to their home, so Michael told them we'd pick them up and we'd all go together.

I drive a small SUV, and I do have a handicapped placard that we keep on the dashboard when it's not being used. I also always keep a cane in the backseat of my vehicle "just in case". When we picked up the couple last evening, I stayed in the car, whilst Michael went to the front door and rang their bell to get them rather than just honking the horn for them.

To our surprise, the wife appeared and clearly was about the same age as Michael and myself (mid to early 30's). She was lovely, and we were all having a lively conversation in the car on the way to dinner. When we got to the restaurant, Michael dropped myself and the other couple off at the front entrance, and went to park the car. There were about 6 stone steps leading into the restaurant, and I didn't notice a handrail, so I knew I was going to need Michael's help getting up the steps as it was very dark as well as the fact that the steps were quite steep.

Whilst we were waiting on Michael, the other woman said to me, "let's go in and wait for the guys inside". I didn't want to tell her that the steps might pose a problem for me, so I told her I would prefer to wait on my husband. Both she and her husband looked at me as if I were a bit strange, but after an awkward pause, Michael finally appeared, and he immediately grabbed my arm and helped me up the steps (if you didn't know I had MS, you would have simply thought my husband was simply being a gentleman and offering his arm to his wife as a kind gesture).

During dinner, the wife spoke with me about all the different things she does during the day (she doesn't work at all, and they have no children). She knows that I now work P-T, and used to work F-T. Several times during the evening she invited me to come to her gym with her to work out as a guest. I didn't know her well enough to discuss my MS with her, and didn't want to bring it up, as I find that often when I do, the conversation comes to an abrupt halt, as most people are quite shocked and have no idea what to say to me or my husband. I'm sure you have all been asked how long it will be before you are in a wheelchair or if you are one of "Jerry's kids". Anyway, the wife continued to ask me about working out with her and I finally said that I'm often strained for time and I work out on a treadmill at home (which I do), and that my schedule isn't stable enough for me to commit to a gym class. She persisted, insisting that I could be her guest anytime I'd like to go with her!

After what seemed like hours, dinner was finally over, and we all walked outside, and again, Michael offered me his arm whilst we walked down the steps. As we were waiting for Michael to get the car, the wife turned to me and said something eluding to the fact that we must be newlyweds, as Michael is still so "attentive" to me. I didn't say anything, and neither did her husband who does know that we are not newlyweds.

Michael finally drove the car around, and I immediately entered the back seat so that the men could both be up front, and also because there is more leg room in the front. My cane was sitting on the floor, and the wife turned to me and asked what it was for. I finally told her that I had MS, and had been diagnosed with it almost 10 years ago. From that point on, she didn't say a word to me. I didn't know what to say either.....I felt like I was on the verge of tears. Micheal could tell that the conversation had come to an abrupt halt between the two of us, and tried to include both of us in their conversation (they had been discussing some work issues). When we returned to their home, we dropped them off, and I told the wife what a lovely time I had, and that I had thoroughly enjoyed meeting both she and her husband, and that we should do this again. Her husband turned around, shook my hand, and said that he "would like that". The wife quickly said her goodbyes and got out of the car as soon as she could, and barely uddered a word besides her goodbye. I got out of the backseat, and went to go sit in the front seat for the ride home. I could feel her staring at me whilst I got out of the car. I felt like I was some kind of a freak or something.

During the drive home, I broke down and told Michael that I doubted we'd be going out with them again, as I was sure she felt like I was a leper or was contagious with some type of fatal disease. I enjoy cooking, and when I have the time, we do entertain at home, so Michael suggested that perhaps we ought to invite them over. He feels that if she sees me getting on in a more familiar environment she wouldn't be as fearful and would be more understanding and more open to dialogue about MS.

At this point, I don't want to even see her again, let alone invite her into our home and entertain her!! Perhaps, I'm just being overly sensitive, but I'm not even able to sleep because I am so hurt and upset about what transpired last evening. What would you do in this situation? Am I being overly sensitive and just having a bad MS day or was this woman blatently rude to me?

Thank you for reading this, if you've made it this far! I realise this is long, but I knew you would understand, and many of you may have been in the same spot. I appreciate your input.

Chris