Last night I was laughing hard with a woman who has MS that I recently met in my hometown. She used to be an actress and stand up comic among other things, and she had me in stitches when relating how she reprimanded her doctor for not being nice to her at her first appointment. She scolded him in no uncertain terms for being all gloomy when that is not what she needs from her caretaker. She asked him how he was a doctor if all he could offer her was unknowns- he did not know the how or the why or the certainty of any of the drug interventions for MS. He apparently took it to heart and lightened up with her the next time and more candidly admitted that he did not know why the drug recommendations for MS were exactly the same for a 300 lb. linebacker with MS and her- a short, trim, dynamo of a woman.
She is both on the diet and trying two of the MS drugs out there. She is successfully working with all of the tools at her disposal. She reminded me how important humor is when we live with MS. “Laughter is the best medicine,” is not an idle quote. Laughing hard releases different neurotransmitters than do depression and despair. A joke has us step outside of ourselves for a moment, not to take ourselves so seriously. It gives us a moment of respite from the burdens we bear and allows a spaciousness to respond anew to our circumstances. It is also a pleasant distraction, but may lead to a healthy ongoing interest in our lives beyond the scope of our illness. Enjoying yourself prepares you for the joy of recovery!
No Sour Grapes: I said last time that I would write in a new summer recipe. If you can tolerate a little bit of fruit this one couldn’t be easier.
Roasted Grapes:
Remove a bunch of fresh seedless grapes (I like red best, but green or deep purple grapes are fine as well) from their stems. Put in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil. Spread them out on a baking tray or dish and roast at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Remove and lightly salt. Roasting releases the sweetness but also a savory quality like a deep burgundy wine. Add to: salads, risotto, or any cooked poultry or fish as a chutney.
Tips: you can also add in some fennel seeds, finely chopped shallots or chives, or sprinkle some curry or garam masala powder before roasting.