So, here I am...

waiting just a few minutes before I inject myself with proteins derived from Chinese hamster ovaries.

I swear, I keep waiting for the desires to run on a metal treadmill, gnaw on small pieces of wood, or devour my own children to sneak up on me at the most inopportune time. Of course, I guess it helps that I don't have any children.

You know, I am mostly a suck-it-up kind of person. It's the way I was raised. And, that sort of attitude represents the stock from which I sprung. I mean, my great grandmother married a very friendly and notoriously unreliable alcoholic and subsequently ran both a gas station and a bar with only the help of a Louisville Slugger -- all while the hubby slept it off in the overturned Model T off to the side of the road. Oh, and she had RA, to boot.

My fondest recollection of her is from when I was five and she was 83. She'd moved down to Louisiana by then for the warmer weather. Anyway, one day while I was visiting, near dusk, she went streaking outside with Louisville Slugger in hand. I heard much clattering and grunting among the trees and bushes near the house, and subsequently witnessed an armadillo emerge to make for the swamp. Nannie chased him to the edge of the property line. When she came into the house, she looked at me, squinted up her eyes, and announced, "Armadillos. Never could stand the looks of them, Kim."

I can only hope that I am fortunate enough to approach life with RA in the way that Nannie did, with Louisville Slugger in hand.

Comments

[Laurie Grassi]

I know I haven't said before how much you make me laugh, because I haven't ever commented here before, but you do make me laugh – so much!

You have every since I found your blog, back when I was diagnosed with RA in January of this year and started reading RA blogs, and yours has become one of my faves.

Thanks for the laughs + the inspiration – they're much appreciated!

:) Laurie

[Kim H]

Thanks, Laurie! I appreciate that you appreciate (with a certain amount of appreciation) my sense of humor. Uh -- did that make sense?

[Laurie Grassi]

Um, yes, in some sort of nonsensical way, it made sense!

[Wren]

Now THAT'S a great-granny to be proud of! What a terrific story! I'll bet she'd be smiling to know that she inspired you to be the strong, take-charge woman you are, especially as you cope with RA.

Now ... Chinese hamster ovaries? Really?

[Kim H]

Wren -- Yes, she was amazing, and patient and funny! And re: the Chinese hamster ovaries. Yep: that's what Enbrel is extracted from!

Laurie -- Whew! I'm glad we got that settled!

[Wren]

Well, how about that. Hamster ovaries. I wonder if their being Chinese makes any difference? And ... one has to wonder how they discovered that ovaries of any species were the place to extract the med from? I know, I'm silly. But this sort of thing just fascinates me. I envision scientists in a break room, eating their lunches out of brown bags, glum over the latest failure. And then one suddenly sits up straight, holds his egg sandwich up in the air and yells, "I've GOT it! Chinese hamster ovaries!!"

[RA SB]

Kim,

As long as I live I will never forget the vision of your 83 year old, RA having grandma chasing an armadillo with a bat. THAT is probably the most inspiration I have received about this disease in a long time. LMAO! Way to go!!!

- RA SB

[Beth Feeback]

great story! thanks for the laugh!

[Rheumatoid arthritis]

Your article made me laugh. Thanks.. Your grandma is quite an inspiration..
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