As you probably already know, I’m having a couple of parties to ‘celebrate’ M.E. Awareness Day; one ‘real life’ garden party, the other an online virtual party. It’s all I can talk about. I’m rather excited!
I’m almost imagining that it’s my birthday. I’ve always wanted a summery garden party! Maybe I should adopt the 12th May and have a second birthday like the Queen does?
The virtual party is something that everyone can join in regardless of where they are in the country, or the world; regardless of whether they are housebound or bedbound or have other engagements. I plan to post photos of the garden party onto the virtual party events page on facebook so even if you’re enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of cake in the comfort of your own home, the internet allows you to be with us in my back garden.
Organising a charity party when you’re poorly is like a military operation! It’s probably like a military operation even if you’re well! This will be my final post before International M.E. Awareness Day on Sunday because I have to save my ‘spoons’.
My clothes are laid out ready. My nails are painted, my legs are fuzz free (or as fuzz free as my legs will ever be!) My beauty products are out so I don’t have to waste any precious energy opening draws or faffing around. All the decorations are ready to be put up on the day. The cups and saucers, plates and cutlery are all clean and ready. I have to be super organised like this to give myself the best chance of feeling relatively ‘alive’ on the day.
Some people are worried about how poorly I’ll be on, and then after, Sunday. I will suffer for all of this. That is a given when you have CFS/ME. I suffer for having a shower and getting changed everyday so why not go all out for just a couple of hours every once in a while!
I just wanted to do something, anything, for M.E. Awareness Day this year. All I ask is for the price you’d pay in a cafe and maybe a little extra to enter the raffle.
I’m being as sensible as possible. I’m not doing any of the baking myself, much to everyone’s relief probably! My mum and sister will probably assume the role of host and my friends are incredibly good at stepping up and taking over when I start to flag. My family and friends don’t let me overdo it so they’ll be the ones pouring people cups of tea and cutting slices of cake. I’ll just be doing the eating and drinking. Such a hard life! 😉 Maybe life as a sloth isn’t so bad afterall…
My biggest fear, if it is even a fear at all, is that I will feel too poorly on Sunday. I don’t feel overly enthusiastic about so many people seeing me like that; floating around the house like a zombie in my pjs with a grubby pale face and barely able to string a sentence together. Alas, the good thing about being so honest and open about my illness is that nobody would be taken by surprise if I were to be Zombie Anna on the day. They would just carry on around me, holding a drink up to my mouth for me to drink through a straw. If my arms weren’t cooperating they’d spoon feed me cake. That’s the wonderful thing and my family and friends. They’re with me through thick and thin. I suppose it’s unconditional love and I’m the luckiest girl in the world to be loved by these people.
Actually thinking about it I’m probably more worried about how to answer if someone asks me “What is M.E?” I still don’t know how to answer after two and half years. Answering “It’s a pile of s*#t” isn’t very helpful…
It has been wonderful to have a focus and to have something to look forward to. It’s been wonderful to have achieved something by planning this charity party.
See you all on Sunday!
M.E. myself and I 