Dear Group, No, this is not another one of my “cute” stories, nor is it a humorous story. It is just a message to all of you who have been sitting for hour upon hour, day upon day at your computer, working hard at genealogy and enjoying all the friendships you have made on the Internet. If you have all of a sudden realized, like I have, that your aches and pains seem to be increasing in direct proportion to the length of time you are sitting down, don’t just blame it on “arthritis” as I have for so long. What I’m trying to say is that because I have a bony butt--pardon me, “hiney”-- and I have put so much prolonged pressure on the nerves over the bones, I now have been diagnosed with having peripheral neuropathy. The diagnosis is very new to me and a full range of tests haven’t been taken yet but it all adds up. Because of compressed nerves due to prolonged sitting at my computer over the years, I am now in constant pain--made worse by sitting down--severely weak legs and arms, shaky hands and I stagger when I walk. Those of you who remember the pathetic story about my disastrous “Thelma and Louise Adventure” might recall that I mentioned then--in May--the aches and pains of the trip, the staggering and weakness in my legs and my shaky hands. I just wrote it all off on the stress of the trip. As a result, it’s all that I can do to sit down long enough to download my email in the morning. After walking about the house for a bit, then I can sit down again and read the email messages. I’ve tried setting up my laptop at my kitchen countertop to see if I could at least continue to write stories or answer messages into it but I found that I can’t just stand for any period of time, either. What I’m trying to do this evening is to see if I can manage to still keep in touch with the world and possibly continue to write stories with my laptop actually on my lap while sitting in my new La-Z-Boy recliner. It seems to be working pretty good so far and do you know what? If you have the chair covered in velvet, the armrest makes a great mousepad!! :-D Again I have messages I haven’t replied to but this time I guess I’ll just have to forego any answers. It’s obvious that I won’t be going into any writing of a newspaper column nor will I be writing any stories in the near future. But, hey, who knows, if I can find a painless way to sit at my computer again--such as in my recliner--I may be able to continue without a hitch. But the most important thing right now is for me to pay attention to my health and get myself back to my normal vital self. Let’s fact it, I was skipping rope in August and who knows but what I might be trying my hand at touch football before the snow flies! I WILL not be an invalid, I WILL not give up on story writing OR genealogy but it looks like I’m going to have to make some adjustments in my lifestyle until I get back on my feet--or back on my tush!! :-D Keep your messages coming to me but right now I’m hurtin’ too much to reply to all of them. A PS to Bill Kennedy in case you’ve read this far, Bill. Regarding your MEALS grandmother, yes the name is definitely German. The name is also spelled Mihls, Males, Miehl, Miell, Muhl and Muhls. My ancestor Johann Samuel Muhl b 1711 came to America in 1741 from Baden, Germany. Died 1795, buried Bender’s Church, Menallen Twp, (now Butler Twp.), York Co. (now Adams Co.), PA. Hey, I think this is working and I’m feeling better already! :-D luvya, vee ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Haven't found a post of interest? Why not generate one of your own?