Living with Functional Neurological Disorder: The Most Amazing Weekend

I am so, so glad to be home. I love Pinecone Park. This is where my soul thrives. Every time I go to Vancouver, I hate it. The only pleasurable moments of just being there happened on Sunday morning. I had to be at the film studio at 9:00, and it was lovely to drive through the city when there was very little traffic and in glorious, intoxicating sunshine.

But let’s start at the beginning….

Saturday morning, I was up at 3:30 to ensure that all I needed to do got done, including taking Her Highness for a walk in the pitch blackness of very early morning. I left just before 6:00 to catch the 6:20 ferry to Nanaimo. On arrival there, I hurried directly to the ferry terminal.

I always want to be at the terminal when I take the big ferry to and from Vancouver because that is the only way to ensure that I to park on the top deck. It’s the only deck on which passengers can exit their cars to go inside the ferry and then return to their cars. Ig one parks in the lower decks, you are not allowed to remain in your car.

We arrived at Horseshoe Bay at 10:00, and I went directly to John and Bunny’s, and before I knocked on their door, I took Her Highness for a walk. We had a good chinwag and then they served me lunch. I had to be at the performance venue at 14:00, so just after 13:00 we loaded John’s bike into the car and the three of us went to VIVO Media Arts Centre. John navigated to help me find the place, and then he rode home.

I was late because there was a miles long LA-like traffic jam on the highway. We crawled for miles and discovered it was due to a car accident on the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge. But my lateness was not a problem for anyone.

On arrival, I got a welcome that made me glow from head to toe. Aidan, his sisters, Luke Wyland, Sid and the other performers gave me a welcome worthy of Jesus. And Devon, Irfan, and Laura, all of whom are in my BC stutterers support group were there and meeting them in person after meeting with them online every month for the past six years was epic.

The entire day was just as uplifting and moving. Rehan, eight years old, captured my soul right away. He was one of the performers, and he was there with his dad and grandparents. His dad also stutters. We mingled together once all the marks and mike levels were set. Then, just as things were about to get underway, Dianne arrived. I was thrilled.

The performance got underway with Devon and Aidan making introductions, and then Rehan did his bit. I was second on the program, and Devon made the most amazing introduction of me. Again, I felt like Jesus, she was so complimentary. I did fine. The parts I’d memorized rolled off my tongue without a single hitch, but when it came to the part when I spoke off the cuff in my real voice, it was I absolutely brutal. But that was the point.

Oliver followed me. He is a charmer with Down Syndrome. He is sixteen and adorable. And after him came Luke, the star performer who is also the warmest, most wonderful person imaginable. Remember, this day was the first time in my life I had been with anyone else who stutters. It was a sacred experience for me.

After the performances, we all enjoyed delicious food, donated from a stuttering man who owns a catering company, and assembled by Devon. I was in heaven. And then came a major highlight of the day. I found myself in discussion with handsome Sid, and there was a woman standing close by looking at us, so I introduced myself.

I regret that I cannot remember her name, but she took my email and said she would write, and I am certain that she will and then I’ll know her name. I have a feeling we are going to be great pen pals and that we will get together again. The magic happened between us because I noticed that when she stuttered, which was often, she had muscular contractions. I could see it, and so I told her I noticed them and that I had the same issue. It created a real bond between us.

Then it was time to go to John’s, and of course, more horrendous traffic because the bridge I used to get from the east side into downtown went right past BC Place where Bruno Mars was performing. It was insane downtown, but I managed to get back to John and Bunny’s by 20:00. They had saved some homemade pizza for me, and we had dessert together, and then I crashed into bed with Her Highness close. It had been a long and exhausting day.

I slept in until 6:00, when I got up, fed Her Highness, took her for a walk and then read until 7:30 when I heard John in the kitchen. We had a short visit, and then I left for the film studio. There was a huge crew of film makers and crew in the studio. I was first into makeup when the crew was close to finishing their set-up, and I was first filmed. It was smooth and easy, and I was out of there by 11:00.

I drove to a florist shop near John and Bunny’s and took a big bouquet to Bunny for all their kindness and then, joy of joys, I drove to John Lawson Park to walk Sheba and to meet Leslie and her dog, Gigi.

Leslie has been MIA for a long, long time. We were extremely close friends for decades, but the last several years, I have barely heard from her, so I was thrilled to get a chance to see her. I was shocked to see how much difficulty she had moving around. She thinks her hip is out and so she promised to get to a doctor. She is so busy helping her Dad and her bosom buddy Libby who lost her husband a few years ago, (her dad died ten days ago at age 102), that she doesn’t look after herself.

When it came time to part, I said, “I’m sure you’ve heard this before, Les, but you have to start treating yourself as well and as caringly as you care for others.” And she teared up. I told her how much I loved her and then said good-bye. I cried as I headed up the hill to the highway to Horseshoe Bay. I reckon we’ll be closer again. I am going to keep in touch because I felt her love of me still lives. Oh, the joy of knowing that!

Once in the ferry line at Horseshoe Bay, I started to get excited about getting home. Sheba had spent so much time alone in the car, I wanted her to get back to our bed and the yard. As soon as we arrived in Nanaimo, I beetled it to the Gabriola ferry terminal. Once parked in line, I had half an hour to skedaddle to Thrifty Foods to get some groceries that I love getting there.

Then we were home. I was so happy! The cats were all over me as I lit a roaring fire to warm up the cool house. Then I settled onto the chaise to watch some television before going to bed early. Oh, the joy!!

I am thrilled that I went to the city and performed and did the filming. I am proud of what I did and over the moon about being with my fellow wonderful stutterers. We are family. It’s an extraordinary community. I am blessed to be part of SPACE.

Today will be a joyous day. I have nothing at all on my plate. It’s a day to relax all day and revel in the memories of the weekend.