When I was a kid, I used to enjoy reading comic books. One
of my favorites was Dennis the Menace. The TV
show was cute too (running from 1959-1963). Here’s a sample of the show:
Personally, I liked the comics better. Many years later, a full-length movie came out, starring Walter Matthau, Mason Gamble, Christopher Lloyd, Joan Plowright, and Lea Thompson.
Anyway, that kid was mischievous. He sure knew how to stir
up trouble, but his antics were funny. (OK, Dennis’ shenanigans may not have
been so comical to his parents or to the folks next door.) Dennis the Menace
may have wreaked havoc on the neighbors (as well as his own parents), but he
wasn’t really such a menace – at least, not in a malevolent way. Not in the
more literal sense of the word.
What does menacing
mean?
Dictionaries define it as aggressive, alarming, bullying, imperiling,
intimidatory, looming, ominous, potentially dangerous, sinister, threatening,
and unsafe.
The word “menacing” comes from the Latin word “minaccia,” which
point to a threat or a sharp point that projects outward. A true menace is
mean-spirited, acting from evil intent with the purpose of causing ill effects
or damage.
How does this apply
to multiple sclerosis?
Look at an MSer’s MRI brain scan. See all those eerie white
patches? Maybe the whole thing looks like an inkblot test. The pattern may
resemble all kinds of things:
- an angry face
- a banged-up bruise
- a brewing storm
- a creepy creature
- a drawing with blurred lines
- an erupting volcano
- a hairy bug
- a raging sea
- a sloppy spill
- a tangled web
- or: _____________________.
Whatever those white spots (or blotches) on the MSer’s brain MRI look
like, doctors call them “lesions.” That’s just another word for “scars.” In the MS warrior, lesions are battle
scars. And they appear enraged. Maybe even scary – especially when contrast dye
is used during the scanning.
On our best days, we might look past all this. But when the
more miserable MS days come around, we totally get it.
MS is menacing. And it's not the cute kind.
The MS MonSter lurks, even when he doesn’t strike. We know
he is there, creeping around in the background, even if he knows a cure is
coming.
Image/s:
April A to Z Challenge 2016 logo – fair
use
Adapted from public domain artwork
Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. You are
invited to join the Kicking
MS to the Curb page on Facebook and the Making the
Most of MS board on Pinterest as well.
Wow such detailed explanation and positive message. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from #AtoZ
Drop in at www.consumerpsyche.com
Good enlightenment on menace. :)
ReplyDeleteVisitor from A-Z here. Do drop into www.malavikka.blogspot.in
I love dennis the menace and I am as naughty too.
ReplyDeleteKids are naughty and menace is a harsh word but if we intervene in time it can turn out to be useful and creative.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the detailed explanation and sharing the information.
ReplyDeleteMy M post is up http://atcad.blogspot.com/2016/04/monster-atozchallenge.html
Praying for that cure!
ReplyDelete