The Girl With Arthritis

Arthur's personal list of the things he hates. This tends to double for Elizabeth, who has to put up with    Arthur when he's upset. 1. The cold. Whenever it's cold, Arthur refuses to move. Which means stiffness and pain for Elizabeth. 2. High heeled shoes. Maybe they're okay for some people, but Arthur does not enjoy nice shoes. Instead, he makes Elizabeth miserable until they're off. 3. Driving. Arthur prefers to be a passenger, otherwise he becomes very painful. 4. Running. Arthur hates the impact, Elizabeth hates that her limp is a million times worse when she runs. 5. Long days. Even if there is relaxation time, Arthur can't handle long days well and he becomes very painful. But he's going to have to learn to deal with it: Elizabeth's a very busy person. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. He hates lots of things and tries to keep Elizabeth from a lot of things. But she doesn't let him: the only thing that hold...

A lot of people automatically call me Liz when they first hear my name. It's unfortunate for me, because I'm not too fond of the nickname. I prefer Elizabeth, that's just who I am. While I don't really correct friends anymore, I do introduce myself as Elizabeth and will correct them gently ("So Liz..." "Elizabeth, please."). And I do make a point to call another by the name they insist they like being called: I will never assume that Oliver prefers Ollie or that Grace doesn't enjoy her nickname. I'm not the type to really make assumptions. I don't assume everyone is healthy, but unfortunately a lot of people do. Someone once yelled at me for sitting on a train when there was clearly a disabled person in need of a seat: Himself (It was not visibly obvious he was handicap). I had put in a full day of stairs, walking and even running to catch a train and I was obviously exhausted. I'm quite aware he picked on me just because I'm yo...

In the photograph I keep beside my bed the youthful face looks back at me, her rosy lips and blue eyes. I can only imagine her hair was beautifully soft in gentle, blonde ringlets. Despite the gentle, lavender dress she donned, she wore a nervous ridgedness and stern face. She was probably the strongest woman I've ever known, with a life as geniune as she was. The legend of this great woman lives, not through the names of the daughters and sons, but in her own right. She is my hero. I'm proud to wear her name, and I only hope I can give her name the great justice it deserves. Everyday I miss her, but today I especially miss my beloved grandmother. My Gram. My grandmother often comes to visit, and she'll leave in a day or two, but my Gram never leaves for she is always in my heart.

I think the title tells you what is on my mind. I don't like being called Liz at all. It started when I was 10 and just hasn't stopped. 'Liz' is a name I associate with fiesty, sassy. That sort of thing. I am not a Liz, I am an Elizabeth: It's girly, soft and just me. It's what I like best. My friends call me Liz, but sometimes they switch off and call me Elizabeth. We call Elizabeth the magic word becasue I get happy when they call me that. My mum calls me Elizabeth. My family calls me Liz. They didn't before I was ten and heard my friends call me Liz. Now they only know that as my name. I hate it. What am I supposed to say? Elizabeth Facts: *There is a book all about a girl who doesn't like her nick name, only her real name Elizabeth. *Elizabeth Taylor turns in her grave everytime she is called Liz Taylor: She only liked Elizabeth too. *No one ever dared call the Queen of England 'Queen Lizzy' or something. *Most girls I know with th...