My summer as the ALS bag lady taught me how to ask for help

My summer as the ALS bag lady taught me how to ask for help

For the first few years after I was diagnosed with ALS, I followed a daily routine of walking laps in the shallow end of our neighborhood outdoor pool. I soon became friends with a group of women who used the pool at the same time as me. I’ll always remember the summer they taught me a lesson in generosity. However, that lesson came with a caveat: that I always need to be specific when asking someone for their help. Here’s a quick story of how t…