By Bonnie Lynn Ellison

May is a good time to reflect on myself, and what my younger self would be proud of. When I was young, I thought life was a rodeo! I competed in the National Little Britches Rodeo from 8 to 18 years old, and was proud of my ribbons, buckles, and trophies! I learned, if you got thrown off, you got back on the horse!

When I was young, I also played my guitar and sang in talent shows, from 7th grade through high school. In college, I performed with the FAB Company. We toured nationally in the early 1970’s, recorded four albums, and were contracted with the major international talent agency, William Morris. I’m proud that we wrote our own original music, songs, and comedy. We did concerts! I thought I was Taylor Swift!

I fell in love, got married, and two years later, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I was 25. It affected me like a stroke, on the right side of my body. I had never heard of this disease, so it was like an old rodeo injury to me. It took about three years to recover enough to write, sing, and perform again. And there were no assurances that it wouldn’t return. I had always been athletic and healthy. It was shocking for me, and a struggle.