You are very fortunate! I happen to be an authority on vanity! Oh my vanity, I miss it, I'm actually kind of proud of how vain I was...which is a testament to how handsome and goodlooking I was before this disease.

I remember as a young man spending 45 minutes just making sure my hair was "just right" (the ladies liked it that way...honest) before going out in public. I was/am very picky on how I dress and my appearance and take pride on being well spoken.

Throughout my adult life, I used my looks and my ability to speak to my advantage. Women, career etc...I would always get what I wanted because I knew what to ask and how to ask for it with not just the words I chose, but the tone and influctions I used when I spoke. I was a very good salesman and public speaker and used it to my full advantage. Still do.

Now, I can relate to your fears, they were mine. In fact for me, my worst nightmare happened...I literally lost half of my face, half of my tongue and my speech was severely affected along with my handsome face. I remember after realizing that the paralyzed side of my face would never be what it had been or that my speech would be the same. I remember when I accepted that I would never be able to do my old job (General Managing several hotels) as my employers felt I would no longer be a good fit...it's tough when you're the "face" of an organization and you lose your face.

Forward to today...I'm still vain. I'm still dashingly handsome too My speech isn't what it was, but it has an effect when I talk like I could never think of achieving before. Even though it's hard to talk and I can be difficult to understand at times. My biggest issue anymore is the fact that I get too tired when I speak for long periods of time, as a result I choose when I speak more carefully and make sure what I say is what matters, not how I sound.

Living is the blessing. I don't care what I look like anymore (still dress to kill and make sure my hair is great though) as long as I'm alive to hear my children laughing, my wife telling me I'm a jack*** and my friends telling me to stop being a d***.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for what they are worth.

Keep your chin up!

Eric