Life has abruptly changed for all of us around this country and the entire world. We all live with a common uncertainty causing most people to fear for their health. Disinfectant, hand sanitizer, gloves, and face masks are now staples for most everyone, yet all of these have been part of my normal arsenal long before the novel Coronavirus. I am a chronically ill person … Continue reading Remember Us & Let Us Help
You hate drama. Meanness and pettiness make you uncomfortable, and you put a lot of distance between yourself and those qualities. It takes real strength in character to make a statement by not participating and walking away from drama. It’s because you are genuine and choose to surround yourself with genuine people. You know the girls who talk about others, but you are smart enough … Continue reading Dear Daughter – Never Let Anyone or Anything Define Your Worth
It is common to see ribbons and wristbands of every color symbolizing various health initiatives. September serves as the cancer awareness month for childhood cancer, ovarian and prostate cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. The month is also dedicated to Sickle Cell Awareness Month and Traumatic Brain Injury Month just to name a few. With October just around the corner, there will be another list including … Continue reading Pain is a Common Thread
Last night I came upon a man trying to jump off a bridge into oncoming interstate traffic. The man lit a cigarette, threw his leg over the railing, and stood on the wrong side of the bridge. I gasped when I realized what was happening. I gasped again when I realized nobody else was stopping. ‘Why is nobody stopping?! Stop the car!’ My 15yo student … Continue reading A Reminder That Miracles Do Happen
I am very close to both of my daughters. They are amazing human beings! Having them 10 years apart has given me special time with both individually. My relationship with each of them is very different even beyond age related differences. Circumstance has forged my relationship with them as individuals. For many years it was just my oldest daughter and myself. We were it – … Continue reading Two Peas in a Pod
About a month ago this sweet cat showed up at our door. It is the sweetest, most friendly cat who loves people, other cats and even dogs. It is obvious this cat was part of a family at some point. I have a feeling it showed up on our steps because we have animals, and it saw a bunch of suckers! We have been taking … Continue reading Crazy Cat Lady Status
I read a book in the late 80’s that I have been thinking about a lot recently. I remember reading it over one of my college breaks after a religion professor had mentioned it in class. The book is When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Harold Kushner. It was written after Rabbi Kushner’s son died of the degenerative disease, progeria. I remember … Continue reading Make Your Mess Your Message
Note to self: I know you do not feel so great right now – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Your body is a wreck, and this last surgery has done something inexplicable to you. You’re just not the same. You look in the mirror and you don’t recognize yourself. Many pounds heavier from all the medicines and inactivity, dark circles under your eyes from not sleeping, … Continue reading Where Do I Go From Here?
Three weeks ago today I had my fifth brain surgery. And it was a big one. Most people never have one let alone five. Not me, I’m a classic overachiever. Craniotomy…bone flap…plate…screws…the works (again). My neurosurgeon worked nearly five hours from the area around my brain stem all the way to the ocular region behind my left eye. This time has been much harder than … Continue reading Brain Surgery Number Five
The procedure discussed below has been cancelled. The future of this cannot be determined. My crazy neuro autoimmune disease is currently taking focus. Perhaps all of this will be revisited one day soon. The following information is CLASSIFIED: TOP SECRET Clearance Authorization Level 6. I was about 6 years old when The Bionic Woman hit the small screen. I was all about the secret … Continue reading The Bionic Woman
The tree is going to the curb along with my hopes and dreams. Continue reading 2018 Is Here…Along With Piles of Pine Needles
It’s been a long while since I’ve written. I go through these phases where I really just hate talking about myself, and what is going on in my life. However, this is important and deserves attention. September is Pain Awareness Month. There is so much under this umbrella that it’s overwhelming to begin listing very real, often misunderstood afflictions. When I began thinking about writing … Continue reading Be Your Own Best Advocate!
THIS ARTICLE IS EVERYTHING! I was recently in a situation where it was obvious that I was being judged by my appearance. Not in a too fat/too skinny kind of way (well, probably the fat one), but in a you look fine kind of way. Sure I am hypersensitive to the feeling, but I’ve also become very adept in spotting those who have these thoughts. Call … Continue reading So Much Effort
Throw a man in desperate need of a vacation, a crazy woman (that would be me), a 23 year old and her amazing boyfriend of 3 years, and a 13 year old into a Suburban for a 10+ hour road trip to Florida and you have a recipe for F.U.N. My stupid brain won’t allow me to fly, so I have really begun to embrace … Continue reading Lust for Life…the Beach Life
You know when you have something so hyped up in your mind that you begin to wonder if the reality will meet the expectation? I can say without a doubt that U2, once again, lived up to every expectation with the Joshua Tree tour! It’s taken me a while to put everything down because I was reeling from an amazing evening, and I needed some … Continue reading Every Expectation Met
Radical rest? WTH is that you ask? It’s what I have to do when a big activity is approaching. In this case it is EPIC so I am hunkering down with Netflix and a good book. So many people who have a lifelong illness have to conserve energy prior to most anything of great importance. We have to really plan because flying by the seat … Continue reading The Week of Radical Rest and Rock N Roll
I love Buzzfeed. So many great things come out of this place that make me laugh, listen, and take notice. Leave it to them to address much of what I go through every day of my life, and combine it with an alternative approach (classic Buzzfeed). If you are easily offended by things and don’t have an open mind let me just stop you right … Continue reading Buzzfeed for the Win
We are three weeks away from our U2 adventure! It’s going to take me that long to get prepared. The place we’re staying is booked, the tickets are purchased, and all three of us are counting down the days. I’m not one of those high-maintenance people who must have bags of clothes and shoes for a weekend adventure. I just have to pack my bag … Continue reading Let the Games Begin
So one day this disabled woman, a gay sailor, and a young scientist hop into a car… No, it is not the opening to one of your father’s awful jokes – this shit is so real. I’m Sally, the disabled person in this scenario. You would have a diffult time trying to figure out my issues – that is if I had normal hair and … Continue reading Over Thirty Years and Two Generations with U2
Last night I received an email asking what I do to help with my ability to function daily. It was a great question, and I can say that it’s been something I’ve had to toy around with to get the right mixture. Medicines do not work for me really because I’m such a weird and rare case. I am not able to pop a migraine … Continue reading Daily Care
