by Sarah | Apr 18, 2013 | A to Z Challenge, All About Family
Most everyone knows that April is Autism awareness month. You can’t go anywhere in social media without reading the articles, blog posts, and seeing the imagery. I wholeheartedly support the Autism support, as our Molly has a mild form.
But did you know that April is also Parkinson’s Awareness Month?
Don’t know what Parkinson’s is? Well, in pop culture reference, it’s the disease Michael J. Fox has.
Because I excel at layman’s terms, here is what Parkinson’s is…
It’s a progressive disease that involves the malfunction and death of vital nerves (neurons) in the brain. It affects the brains ability to produce dopamine…and dopamine is vital to controlling movement and coordination.
Primary signs of PD are:
- Tremors – in the hands, face, and legs
- Postural Instability – imbalance, lack of coordination
- Rigidity
- Slowness of movement (Bradykinesia)
Right now there is no cure. The treatments and medicine can be as difficult to bear as the disease.
My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s eight years ago.
It went from being “that illness Michael J. Fox has” to a very real and prominent part of my world.
I hate the disease.
I hate how little we know about the brain.
I hate that they still aren’t 100% sure what causes it. If it’s genetic, or the cause is external.
I don’t like living in a world without answers.
Answers are my life-blood.
Not knowing sucks.
So please, take a moment and head over to the PDF website. Learn about Parkinson’s. If you can spare a few dollars, donate to support research and help them find the answers that are still so lacking.
*~*~*
The A-Z Challenge has over 1900 participants, all blogging from A to Z this month. Check them out and see if you can’t find a few new favorites!!
by Sarah | Apr 17, 2013 | A to Z Challenge, All About Me, Random
I’m not sure how it started.
It’s not like I ever paid it any mind before.
Then a few years ago I latched onto orange.
It became my new favorite color.
My purse.
Clothes (some, I’m not obnoxious).
Pens and pencils.
The accent color in my living room.
Even my phone cover.
It’s all orange.
Suddenly Orange became my favorite color.
(Just don’t tell purple, k? we’re still carrying on an affair)
*~*~*
The A-Z Challenge has over 1900 participants, all blogging from A to Z this month. Check them out and see if you can’t find a few new favorites!!
by Sarah | Apr 16, 2013 | A to Z Challenge, All About Denver, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us
He started it.
Growing up he had many cute saying, turns of phrases.
“I don’t like your shirt.” When he was mad (because he wasn’t allowed to say he didn’t like a person.)
“Fizzers” for feathers…because, of course.
But by far the favorite.
The one he no longer says, even if we do…
An expression of love.
More than “I love you.”
More than “I love you forever.”
No, he took it all the way.
“I love you forever and never be done.”
Never be done.
He doesn’t say it that way anymore.
Rolls his eyes if we say it.
But Molly says it now.
And I hope she keeps saying it for a long time.
Because we will never be done loving any of the three of them.
*~*~*
The A-Z Challenge has over 1900 participants, all blogging from A to Z this month. Check them out and see if you can’t find a few new favorites!!
by Sarah | Apr 15, 2013 | A to Z Challenge, All About Me, Story of Me
*For the record that’s me WAY over on the left.
The mind is a crazy place some times.
It plays tricks on you.
The things you remember versus the things you don’t.
Like I remember those shirts.
I only vaguely remember that fence.
And the names of our friends at the magical land we called the cottage (Where this was taken, near our cottage in Canada)? I remember only one, because I’m friends with her on facebook, and she’s the one that took this picture.
Yet I cling to that place.
To the neighbor that kept pepperoni sticks in her fridge (snack sized that we swiped all the time), and games in the loft of her cottage. We’d sled down the hill of her cottage in winter, and roll down ours with our giant innertube in the summer.
The boat lifts that littered the water.
The day my aunt shoved my head underwater and made it so I was no longer afraid to swim under the water.
Hours out on our boat.
Playing Star Wars with our friends.
Croquet on the lawn.
Watching Sesame Street in French.
Hovering under blankets and umbrellas while dad and my uncle set off fireworks in a rainstorm.
I remember great joy.
Times of laughter.
Times of youth.
Youth that passed by too fast.
The memories have holes.
But the spirit of joy does not.
*~*~*
The A-Z Challenge has over 1900 participants, all blogging from A to Z this month. Check them out and see if you can’t find a few new favorites!!
by Sarah | Apr 13, 2013 | A to Z Challenge, All About Me, Story of Me
Once upon a time, around 1999, I was a single mother.
Living with my parents in Maryland.
Maryland, where I was just a few short hours from New York City.
From Broadway.
So every chance I had.
Even when my parents didn’t know.
I went.
*
One weekend they packed up my son to go camping.
All weekend long.
I stayed behind.
And packed myself and a friend up.
And went to the city.
I saw a matinee of Cats.
I hung around with friends.
Had dinner.
Went back to the car to take my friends and myself home.
In a super expensive parking garage I got my car.
Drove it to the exit to meet my friends.
Opened the trunk.
We dumped our stuff in.
Slammed it shut.
*
Two minutes I climbed into the driver’s seat.
No keys.
10PM at night.
In NYC.
In a parking garage.
I locked my keys in the trunk.
*
Parking garage employee called a “locksmith.”
One with skillz.
Capability.
Know-how.
Or not.
Couldn’t open the trunk.
Had to rip out the lock.
Brutishly.
I got my keys.
The man with the skillz taped the trunk shut.
I drove home.
*
The story I gave was similar, but didn’t take place in NYC.
But Baltimore.
Had my lock replaced so my car wasn’t duct-taped shut.
My parents never knew the true story.
And I never locked my keys in the trunk again.
*~*~*
The A-Z Challenge has over 1900 participants, all blogging from A to Z this month. Check them out and see if you can’t find a few new favorites!!
by Sarah | Apr 12, 2013 | A to Z Challenge, All About Me
I tried it when I was young.
Failed rather spectacularly.
I took up crochet instead.
It was, and is, easier…but my relationship with it ebbed and flowed.
Then.
Several years ago I determined to pick up the dual needles again.
This time I succeeded.
Knitting is now a beloved pastime.
It’s soothing (well, until I screw up).
And I’m finally knitting for myself (all my first projects were for others).
Most everyone knows that April is Autism awareness month. You can’t go anywhere in social media without reading the articles, blog posts, and seeing the imagery. I wholeheartedly support the Autism support, as our Molly has a mild form.
