It was a chilly morning just a few weeks before Thanksgiving, 2004. We were standing at the ticket counter at our local metropolitan airport. There was no one beside, or behind us. My son was a junior in high school. He was flying to Washington, D.C. for a leadership conference being held in our nation’s …
Continue reading "“Love Is Not a Feeling…Love Is Action” (Part II)"
It was painful trying to lie still after moving around, but equally painful to move around after lying still. I was living my life in a paradox. My body was screaming for help and my brain didn’t seem to be firing on all cylinders. Where was a flux capacitor when you needed one? I couldn’t …
INTERVIEW WITH A JRA WARRIOR Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis ~ A type of arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for more than six weeks in children aged sixteen years or younger. It affects approximately 50,000 in the United States alone. I have been looking forward to introducing sweet Emily! She is my niece and is …
“I Can Hardly “Weight” Part I” was posted on Friday, July 20. Although Part II was written to stand alone, it would be in your best interest to read Part I first. Thank you for reading my blog! ******* I heard the door handle turn so I suddenly opened my eyes. I actually forgot …
Several years ago, my sister Cindy had experienced unexplained pain throughout her body. She finally sought medical attention for her unfortunate situation. Her doctor mentioned losing a few pounds and stretching to remedy her unusual, intense pain. She was 121 pounds at the time. She said that her jaw dropped to the floor when he …
Who doesn’t love a great roller coaster ride? I understand they are not for everyone, but I love them! It’s been awhile, but I would hop on one in a second if I could, even at the tender, young age of fifty. (Haha!) The adrenaline rush I get is exhilarating! The more twists, turns, dips, …
My alternate universe made me feel as though I was living inside a glass bubble. My real, and very normal life was just out of reach on the outside of this crystal clear glass. My new reality, on the other hand, is now taking place inside my bubble. I felt as though my forehead was …
God has so intricately designed the human body for everything to cohesively work together. We are all so beautifully and wonderfully made. When one thing is amiss, it could potentially wreak havoc beyond belief, as in my mysterious case. My symptoms began with no warning and quickly created a vicious domino effect inside of my body. …
My husband, son, and I boarded a plane and flew to the port city of New Orleans in 2003. The following morning, we would all board a cruise ship and head to Cozumel, Mexico. We were made aware of a tropical depression forming south of the Gulf of Mexico. Our captain made an earnest attempt …
Continue reading "“Love Is Not a Feeling…Love Is Action!” (Part I)"
It was 4:00 a.m., well before my clock was set to alarm. I instantly woke from a dead sleep to fully awake. I thought I was having a bad dream! I sat straight up holding both of my hands in front of my eyes, just like what you’d imagine happening in the movies. The room …
It was Monday, June 6, 2016, just a few days before my anticipated vacation. I would meet, and work with my new district manager for the first three days of the week. I literally just met the man, shook his hand, exchanged a few niceties, and advised him of my impending departure just a few days …
This chain of events, and how they unfold, convey my story as a weird, twisted fairy tale. I wouldn’t believe it for a moment if I had not been cast as the main character. I had a “stranger” knocking at my proverbial front door. This stranger was persistent and I really had no choice. It …
I was editing my next article when suddenly, some new thoughts emerged. I felt a nudge to change course and write this one instead. I know many people are dealing with their own personal battles. There is no one, including loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and even the strangers we pass by on a daily basis, …
It was June 11, 2016, and after driving west across the United States of America, minus California, it was time to change direction and head south instead. We left Sedona, and about 300 miles later, after zipping through Phoenix and Tucson, we were in Sierra Vista, Arizona. This is a small city in Cochise County …
Brrr...There’s nothing as exhilarating as a brisk desert morning at sunrise! I was excited to face a new day on our awesome adventure. The sun was warm on my face, but the cool air all but chilled me to the bone! I'm not sure if it's the water in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, or if …
Continue reading "Road Trip Part II…The Calm Before My Storm"
It was Wednesday, June 8, 2016, and I was exactly nine days away from my world being turned on its head. I would be entering uncharted territory, but between now and then, I would have a blast! I worked all day, but our bags were already packed and ready to go. My husband was at …
My doorbell rang this morning as I was having coffee and writing my next post. My heart skipped in excitement as I already knew what it was...a box housing a nicely packaged styrofoam ice chest with three cold packs and bubble wrap all around my medication! This medication, that momentarily sat on my front porch, …
I knew something was wrong. I know my body and something didn’t feel right. “Maybe it’s just the road trip,” I told my husband and son. Living in South Carolina, we had just arrived home from Arizona. Maybe being in the car caused my feet and ankles to swell horribly. They also felt like they …
I was recently (formally) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I felt that writing about it would be a great coping mechanism for me. Many events have transpired to get me to this point, so if you feel like you’re in a boat all by yourself, this blog may make you feel otherwise. I’m here to try …
My Alternate Universe 