Stroke, Stroke.

October 2008, Just visiting

Brian has been in San Francisco all week, I’ve been living alone (with the grrls) knowing that IF something goes wrong, well, I’m on my own. I keep my cell phone in my pocket. There’s only so much Lucy can do. She’s limited. Sitting on me can only help SO much. Don’t get me wrong, even if I die tonight, I am only grateful. Shoot, B took me to Hawaii! I saw Obama inaugurated. Karen asked me what my third wish was . . .

When I was in the hospital, even though everyone was very kind. I felt imprisoned. Now I just feel alone. These little feelings of numb dizziness come and go, but when they start I get a little freaked, thinking this is IT. Then they go away and I can pretend I am normal. I’ve been doing THAT pretending since before puberty, so I am well practiced, an expert. This time I even have a sticker for the cars and a cane when I need it. But this time, like at the beginning, I am alone. If I talk about it I scare people. So I don’t. Brian and Karen and YOU are scared enough already. Shut up!

I just want the 20 more years the statisticians quoted me. I want to chase Lucy around the yard, to garden, to laugh like I used to, to stop crying like a baby but I’ll take a dizzy less day. Heck, I’ll take the day.

So, I have two months and 2 days more to get “normal”. Some people think 6 months will be as good as it gets. Some feel a year long recovery is possible. Me? I am going for the long shot.

Wouldn’t you?

- - - David

We're BACK!

All the comforts of home

I kept saying, in my head, “ Please Gods, let me just make it to Hawaii and back, just let me see Obama sworn in”

Now I kick myself for not making a third wish.

Maybe there’s still time.

- - - David

Our STAY in Oahu

What would Obama do?

So it's a little windy! SO they've closed the government, the education system AND the catholic Schools. SO they've closed the pools AND the beaches? I still want to go swimming!

How often does a guy from MICHIGAN get to go SWIMMING in the middle of January?
NOT VERY OFTEN

I guess I settle for a coffee and an old newspaper. Really . . . I'll just look.

We may be stuck here for awhile?

- - - David

Greetings from Waikiki

Surf boards next to the Honolulu's Moana Surfrider Hotel on Waikiki Beach

Saturday we left Sophie at the Reye's, the coats in the car and prayed that the plane would take off. Outside it was COLD and it was SNOWING, (so, believe us, the catholic guilt is alive and well). We made it to our seats and jesusmaryjoseph we took off! Let's just say the ride from Detroit through SFO to HI takess long time.

Saturday night we were just like a couple of frozen Michiganders in paradise, the full moon helped. The lobby and grounds of the Moana Surfrider are beautiful. Think Mackinaw Island's Grand Hotel hedged in by skyscrapers on the beach of Waikiki (got it?)

Sunday, we hit Waikiki beach and then headed off to the Windward Coast on H1, (an inter-state [?] highway!?!). Very beautiful, old volcanic mountains covered in odd greenery, a tunnel, then . . . more ocean! We found our way into a cemetery and the Valley of the Temples. The Byodo-In Temple is an immense SCALED DOWN version of a Japanese Buddhist Temple complete with a huge Buddah statue, all backed by a few Oahu mountains. Amazing.

From there it was back in the Mustang (we only rent American!),down to the southern coast, Hanauma Bay (lots of STAIRS!), the beach from From Here To Eternity, Diamond Head, ( B calls it Black Diamond), and home to Waikiki.

Monday we drove to the infamous North Coast, the historic town of Haleiwa, the surf at The Banzai Pipeline, (cowabunga!), back down to Kualoa Point, back up to Malaekahana Beach (great little rental huts), an Epi-Pen worthy lunch a Giovanni's shrimp truck, then back to 99, a brief out of body experience, H2 to H1 and home to Waikiki.

Tuesday, Brian had to get some client work done. I tried to stay out of trouble at the Sheraton, straying little and watching the workers renovating the hotel. Today I may venture to the pool, I may venture out for a pineapple laden hamburger, but my heart and soul will stay in the verdant hills of O'ahu.


- - - David

See you soon

If the snow doesn’t fall too hard, if the planes take off, if the dogs find shelter, so many ifs . . .

Gods willing, we’ll be gone, in Oahu, from Saturday, January 10th to Saturday, January 17th.

We will try to access the blogger blog and throw an update at you from the trip, gods willing.

- - - David

49 Down, 1 To Go

Ah . . . laska, #49

June, 2006, On the shores of Sadie Cove on The Kenai Peninsula (near Homer)

Today I walked the slushy, snowy streets of Ann Arbor. I was without walker, I was without cane, I wobbled but I went. The only thing that Dr. Bennett, the optometrist, called out was a little less acuity, vision wise, but I knew that even BEFORE the stroke. I need new glasses. Not “Don’t drive!” Not “ Oh, that’s to be expected with a stroke.” Nothing. I felt almost normal. As if we were celebrating, we bought a new pair of glasses AND new contacts AND had lunch at Zingerman's Roadhouse. Ah Life!

Then I thought, “Oh gods, let this continue long enough to get me to Hawaii. (jinx, jinx)”

Home alone, normalcy, t.v., desk, computer, facebook, hours. Then I felt a swoon. I never knew what a swoon was before. But I felt one.

Dizzier than I ever felt before, I was immobilized with fear. And I was immobilized with immobilization. Reaching for the phone for help, it rang. As if by secret twin powers, it was Brian. “Call me back. Give me a minute,” I said. Then it passed.

Was it the great spirit saying “I’m in Charge. Not you. This good stuff can end ANY time. Didn’t you get the message the first time?”

I am perfectly fine now. Reading away. Walking like nobody’s business. Packing.

Which brings us to Saturday. Lift off. (jinx, jinx) Our trip to Hawaii and my question.

When the plane lands in Oahu, my 50th state, will the band play? Will the fat lady sing? Will the Grim Reaper be waiting for me, pointing his bony finger at a hole in the sandy soil? Nooooooo!

I’m not finished.

After I hit my 50th state I have every intention of visiting ALL the countries too. I’ve ONLY been to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Switzerland, France and Spain. According to WorldAtlas.com there are 193 countries to visit PLUS Kosovo (disclaimer), Palestine, Greenland and Western Sahara AND a lot of Dependencies and Territories TOO! I’ve only been to 7!

7 down, LOTS to go.

- - - David

Found

I once was lost but now I'm found.

There was a time I was a little too addicted to this website. They post something strange everyday. A polaroid of an odd couple, an eerie shopping list, a note written by a kid being bullied . . . anything is possible, all of it is found, most of it takes me by surprise. http://www.foundmagazine.com/

It all started years ago, with a note found on a windshield in Chicago. http://www.foundmagazine.com/about . This evolved into a magazine. Then another, talk radio (NPR among them), tours, a website, international fans; much followed.

Fame. Not too bad for a couple of kids with a fixation for the odd? Now the staff is HUGE.

Oh, and my friend Ginny knows one of the founders, Davy Rothbart, (from Ann Arbor).

Oh, and on Saturday I was found (above).

When the addiction was at it’s zenith, before facebook, a little over 2 years ago, we were renovating the kitchen. One day I tore down a wall that exposed the area under the stairs. It was odd, It was an eerily empty space. Hobie the cat and I immediately explored. There was a lot of dust, a few small kids toys and this strange piece of paper.

I read it and put it with the rest of the small objects we had found around the house. OK, I had found around the house. I keep most everything. There is a fine line separating me from that and an apartment stuffed full of newspapers and cockroaches. Finders Keepers is a comforting mantra to me. A piece of paper with a typewritten message is a FIND. I’m someone who thinks a dirty old miniature dog is a treasure, after all. I kept it. Then on a whim I sent a photo of it to Found™. Saturday, almost 2 years after I sent it in, it was published. I didn’t know until I got a Google Alert.

“Squeeze my cheeks and I’ll give you a kiss.”

or follow you anywhere.

ask Brian.

- - - David

Driving, (me crazy?)

Marcy wrote at 11:37 am (on facebook)

“Sandy is driving too...driving me crazy! :)”

lmao

Today, I drove. This is a major moment. This should be a historical red letter day . . . everybody, holiday, NO working! Drinks are on us!

I still walk and talk like I’ve been spending a little time (and a little money) at the bar at Cub’s, but there I was behind the wheel, and I was doing OKay.

I started safely, in an empty parking lot, but it wasn’t long before I headed out to the mean streets of Adrian. There was traffic, the normal running of the stop signs, the normal pick-ups going 20 over, even the normal pulling out into traffic, ahh, life, I love the smell of danger in the morning.

I even pulled onto Adrian’s equivalent of the Indy 500 . . . U.S. 123. Brilliance. Whoever chose the name 1 - 2 - 3 gets a prize, great numbers. Better yet, Brian gets a prize for having the nerve to sit in the passenger seat. The dogs? No prize, they’d drive with anyone.

For those shaking their heads and thinking, “what’s the big woof, we drive every day”, I say : try sitting in the house or better yet the hospital, too, for 3 months (oh, and throw in some pureed food, some tubes AND then quit smoking.)

How many of us remember learning how to walk and talk? I try to keep the same attitude as a toddler, “So, I’m a little wobbly, I’m getting there!” Walk slowly, smile broadly, cry often, don’t pay attention to people who are watching, these are good guidelines when you are toddling . . . kids do this automatically, they have the right idea, I give them credit. You will notice that few toddlers carry hot cups of coffee, there’s a good reason for this.

Now I am to driving again. This one I remember. So, we could have a few fender benders, I’ll be careful, (isn’t that what the kids say?)

- - - David