Last night my husband and I attended a concert called One City One Symphony at Cincinnati Music Hall. For the past several years the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has chosen one concert a year to facilitate community conversation around a theme. This year’s theme? Speaking truth to power. I sat in the balcony of the beautifully refurbished Grand Dame of music halls, immersed in powerful music … [Read more...]
When Disability Reveals the Depths of My Dependence
This year, I cooked Thanksgiving dinner in a wheelchair. Not to raise funds for my favorite disability organization. Not as a show of solidarity with my friends who get around in wheelchairs. Not in memory of my father, who used a wheelchair to get around for 38 years. No, I cooked Thanksgiving dinner in a wheelchair because I'm clumsy. So clumsy that I fell getting out of the car, … [Read more...]
Thankful for Helping Hands
A very full day and evening with Joey ended with a nice ride home and a very cooperative time getting him changed and into bed. He flopped into bed like one of his Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls! And so did I! I couldn’t have “done” that day alone. I had helpers. And as I look in the rearview mirror of his 36 years, I again realize we’ve had many wonderful people in his life helping him and us … [Read more...]
Integrity – all the parts working together
I’ve worn glasses since the age of 9, and have lost them a few times, and suffered. I have strong fears of not being able to see. They keep me away from things like rock climbing (what if they fell into a crack?) and watersports (what if they fell into the water??). My commitment to seeing as clearly as possible is very strong. I’ve also had difficulty getting my eyes to work together, so I’ve … [Read more...]
Not My Will, But God’s Will: 2 Ways to Keep You Focusing on God’s Will
How many of you feel weary because you are doing it all? You are driving all the kids to their activities and in total of charge of your child or children with disabilities? YOU are the one who is their nurse. YOU are the one who is their behavior therapist trying to minimize the meltdowns. YOU are the one who is their speech therapist helping them to speak. YOU are the one who is their … [Read more...]
“Can You Hear Me Now?”
“Can you hear me now?” In one simple phrase, Verizon highlighted and brought humor to a common frustration that befell many cell phone users. We’ve all been there…talking away and eventually finding the line to be dead when we pause. This leaves us wondering how long we have been talking to ourselves and at what point to resume the conversation when we finally reconnect. Or perhaps you have been … [Read more...]