Stay in the Arena
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives...
He Gets It
The idea was born on Christmas Eve 2016. I was leaving our church service with a beloved caregiver when Pastor Bill came over to say hello. After giving me a big hug, he said: "Hey Lorraine, next year I want you to do one of the readings for the service. Remind me."...
I Wouldn’t Change It for the World, But…
“People with disabilities have been in the shadows for far too long,” Amy Wright said as she was accepting the award for being CNN’s 2017 hero of the year. “But no more!” In my book, Amy Wright is truly a hero in every sense of the word. She and her husband Ben have...
Hold the Phone
Even though I know it wasn't intentional, the situation freaked me out. During her second shift, after we had gotten me into bed, a new caregiver went to get my phone from my office so that I could have it beside me during the night. In the process, she dropped it in...
What Gives?
This time of year is always one of the most reflective for me. Having spent a few weeks before Thanksgiving thinking about all the things I am grateful for, I spend the beginning of December watching the world prepare for Christmas. Just like when I was their age, the...
Spring will come
When I went to Home Depot several years back and bought the peach tree that is now planted in my front yard, I was told that it would take many years before that tree would produce edible peaches. I didn't care. I've enjoyed watching it grow, and I know that...
Radical Gratitude
In the last few weeks, it seems like several bad days have attacked me all at once. I am once again incredibly shorthanded in terms of caregivers, and for various reasons, some other issues have become intense for me. All of it has been hard. And, when bad stuff...
Life Goes On
The show was groundbreaking for its time. Life Goes On premiered on September 12th, 1989 and lasted four seasons, with the last show airing on May 23rd, 1993. The story was about the life of a typical family. What set the show apart was that Corky, the oldest son, had...
Welcome to my World
To the parents of the child just diagnosed: Hi, I am Lorraine. These days I am a writer, blogger, and die-hard Astro's fan. Over the years I have perfected my chili recipe and I like to make cinnamon glazed almonds at Christmas. My friends are scattered all over the...
Remember the Progress
It was a practice that was living up to its name because I certainly wasn't improving. That day on the track I couldn't make anything work. My body was just not in synch with my chair. The wind was almost blowing me backward and I was having trouble staying in my...