As I write this, it's 7:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, and I've been awake for hours. The stockings are filled, there's fresh snow on the ground, and I've already had a few cups of coffee. I'm trying to be quiet, but not too quiet because I want my husband to get up. Did I mention … Continue reading This Christmas
When I was a kid, every year my dad lined up with tens of other hard-core parents on a predetermined morning sometime in November. The mission? Get tickets for a beloved event: the Breakfast with Santa that took place on the top floor of the downtown Eaton's in Victoria, British Columbia. For much of my … Continue reading Breakfast with Santa
My husband and I originally planned to put up our Christmas tree today, the first Saturday of the month. Last Friday, though, it occurred to me that the first weekend of December falls awfully late this year. (This realization may or may not have been linked to the abundance of tree-decorating posts that had begun … Continue reading Oh, Christmas Tree
For the last several years, I haven't even tried to stop myself from being that overly enthusiastic Christmas celebrator you probably try to ignore until December. My husband was a little wary when I announced a few Sundays ago that seeing as Halloween had passed, the holiday season had officially begun. "It's November 1," he … Continue reading Early Christmasing for Fun and Sanity
I’ve been taking advantage of the last nice days of fall, and of my raging metabolism, which has turned me into a sweaty monster who prefers much-lower temperatures than I’m generally able to stand, by spending as much time as I possibly can outside, most of it (socially distanced from other customers) on the patio … Continue reading Preparing to Hibernate
I’ve been enacting a literal and figurative cleansing ritual since coming home from the hospital: getting rid of tons of stuff around the house, getting tons of practical stuff in order, having nightly bubble baths. Though I’ve accomplished a lot in not very long, I’ve also worn myself down a bit. Late last week, my … Continue reading Pivot
It’s been just over a week since I came home, and I’m happy to report that I’m still here and that it’s still pretty much the best (and that I took down the stray Christmas decorations that my husband had left up since last year). Though I was feeling pretty darn good about leaving the … Continue reading Pretty Much the Best
Today something I’d started to think would never happen at long last did (happen, that is). Call it a September miracle, call it the cumulation of over nine months of intensive medical treatment, call it what you want. All that matters is that I’m home. Not that I was excited to leave or anything. I’ve … Continue reading And Now, Home(!)
As I’m sure you’re aware, last Monday—my transfer day—has come and gone. I didn’t back out at the last minute; I was in near-constant freak-out mode; I experienced a weird ambulance ride with a nurse (one of my favourites), me on a stretcher because it’s policy even though I’m mobile and could’ve made the journey … Continue reading Oh Hey There, It’s Me in the Neuro Ward
I’ve been feeling so much better since that episode of status epilepticus. As I’ve had time to recover from the seizure itself, my Dilantin level has gradually come down, though it’s not yet at an ideal place (more on that in a moment). Best of all, and somewhat paradoxically, I’ve been having way fewer seizures … Continue reading A Silvery Dilantinish Lining
De Morbo Sacro: Life and/with Epilepsy 