If you’d walked into my room ten years ago, you would have seen a typical home office: a desk, some shelves, and a couch. Today, you might look around and wonder, “Is this an office, a bedroom, an art studio, or a living room?” The answer is yes. I had to turn my office into…
I love music. It’s my primary special interest. About a year ago, I bought a $20 MP3 player and started ripping music from my CD collection so I could listen to CD-quality music anywhere and any time, without a subscription. I loved that so much that I returned the MP3 player and upgraded. Then I…
Some people joke about having voices in their head. I actually do. Well, sort of. Not separate voices. They’re all me. Just seventy-two versions of me trying to use the microphone at the same time. I have autism and ADHD—AuDHD. Inside my head, there’s never just one train of thought. It’s never quiet while I’m…
I’ve been sitting here seven minutes. At thirty minutes I can leave. I usually work on my phone for half an hour. I plan out my project and start as soon as I sit down. I’m a little groggy this morning and didn’t get up in time to plan. The allergist asks that patients stay…
When my husband and I visited his parents years ago, he would sit on the couch and I sat on the floor between his legs. I think my mother-in-law thought I hated her couch, but I was genuinely more comfortable sitting in the floor. I don’t actually remember the last time I sat in the…
A few months ago I discovered the singer/songwriter Patty Griffin. Several weeks later she played a show in Dallas. I decided I didn’t know her well enough to ride five hours. Now I’m kicking myself. She sings like she’s shouting a secret that only one person can hear. It’s like listening to someone play a…
I haven’t felt grass between my toes in seven years and almost nine months. When I pinched a nerve in my back and became my disabled, I didn’t think about small things. I was focused on the big picture. I’ll never walk unassisted again. I’ve been mostly bedbound for ninety-three months. There are tons of…
I’m not religious. I don’t own a Bible. I could borrow my daughter’s in a pinch, but I personally am Bible-less. What I do own is a set of Bible highlighters. It started when I wanted to edit an essay. I needed highlighters to mark various issues, such as missing transitions. I swear I had…
I’m disabled. I’m mostly bedbound and I leave the house for three reasons: rides with my husband, doctor’s appointments, and concerts. Wait, what? Can’t walk without assistance, don’t get out much, but concerts are one of the things I leave the house for? Absolutely. In fact, I bought an electric wheelchair in part to make…