MY PEEPS AT NHC

When I roll through the door Donna greets me with a smile. 
She knows that I am there to see...
My peeps at NHC.

Happy Hour means. music, fun,, and Margaritas. No one makes them like Lydia. Served in my own special glass.
Stacy, Angela, and Lawanda too.
The Activities Department is always doing something new.
My peeps at NHC.

I see the best dietician around. Hey Julie, I lost another pound.
My Peeps at NHC 

Well, well, well.
That's all I can say.
Chris is always there to brighten my day.
My peeps at NHC

Gail is a great nurse.
She makes my day.
Cuz she has a costume for every holiday.
My peeps at NHC.

Tiffany's the nurse who calls me Trouble.
She says it with a wink.
She knows I am not as much trouble as you might think.
My peeps at NHC.

Angela's one of the busiest nurses around.
We're Facebook friends.
That's where we can be found.
My peeps at NHC

Annie and Florence are great CMTs
Guess  What? They really do miss me!
My Peeps at NHC.

I have dinner with Korri, Rita, and Suzanne.
They keep me in the loop.
I rely on them for the NHC scoop.
My peeps at NHC.

If I have forgotten anyone that was not my intention.
Too many of you to mention.
 My peeps at NHC.

Thank you, Meghan, for saying the door is always open.
If I couldn't see my friends I would be heartbroken.
My peeps at NHC.




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I FELL DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

My mom loved to tell people the story of my birth. She told a salesperson at Macy's once. I was mortified. In my head, I was imploring her to stop. We were just there to buy Christmas socks for my brother. How had an innocent trip to the mall gone so wrong?  

Imagine having a guy you liked over for dinner only to have your mom launch into her story. All I heard was, "Joanne was born at six and a half months. She was so small the hospital didn't weigh her when she was born. She looked like a spider monkey, all arms and legs.". What an icebreaker. MOM, PLEASE STOP!!

I want to write my memoir. Not my autobiography. If I wrote my autobiography I would have to include the details of my birth as well as the events that preceded it. Boring.

Memoirs have a reoccurring theme throughout them. The events written about are linked together by that theme  Many of you may have already known the difference between an autobiography and a memoir. I didn't. My friend, Jenny. cleared up my confusion.

All of my life my mind has given me the message that I am just like everyone else. CP kept my body from receiving that message. My mind and body messages not being in sync really screwed me up sometimes.

Throughout my life, many of my experiences have left me puzzled. If I am just like everyone else as my mind tells me I am. Why is this (insert a life event) happening to me?

I think this image of Alice falling down the rabbit is a good analogy for my life. For as long as I can remember I have been fighting the conflicting messages that my mind and body have sent me. Each major life event made me feel like I had landed in a strange new place. A place, in many instances, that my mind told me I did not belong.

The theme of my memoir is how I have fought so hard to prove I am like everyone else. The truth is I am not. I never will be. I need assistance with ADL. That fact won't change. However,  I will keep fighting.

The working title of my memoir is. I Fell Down the Rabbit Hole, My Life With CP.

LIVING OUR BEST LIFE

Whether it's giving flowers to our neighbors in celebrating the agency's community day or hosting a Memorial Day barbecue for the residents of another house.
The agency wants us to...
Live our best life.

Supportive, caring dedicated staff/.

Whatever we need to make our lives better. staff here does their best to provide.

The agency wants us to...
Live our best life.

Hugs are given when needed. 

The staff will answer a question again and again. 

It's a game. 

If the game brings a smile to a client's face. That's all that matters.

The agency wants us to...
Live our best life.

Caregivers, cooks, housekeepers chauffeurs, and more. 

The staff does it all. 

The agency wants us to...

Live our best life.

The staff loves what they do. 

That's the secret. 

If that love were missing life here would not be the same.
the agency wants us to...
Live our best life.

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer. The day is synonymous with children being out of school. the opening of swimming pools, picnics, sun, fun, family, and friends.

Do we stop and remember those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy the freedom we have?  Do we stop and give thanks? When I lived at home I did not give the real meaning of Memorial Day a second thought.

When I lived at home, the day meant KFC, playing Yahtzee with my neighbor, and watching a movie with my caregiver. I never thought about the day's significance or meaning.

Men and women died so that our country could remain free. They died for my freedom to speak out by writing this blog. In some parts of the world, a woman speaking out, and expressing her opinions is forbidden. We are blessed that our country is not a country of censorship, We are a country of free speech. I had the freedom to transition out of a facility. We are allowed the freedom to choose.

I want to wish all of you a safe and happy Memorial Day. I ask that you stop for a moment. Remember those who fought and died. Stop and say thank you for your service.

I WAS RAISED TO...

I was raised to say please and thank you for any assistance I am given. I say it even if I am angry. I still appreciate being helped/  I probably say it too much, Can't help it.
That's how I was raised.

I was raised to answer. when I was spoken to. Those rules no longer apply. I am old school.
That's' how I was raised

I was a member. of the Clean Your Plate Club. 
Don't waste food. It's a sin. People are starving.
I was given the wrong order in a restaurant.
I ate it. I did not want to cause a problem for my server.
That is how I was raised.
(By the way, It turned out okay. I got a dessert for free.)
I  repeat myself. It comes with age.
I've been told I am annoying.
I think of my mom and grandma.
I never said that to them.
It's how I was raised.

I think of all the times I didn't listen.
With age comes wisdom. I know that now.
No one wants to hear.
I hear my mom's voice.
."It's no fun to get old.."
She was right.

No cellphones...No texts...Life was the best.
People paid attention to each other...Not a screen... People talked.
That's how I was raised.

I was raised to...
Appreciate...Be polite..Respectful....To say thank you.
That's how I was raised.

AS THE DAY ENDS

The last two days have been good. Quiet. Good conversations.with the staff. Laughter.

As this day comes to a close I am thankful for my aides and the care they provide me. I will make tomorrow will be another good day.

The questions I am asking myself tonight are what can I do to make the staff's job easier? What am I doing wrong? How can I help them to better assist me?  Without the staff, I would not have a life. I could not write this blog. I would not be able to get to my laptop, eat or use the bathroom. I would be stuck in bed. Existing. Not living. 

Those of us who depend on caregivers for assistance need to ask ourselves these questions. Caregivers are people. They have frustrations the same as we do.

I miss my friends. I miss my family. I hope I will see them soon. Until I do I'll be okay.

REMEMBER MY HEART

I have tried to be a good sister, aunt, resident, and friend. I tried to be a good daughter. I hope I succeeded. If I failed...
Remember My Heart/

I have tried to help others whenever I could. If I failed...
Rember My Heart.

I have tried to be kind, loving, generous, caring and compassionate. If I failed and I know that I have...
Remember My Heart.

Cerebral Palsy, Developmentally Disabled, Severe. Society loves labels. Labels make it easier for society to deal with individuals they do not understand. Once an individual is labeled.they are judged on the basis of the label. Spastic CP?  She must be \mentally challenged. It's 2019, but I know there are people who still think like this. They are.the people who talk to me in a sing-song voice. Or talk about me to my caregiver like  I am not in the room. Don't remember how I have been labeled.
Remember My Heart. 

Don't believe gossip or rumors. Don't associate me with the names others have called me.
Rember my heart.

My posts are not funny. I leave the funny posts to my alter-ego, Prudencia. My posts are about my life, my struggle and, lately, God.

I have screwed up so many times. I have said I am sorry so many times. I have tried. I am trying. I am ahumn. I am thankful that God keeps giving me another chance.
I am thankful that He knows my heart.
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LUIS ROBERTO GUZMAN

Puerto Rico and Mexico have his heart.
Luis Roberto Guzman

He wanted to sing with the pop group Menudo. That was not meant to be. Undeterred he released Bipolar, his own CD.
Luis Roberto Guzman

He studied drama at the University of Puerto Rico. He moved to Mexico to give acting a go.
Luis Roberto Guzman.

Telenovelas. TV series. Theater. He's done it all. Jose Luis Alveraz and Pete Vaquez are two of my favorites. characters. In Maria Magdalena, he plays Valerio. I can't Watch it. 

It's only on Netflix Mexico!
Luis Roberto Guzman

He chooses roles that are challenging He chooses roles that will make people think, He chooses roles that raise awareness about issues that are important to him.
Luis Roberto Guzman

I have learned, a lot from following him via Social Media. I didn't know who activist and painter Frida Kahlo was until he tweeted about attending an exhibit of her work. I googled her name to learn more about her. I wanted to see some of her paintings.

I  never thought about the people of Puerto Rico or Mexico. I know now that they are just people trying to make it. Make it through the aftermath of a hurricane. Make a better life for their families. The fact that we all live on this planet connects us. That connection should unite us. It should not divide us.

He posts photos from his travels. If he travels to a place that I am unfamiliar with I google it. I enjoy learning about new places.

The quote that resonated the most with me is this one.

"Never stop dreaming.

Life is For You to Believe."

Luis Roberto Guzman

LACHANDRIA

She tells me stories about growing up in Alabama. She makes me laugh. She listens to me.
Lachandra.

She started out to be a teacher but caregiving was her true calling.
Lachandria

I would be lying if I said we got along right from the start. We didn't. I finally realized she was not my enemy. She was just doing her job. The things she told me made a lot of sense. From that day forward I have had respect for her.
Lachandra.

She tells me when I am out of line.  She puts me in my place when necessary. She is never bossy. She treats all of us with dignity and respect. I know she cares about me. She cares about all of her clients
Lachandria

Her cooking reminds me of home. She makes sure that I eat. There are days when  I just do not feel like eating. Chicken and veggies, Sweet potato fries. She makes a mean salad too.
Lachandria.

When she takes care of someone they have her undivided attention.
Lachandria.

She has never said something that was not in her job description. She never mentions her duties period. She does what needs to be done even if she's tired. She has never said that talking to her clients was not part of her job.
Lachandria.

I am never nervous or scared when she is taking care of me.
I know I am in good hands.
This agency needs more staff like her.
I am willing to bet that every client she has cared for feels the same way.

Thank you, Chan, for all you have done for me, and all of us at CCL.