To You, My Readers...

My life is the epitome of extraordinary. It's weird, unusual, crazy, blessed, wonderful, a perfectly imperfect life. I have the strangest things happen to me such as crashing through the door of a coffee shop. Who else would have that story? Nobody. It's my birthday month so I get reflective about what I've done and what I want to do. I want to do so much more than what I am doing right now. I want to constantly be serving my communities, I want to keep working on a manuscript for my book, I want romantic love, and most importantly, I want to keep loving you all.

You all are why I have these dreams. You all have taught me how to be strong, compassionate, warm, loving, and the list goes on and on. I am so grateful for everyone that reads this blog. I still can’t believe that what started out as a way to communicate with family and friends during my college years has become my blog that people ask about. I’m stunned with gratitude. I don’t know what my 32^nd year holds but I can’t wait to find out!

Your Blogger,

Hannah!

 

My Communities

On Saturday afternoon I was at Mass in a town not too far from where I live. I follow a certain priest around the suburbs of Chicago. His name is Father Tony, and his messages lift my heart up. While listening to his homily, he mentioned that a deacon that served at the church I also frequent had passed away. He had passed away that morning. I wasn’t close to Deacon Tom, but I am close with his wife, Mimi. My heart broke for the new widow. What an incredible shock for the parish of Mary Queen of Heaven!

Three days later, my mom texted me saying the founder of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation  passed away. Joel Farber was full of energy and love. Beth was his daughter, and she is on a mission to cure dystonia. I genuinely admire her. The family that founded the Foundation back in the 1970s has helped countless people. I’m glad they did the grunt work so I could get the support I needed decades later.

I’m a part of many beloved communities. There is a season for everything, a time to laugh, a time to weep, I am incredibly grateful for community even if we are weeping together. These communities mean everything to me; they are my people.I will show up for them no matter what because at the end of the day, relationships matter.

My heart goes out to Texas. Call your congress person about common sense gun laws now.

Love,

Hannah!

 

A Tall Order

I had a unique order at my local Starbucks. I have a steel bar on my wheelchair that holds my communication device; it is called the mount. The mechanism that attaches the mount to my wheelchair is assembled with screws on the outside and inside. Tightening the screws on the outside is easy however, tightening the screws on the inside of the mechanism is very difficult. You have to take the whole thing a part.

My caregiver whose 5’2 tried tightening the screws and two days later, it was loose again. She has muscles but this is a really tough job. I had the idea of going to Starbucks and asking one of the baristas to help.

These two pieces have to screw together. Nothing easy about it!

 

This particular barista has some large biceps that I needed in order to achieve having a stable mount. The barista agreed to help. First, my caregiver showed him how to loosen the outside then I have to watch it slowly fall apart. You have to understand that I need the angle just right as well as how far away it is from my body. Once everything is totally in pieces, my caregiver shows him the two screws that need to be tightened. He is on the floor at Starbucks with my caregiver, we have wrenches, plyers, and a slew of mechanical objects on the ground. He tightened the inside screws. Success! Then, my caregiver and the helpful barista were extraordinarily patient with me as they make sure everything is right.

I insisted on at least treating him and my caregiver to a venti coffee. It’s the least I could do after a tall order.I hope you all have a community to count on; I don't know what I would do without my people!

Love,

Hannah!

P.S. A few weeks later, it was loose again. I went to my dad. It’s not moving anytime soon.