Scooter Saga

While Skeeter, an outside assistive device, gives me increased mobility, the app-loaded smartphone is my primary handheld device.  They are my friends. I love them. They've changed my life.  Being inanimate, they are impossible to offend.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  I confess to being an above average, but still average, technology groupie.  There are many people who are more or less so and I'm not even talking about the professionals.  I love getting handwritten notes and cards.  I would send them if I still had the ability to write beautifully, but I don't.  I can , however, stay on top of current technological advances and consider myself an 'early technology adopter'.  New technology can be like the friend you enjoy and value, but occasionally apologize for.  Certainly computers, smartphones, tablets, and apps benefit many people, but they definitely can enhance activities that were once either difficult or ...

It's hard to believe the book, Scooter Sagas came out just over a year ago.  I continue to promote it at book conventions, websites, and libraries, but I haven't set the world on fire.  As I said before, my book is not Anna Karenina.  T he Daily Show with Jon Stewart hasn't called, but I've been out and New York is such a schlep.  I actually received a royalty check that funded a dinner out for us.  The publishing company did report a high volume sale, but the buyer ended up being me.  Earl didn't quit his day job, so we're still solvent.  Family and friends liked it.  I have some new friends living in other countries.  I feel in touch with people I don't see enough and look forward to hearing back from them (like Christmas, only year round) .  Other individuals, with and without disabilities, found something in the book that spoke to them; everyone deals with something.  Most importantly, our grandchildren enjoy being refe...

While written communication isn't a major weakness, spoken communication is more of a factor.  Certainly, my ataxia is a big part of it*. But, the significant issues are lifelong.  I've never been much of a conversationalist, don't think particularly well on my feet, and will avoid debate at all costs.  I can raise silence to an art form, but realize I'm not fooling anyone. I believe I have moved beyond most of the enhanced touchiness that came with my ataxia diagnosis and find that most of my peeps no longer treat me with kid gloves.**  However my good girl persona is always battling my bad girl persona.  When I think about it, that's lifelong as well.  I just have more time these days to dwell on the struggle.  When I come out with an unsolicited smartass crack, I instinctively look around for my mother's ghost before remembering that it's just her genetic "gift" haunting me.*** I'm not the only one with communication deficits a...