As Dull as it Gets

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could go to Antigua, Guatemala for 3 weeks for a total immersion Spanish school, but I did.  Why didn’t it cross my wildest dreams?  Because:

I had a severe stroke 10 years ago that left me unable to walk unassisted or use my left arm

I cannot walk on rough terrain

I cannot carry my own bags

I’m often forgetful and lose things

My husband worries about me too much.

I not used to being away from Bob and my family over the holidays

I was very fortunate that the timing of my classes coincided with friends needing to be in Antigua.  They helped me navigate the terrain while in my wheelchair. (Walking was not an option when outside the school; while in the wheelchair, I had to be in a constant wheelie to get over the bumps.)My friends were wonderful and I could not have done this without them.

When I arrived at the school, I got to my room with no towels, no toilet paper, and no phone at midnight, I immediately thought, I can’t do this.  These things were all fixed by morning.  I was there to learn Spanish and nothing was going to deter me from this goal.  The cost of the program included 4-6 hours of Spanish, and 3 meals a day, and my room.   When we were not attending class we were studying, eating, playing games such as Spanish Scrabble, enjoying the Antigua nightlife: restaurants, shopping, and attending cultural events,

An important point is Central America, like many places outside the U.S. is not at all handicap friendly.  At the school’s Christmas party, one of the students walking with a cane asked me if I knew how tough the terrain was in Antigua before I visited.  I indicated, “Yes, I had heard.””  And she said, “Boy are you brave.(That was a good moment. )

Thanks to this trip I have a big time travel bug, particularly outside the U.S. Fortunately, one month later is a planned trip to Costa Rica, thanks to my sister-in-law who understands my need to continue practicing Spanish. 

Anticipation

It’s a good thing.

I’m anticipating two big events.

The first is two weeks in Guatemala at a Spanish immersion school over the Christmas holiday.  I was invited by a friend who attended the same school several years ago.  At first Bob and I went through the reasons why this may not be good idea such as:

What if you fall

What if 5 hours of class a day is too much for you

What if you get homesick after the first week? (Why not consider one week vs two)

How will you shower?

What if you get sick from drinking the water?

What are you going to do in this country the other 14 hours when you’re not in class?

Walking will be very difficult due to the cobblestone streets

The school was wonderful in addressing all my concerns.  For this reason and my mother-in-law, I am now going to Guatemala in December.  Fortunately for me, she is in a “Just say yes. mode and persuaded Bob that we should do the same. It has been a goal for as long as I can remember to speak Spanish fluently.   

The second event is a trip to Costa Rica in February An early 60^th birthday gift from my sister-in-law and her husband. The timing couldn’t be better as it will allow me to immediately reinforce the Spanish after the school

My family and friends are helping me fulfill my lifelong goals. They see the whys and aren’t intimidated by the why nots. It takes a village….

"No distance for a handicapper"

I try to write about how I feel living as a disabled person but it is difficult for me, since I am not a professional writer.  Every once in a while a professional does articulate how I feel.  A case in point, the October 5^th article in The New York Times titled “A Disabled Life is a Life worth Living.”

Ben Mattlin, the author, is correct in stating, “We seek fair treatment, rightful access to everything in society — jobs, and romantic prospects, and so on. Highlighting the downside of disabilities seems counterproductive and self-pitying”.

Mattlin comments that living with a disability is to understand the fragility of life. Most of my friends are as Mattlin goes on to say, “at the pinnacle of their careers, and I’m just getting by. I shouldn’t complain, I tell myself. Unemployment among disabled people is crushingly high”.   Today, my work, which used to define me, is limited to volunteer work.  The work is satisfying but not rewarding.

I continue to evaluate the bright side of a disability. I am a “problem solver’ as Mattlin points out. I have found devices to help me cook, which is my passion. I have Hope, which allows me to walk, unaided by a human. I can also write with my non-dominant hand. Transportation is no longer an issue thanks to Uber, Bob, and my assistant, Donna.  I problem-solved my way to get to Guatemala for Christmas to attend a Spanish immersion school

It is a hassle to devise alternative methods to complete simple activities of living, a “so called normal life”. But when I figure alternatives out, I am liberated.

Thanks for listening.

Read the article for more insight

"noting ventured nothing gained" chapter 2

To date I have participated in 3 East End Sunday Farmers Markets with minimal success.  Minimal because even though we sold out of cookies, we did not make a profit; we did break even.  We are using the market as a test lab and so far I have learned, tying it to the 4Ps of marketing

Price: We initially had three different quantities and price points and now we only   sell a $5 with 6 regular cookies or $5 for12 mini rookies testing has proved this to be an acceptable price point and simple.

Placement: Our pop-up booth is often located close to other popular booths; In fact we were fortunate in our placement two weeks ago when customer invited me to participate in the grand opening of his motorcycle and coffee shop the following week which we did also with minimal success.

·        Position:  The best chocolate chip cookie in the East End – I continue to test the credibility of this.

·        Promotion: our only promotion is my sign an Facebook page  Facebook was used to invite customers to the coffee shop grand opening and it was standing room only or 3 hours

·         

·        The test lab also provides

·        -approximate quantities I need to bake each week

·         

·        Packaging:  we adjusted after 2 market tests to 6 vs 5 regular cookies per bag,

·        customers like “mini” food; hence the packaging adjustment

·        Recipe test customers really like my spicy cookies  as we coined them  “cookies with a kick” 

·        having samples is essential to selling; customers want to try the product

I stated in my previous blog that this venture helps put me on the track  to return to a  busy and meaningful life  the past couple of months were wonderfully busy and allowed for “dusting off” my marketing skills 

"Nothing Ventured, Nothing gained"

About 3 months ago I was making cookies for a hostess gift for a friend and Bob commented:  “You make a good cookie, why don’t you have some fun with it and try selling them at our East End Farmers Market”. He said this in front of a close friend and she enthusiastically agreed.  I started working on a Marketing Plan to include the “4P’s of marketing (price, promotion, position and placement).   Part of my plan included a section on who I am? and why I am doing this.  Below is what I wrote in my plan:

In 2006, I suffered a massive stroke. This required me to retire at the age of 48 from a 20⁺ year career in computer product and Internet marketing.   I have been in rehabilitation and rediscovery mode ever since. I live through the ups and downs of being a stroke survivor.   This catastrophic event forced me to rethink my goals.  I do not want to be “defined” by the stroke. This venture is a path to reinvention and getting back to a busy and meaningful life.

This venture provides for:

-         practicing right-hand- only skills

-        testing my stamina by standing up for 4 hours at a time

-        social interaction

-        putting marketing skills to test

-        Working towards a financial return and contributing to our household income, which is a longshot. As of this blog entry, I participated in one Sunday Farmer’s Market and I sold out of cookies in the first 1.5 hours. I have a long way to go to consider this a successful venture but I’ll quote Ben Franklin:  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Come by Sundays between 10:00AM and 2:00 PM and purchase a cookie or two.  at East End Farmer’s Market at the Esplanade on  Navigation, 200 Navigation.

My year of turning 60

am so fortunate to have amazing family and friends.  It is best exemplified by their treatment on my recent birthday.  My 5 sisters, brother and father surprised me by hosting a beautiful lunch complete with fresh flowers and a homemade cake.  It was a complete surprise.  A couple of weeks later several of my friends from Austin drove down for the actual birthday weekend and treated me to a movie, a spa afternoon, happy hour and dinner. My second family and Bob spoiled me all day complete with calls, texts, songs and gifts.  I find myself wondering w how I can reciprocate this generosity. I’m also wondering how I should spend my year of turning 60.  My ideas will be in my next blog. the theme being:reinvention.

I love a chalebge but . . . really?

I just returned from a 5 day Colorado vacation and concluded all the therapy the world (both cognitive and physical) couldn’t prepare me for my travel experience. during this trip.  Please let me explain 

I was visiting a friend in Durango and travel required a stop and plane change in Denver. Also, I travelled with my walker, Hope.  I thought it was essential to increase my mobility on the trip.   All was going very smooth in

Denver when I boarded my plane for Durango. I had plenty of time to board so I plugged in my phone charger.  The flight was delayed from a 6:00 departure to 7:30.  The wheelchairs in this airport are not self-propelled so I have to wait for an attendant go to the bathroom. The attendant came very late so I almost missed my flight and we had to remove the connection to the charger.  I pulled the plug but needed the USB part so they had to bend down on all fours to get it.  All is well and we are halfway to Durango when the captain say says we are turning around and going back to Denver due to a mechanical error. 

Dealing with Hope adds a layer if complexity and I have to keep track of my carry on and Hope and remember to gate check her each time.  We had to deplane in Denver and wait for them to fix the plane.  There was as shortage of bag handlers so Hope was delayed the reason I can’t leave the gate area is the wheelchairs are not self-propelled and I have to watch hope While searching for my boarding pass in my carry-on I noticed all my pills fell out of the container.  Also I lost my boarding pass.

I think its worth repeating that all the therapy cannot prepare or substitute from doing.   The challenges occurred throughout my trip including challenging terrain and stairs during a train ride to Silverton and an outdoor concert, and walking the streets of downtown Durango.  There is no substitute for getting out and doing.  Challenges and all I had a wonderful time and appreciative of my friends for putting up with me.