Introduction

Introduction (noun):  1) Something that introduces, as a part of a book or treatise preliminary to the main portion; 2) The act or process of introducing.

Hello.  That seems like a fitting first word in a conversation.  When people ask me how to talk to someone who uses a wheelchair (like we’re our own special breed who needs a special language) I often reply that a simple smile and friendly “hello” will do the trick.

This is the first of what I hope will be many attempts at a conversation.  While you may read my “voice” on this page, I hope that you will take the time to respond and ask questions.  True dialogue requires both a sender and a receiver for the message to be developed.

First a bit about me – after all, this is supposed to be an introduction.  Who am I?  I am an advocate, a sister, a daughter, a loyal friend, an optimist, a crocheter, a musician, a licensed speech-language pathologist, a volunteer, a 40 year old spinster-in-the-making, a baker and a writer.  There, I said it.  I am a writer.

For years I have wanted to be a writer.  I have written – guest blog posts, memoir essays for a writing class, communications for work, speeches, presentations, letters and journals.  But I never gave myself the label, allowed myself to profess what it is I really want to be.  Things changed last year when I turned 40.  ‘Everyone’ says that happens.  Sometimes ‘everyone’ is right.  The law of averages has to give ‘everyone’ the benefit of the doubt occasionally.

So, now I am going to put into practice what I have pictured in my head.  I am going to use this platform to share my writing with you.  Hopefully, you’ll read it and find something that resonates with you.  If you do, please engage in the conversation by posting a response or sharing this with others.

Since I have many interests, there will most likely be posts about several subjects.  Of course I will write about disability, at least, my experience with it.  However, it has never been my intention to write a “disability blog.”  There are many who do that, and they do it well.  I am a person first, a woman who happens to have a disability not a disabled woman.  As such, I will also write about sisterhood, friendship, relationships, music, generally the musings of a 40 year old spinster-in-the-making.  You can help determine the path of the conversation through your responses and comments.

I can’t promise to be politically correct.  I do promise to be honest.  I can’t promise to conform to stereotypes.  I do promise to be open to opinions different from mine.  I can’t promise to accept the status quo.  I do promise to be respectful and polite.  At least, as polite as I can be for someone who is regularly far too free with her words when she should just keep her mouth shut.

Thank you for coming on the journey with me, for letting me be what, until now, I have been too scared to be.  I am a writer.