Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Welcome to the hotel

Hello Readers-

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry I missed you for a month. I think that has happened to me only one other time in this whole process of writing. BUT a lot has happened since then! Aside from a few decorations in the new place, Teddy, McDreamy, and McSteamy and I are all settled in the new “Purple Pad” at 504. I am so grateful that the movers didn’t drop the tank!! Right now, I have a wonderful roommate who loves staying up with me. We are perfect for each other because we are both night owls. And, I have 5 wonderful assistants that I believe that were meant to work with me during this new phase in my life. 

Now, a lot of people have been asking me, “Why would you want to move to a different apartment?” And my answer is twofold: One, the people that I rented from wanted to move back, and two, my bathroom at 607 was beginning to look like a war zone because it was so tiny. I could barely fit my chair in there without marking up some part of the wall, and proud to say that I only have one little mark in this bathroom.  

Yes, you did read that title correctly- I said, “Welcome to the hotel” because it still doesn’t feel like home yet for 2 reasons:

1. The bathroom is humongous and looks like my parents’ bathroom. Not one that an almost-26-year-old should be deserving of. 

2. I have had so many wonderful things happen to me in this past month that I feel like I haven’t been at home that much. It all started when I went to go visit my cousin at the end of July at Eastern Illinois. We went to the bagel fest, a nearby bar, and did things that every college kid should be able to experience. Since I never really got a chance to experience it myself, it was so much fun to get the opportunity to do so even if it was just for one weekend. We both created memories in that one weekend that words cannot explain, and I believe we got even closer because of it. For example, he said to me, “Don’t you wanna come see my place? You’ve been driving for a long time, and you’ve been waiting years to see my place.” I looked at him like he was a little crazy. I said, “But I can’t get in.” And without any hesitation, he lifted me up, and before I knew it, I was in his bed in his apartment. It is people like this in my life that make life an adventure. They do not see me in my wheelchair- they see ME. Just ME. And THAT makes me smile.
    I was also very fortunate to participate in the summer MOMENTA show. I felt very blessed because I had family and close friends who came to see me. For me, there’s nothing like the combination of bright lights and people around me that make me feel more energized. Once the lights hit me, I feel a warm and fuzzy feeling all over me, and I feel like I could do anything. 
    Then, as if that wasn’t enough, I went on a camping trip with Maine            Niles Special Recreation Association. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was there that I realized that it was extremely similar to Rocky Mountain Village, where I went for 5 summers. The camp bug bit me again, and I want to go back next year for a whole week. We did everything from zip-lining to horse back riding to camp fires. As a matter of fact, I am going back there with my friend Alison for a short weekend later this month. I can’t wait! 
    To top it all off, my friend Paula, like I said in my post in July, came back for a weekend. We had an amazing time together, and I can’t believe it’s already been a week since she left. We took so many pictures that I think my iPhone was getting tired. If my iPhone could talk, it would say, “Please stop taking pictures!” Maybe we had TOO much fun and that’s why my Siri and wheelchair have been acting up this week! I can’t wait for next year! 

So, welcome to the hotel and I can’t wait to show it off sometime soon! Come on over!

Love,
Jessi