Somebody That I Used to Know
Meeting my Mayo Clinic neurologist as the real me, post autoimmune encephalitis.
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- Jan 17
Freedom Ghost
Just recently, I listened to Brené Brown’s two-part podcast with Bono. It was amazing. Most of the conversation revolved around Bono’s...
- Jan 6
Let It Be
In August 2021, I went solo to my first ever TEDx event. And it was a game changer for me. I met a new friend group and was introduced to...
- Dec 20, 2022
O Little Town of Bethlehem
My childhood encompassed the late eighties through the nineties. I also grew up in a small town in North Dakota. In those days and in...
- Nov 28, 2022
Cleanin' Out My Closet
Remember that metaphorical blog I wrote about my alarm clock? It’s one of my favorites. The times, they are always a changin’, aren’t...
- Nov 6, 2022
Unstoppable
My favorite part of a flight is takeoff. I love that amazing feel of the combination of max speed and the moment you feel the lift. And...
- Oct 18, 2022
Chosen Family (Pt III)
I don’t have a lot of experience with meeting other AE patients and survivors. My cup of in-person exchanges runneth dry. The first...
- Oct 17, 2022
Chosen Family (Pt II)
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of this night for a long time. Maybe not during that first year where I struggled to survive, but...
- Oct 12, 2022
Chosen Family (Pt I)
The event was pure magic. Well maybe not magic, no one had a wand or cauldron or a Harry Potter robe, but it was the best night I...
- Sep 27, 2022
Suit and Jacket
It’s just a piece of paper. I can tell myself that. It’s a larger piece of thicker paper. With a beautiful green and gold, embossed...
- Sep 19, 2022
Big Time
It was the last book signing of the summer. I was driving home from Fargo in the early morning hours, to get back for the kids’ open...
- Sep 15, 2022
Angels Among Us
I’ll never forget the day I first met Jon. I was in a frazzle over our law office moving and I didn’t have an ergonomic desk or chair for...
- Sep 13, 2022
I Want More
I was finishing up my walk this morning. Fall is nearing, because I wore a thin, but long-sleeved shirt. I knew it would get hot later,...
- Sep 7, 2022
I Got You Babe
Just another day. Just another vial. Out of habit, start with the left arm and out of necessity, move to the right. One more appointment....
- Aug 17, 2022
Turn! Turn! Turn!
Four years. Four years and a few months since that fateful Tuesday when I gave away my DUI case to Lloyd, somehow knowing that I couldn’t...
- Aug 7, 2022
Livin' on a Prayer
Leave it to me to bring out a twenty-year-old t-shirt to wear on the second day of the trip. I’ve always been one to find the hilarity in...
- Jul 18, 2022
Amazing Grace
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. After I sat for the second day of the bar on a sunny July day in 2009, I walked through the parking lot...
- Jun 29, 2022
Dog Days Are Over
If FUBR’s been around since WWII, I can imagine that “shit happens” was a thing long before I remember it being such a hit in the movie...
- Jun 15, 2022
Beautiful Day
I know I cursed God along the recovery way. I absolutely did. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is what you do to me?” But the only time I really...
- May 26, 2022
I Can See Clearly Now
May 26, 2022 Dear May 26, 2018-Jackie: Today is one of the worst days you’ve lived through in your life, but you’ll hardly remember it....
- May 10, 2022
Your Song
“Life always kind of works out,” said my counselor to me a while back. I so badly wanted to argue, and say, Notta. But it really got me...
- Apr 26, 2022
Down With the Sickness
We’ve all heard the saying, “That’s about as fun as a colonoscopy.” Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say it, but I’m going...
- Apr 5, 2022
I Take My Chances
You’ll recall I’ve turned to high waisted pants these days. I don’t move as quickly as I used to. And I’m starting to embarrass my kids....
- Mar 29, 2022
I'm Alive
It’s hard to know where to begin in my relationship with her, but I think this story is best. She doesn’t live too far from me, and...
- Mar 22, 2022
Hello
Yesterday I was listening to a podcast about why blogging is important for your speaking career. (Yip, I’m that awesome. I wasn’t out...
- Mar 14, 2022
Time Marches On
I have no idea when, but once when I was younger, I asked my dad why we had to change time during the year. He told me very matter of...
- Feb 28, 2022
Hold On II
I penned the “Hold On” blog over a month ago. I write blogs in real time, but don’t always post them that quickly. I finally published it...
- Feb 17, 2022
Hold On
Q: What do you do for a living? A: I’m a professional patient. Truly. That’s why I do with a lot of my days. I go to the doctor. Q: Do...
- Feb 2, 2022
I Want to Hold Your Hand
I am a very social person. Truly, one of the most social people I know. In law school, I became close with someone who was the shyest...
- Jan 11, 2022
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
I couldn’t quit staring out the window. I just sat there and kept blankly looking. But I was smiling. For sure on the outside and...
- Jan 3, 2022
Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow
It’s New Year’s Eve Day, and I’m doing what others around the world are doing – pondering where I will party tonight. Yeah right, in my...
- Dec 29, 2021
One Headlight
“That’s a big deal and you’re incredibly stupid for standing in the middle of a dark road,” she said as she laughed hard and flashed me a...
- Dec 20, 2021
I'll Be Home for Christmas
I often wonder what it would be like to go back in time and watch myself as a kid. As my kids grow, I’ve become obsessed with asking my...
- Dec 9, 2021
Crocodile Rock
I’ve been in serious contemplation about whether I’m going through a midlife crisis, with my wearing navy blazers and high waisted,...
- Dec 7, 2021
It's a Big Ol' Goofy World
While growing up, the “worst” thing to happen at home was Dad going grocery shopping. No matter what, no matter the season, Dad came back...
- Nov 16, 2021
The House That Built Me (Part II)
“You know they say, you can’t go home again. But I just want to come back one last time.” As my brain had already checked me out of life...
- Nov 5, 2021
I Want to Break Free
I found this NYT’s video opinion piece to be very thought provoking. I encourage you to watch it to think about what “quitting” means to...
- Nov 5, 2021
The House That Built Me (Part I)
I want my book to first and foremost help people who are diagnosed with AE. I also want my book to have broad appeal and hopefully be...
- Oct 18, 2021
Carry On
When I wake, the first thing I do is decide that I’m still really tired (stupid AE aftermath). The second thing I do is walk straight to...
- Oct 18, 2021
Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)
I’ll never forget the day I met her, in the dorm hallway. Trish is a bit (a really super duper) of a closer talker (and I love her for...
- Oct 4, 2021
Thunderstruck
I will never do that. I’d be the only person in history to get one and then get Lyme disease, or worms. I’m sure I’d die from it. Me for...
- Sep 22, 2021
You Can't Always Get What You Want
When I was little, around third or fourth grade, I desperately wanted Reebok pump shoes. Imagine a black high top, with a little orange...
- Sep 8, 2021
One Toke Over the Line
“Jackie, that’s how I know you’re healing. That’s how I see true inner peace coming from you.” My counselor told me that the other day,...
- Aug 24, 2021
100 Years
I watch about 3 movies every 10 years. But one of my absolute favorites is Lonesome Dove. Though 6 hours long, I used to watch it every...
- Aug 3, 2021
Tiny Dancer
You never think it will be you. But then suddenly, it’s you. Sorry about that. Sorry it’s you. My cousin sent me an Insta video on this...
- Jul 11, 2021
Man in the Mirror
“For this week’s WordPromptWednesday, write about the reflection in the mirror being different than reality.” I read that and chuckled,...
- Jun 23, 2021
That's How Your Love Makes Me Feel Inside
“Be thankful for stumbles, they prevent falls.” I saw that on a church’s marquee at the corner of a busy street. It was the day after it...
- May 26, 2021
Change
"If you knew that you would die today If you saw the face of God and love Would you change?" I’ve spent the better part of three years...
- May 20, 2021
The Times They Are A-Changin'
To keep or not to keep? To do or not to do? Stay right here in this place or go somewhere new? My life feels like a Jeopardy board. But I...
- May 4, 2021
Why Pt. 2
I once heard Hunter Pinke say that he doesn’t ask, “Why me?” rather he asks, “Why not me?” (If you don’t know Hunter’s story, Google him,...
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