By Guest Blogger, Anissa Mayhew
Months have gone by since I last posted about the past. I told the tale of what happened the day I had the strokes that changed my life.
Our lives.
I went from being a whirlwind of activity with goals of family-happiness, blog-success, and building a new life in Georgia, to having the goals of family-happiness, blog-success, and building a new life in Georgia BUT IN A WHEELCHAIR.
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“WHAT HAPPENED TO ANISSA?”
This was posted about twenty messages into a thread of emails back on November 17, 2009.
Earlier in that thread I had let everyone know that I would be leaving shortly, that international calls were outrageously priced, and who to contact in case of emergency. I was out shopping for a media cruise I was taking with other bloggers, preparing to leave the very next day.
The email thread went to all the writers of Aiming Low, a group blog I had helped to found and run. We’d just come back from Boston and New York, where we had our first big jobs and we rocked like Van Halen.
HELLO THERE!!!
So, it’s my first day back since leaving you all for two weeks to spend time with my family, and attend a Blogging conference in New York which ended up being an experience of a lifetime. The past two weeks have been absolutely wonderful (minus some frazzling moments), and I wanted to share some memories before getting back to the “on the fence” topics.
It all started with a road trip (after a week with the boys by the lake). Hershey Park, Pennsylvania was the destination. We usually head to Maine, the same spot each summer, but decided to try something different this year. We heard Hershey Park was all chocolate, all the time, great kids rides, water park, and in the words of my son, “The coolest lazy river ever.” So, besides having a hard time leaving the outlets in Woodbury Commons, NY, the drive was a cinch. The boys watched DVD after DVD in the back seat, and I drank coffee after coffee in the front seat. I left my good eating habits back in Montreal, and pulled up to Hershey Town, which actually SMELLED LIKE CHOCOLATE, and decided I was gonna enjoy.
Over the course of our stay there, we had a ball no doubt. We swam, made smores by the bonfire at night, and hung with live-sized Kit Kat and Reese’s Pieces Bars. But the funny thing was, despite wanting to take the kids to see “cultural” things (museum, chocolate factory, etc…), my kids were only interested in two things: THE FREE MINI GOLF, and THE FREE WII ROOM. It went something like this: eat a meal, play mini golf. Eat a meal, play Wii. Play mini golf at 10PM at night, Play Wii at 8Am in the morning. And my hubby and I were real sports too. We really surrendered to EVERYTHING. We let them do whatever made them happy, whenever it made them happy. I drank wine pretty much every night, ate pasta and pizza daily, and didn’t see a gym once. My hubby got to really enjoy the company of his boys, which like many dads, don’t have enough hours to do. It was an amazing bonding time for our family.
Sometimes I just feel so happy that I have a Blog. It’s become my little place I go when I’m feeling happy, sad, confused, angered, anxious and celebratory.
This morning I shipped two little boys off to camp. I know what you’re saying… “Day camp! Get over yourself, Mamma!” But really, I’m not over it. I’m totally still in it. And the flood gates haven’t shut off yet. If you’re a mom with a kid starting a first day of school, a first day of daycare, a first day of camp, or any place where you’re sending your child into the unknown, then I know you can relate. Unless you can’t, and that’s cool too. 
I sprung out of bed at 6am this morning with a nervous stomach. Both boys are starting brand new camps today. The Watermelon Bus, that is, the bus taking my 6 year old 45 minutes away, twice a day, wasn’t coming until 8:30Am. Tons of time! I had prepared their backpacks last night, bought them their favorite plain pizza for their first day, and laid their clothes out. But still, I figured between making lunches, getting them to eat breakfast, and calming my 6 year old’s nerves about the swim program, we’d need extra time.
Hi Ladies,
Well, I’ve officially been at this Blogging business for three months, and I have to say, I’m absolutely soaking up every minute. People ask me how I get my inspiration, or find the time, or simply why I like to do it. The truth is, it’s because of you ladies, around the world, wherever you are. My Tokyo readers, my Italian readers, my Russian readers, my Israeli women… the Internet is a powerful and incredible thing. To have friends around the world without leaving the comforts of your own coffee shop, in glasses and sweats, to feel so connected. It’s why I do it.
I have decided to take some time during the next few weeks to spend with my husband and kids, who are off from work and school and soak up the holiday spirit. It’s time for us to re-group as a family. The kids have colds, my hubby is exhausted, and I am the glue that holds it all together. I will be checking in, but excuse me if my posts are short and/or sporadic and/or wonky. This happens whenever I sit around on my ass and do nothing. I go soft.
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on Wordless Wednesday: A Dream Meeting With Arianna Huffington
on Wordless Wednesday: A Dream Meeting With Arianna Huffington
on Wordless Wednesday: A Dream Meeting With Arianna Huffington
on Wordless Wednesday: A Dream Meeting With Arianna Huffington
