Category Archives: Additional Inspiration

Thinking. About You.

July 30, 2012 – 7:33 am

I don’t know why, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my fellow PWDs. Particularly about those who go through tough times.

Sometimes our diabetes is the issue. Sometimes our diabetes is collateral damage, caught in the crossfire.

We all have moments that challenge us. Moments when we are insulted. Moments when we are marginalized. Moments when things are beyond difficult. Moments when we just want to give up. Even if just for a moment.

I hope you know that you’re not alone in those moments. In those moments especially. You already know that there are hundreds of resources… hundreds of people here online who believe in you and are ready to lend an ear. Ready to lend a shoulder. Able to validate what you’re going through. When it seems like no one believes in you, the Diabetes Online Community stands with you. On your side.

I’ve been thinking about that lately. And thinking about you lately, whoever you are. I don’t know why. But if you ever need anything, feel free to leave a comment or use the e-mail link in the upper left part of this page. Or just click on one of the links in my blogroll to the left. Those links will connect you with many more people who know a lot more than I do. No, you are not alone. Not today. Not ever.

I believe in you. In your most difficult moments. And I’ll be there to celebrate you. In your greatest triumphs.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Also posted in Support | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

A Hall of Fame Worthy Speech.

July 22, 2012 – 8:36 pm

Disclosure: Even though I’ve lived in Baltimore for almost 18 years, and in Columbus, Georgia for a couple of years back in the 80’s, I was born in, grew up in, and lived many years in Cincinnati, where I became, and remain, a HUGE fan of my hometown Reds. So I tuned in to MLB Network Sunday afternoon in anticipation of watching the Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech of Barry Larkin, who will likely be the last Reds player inducted in my lifetime (Dave Parker? Dave Concepcion? Anyone? Bueller?).

Before Larkin’s speech was the speech from Vicki Santo, widow of Ron Santo, who was also inducted this year. His induction comes mere months after losing a long battle with diabetes at the age of 71. He’s not the first baseball player with Diabetes inducted into the Hall of Fame (the great Jackie Robinson comes to mind). But Vicki’s speech, honoring her husband, and his life with diabetes, was an inspiring wake-up call to all of us. It reminds us that the work for a cure goes on, and that great things can be accomplished in spite of what diabetes does to our lives. She reminds us that Ron Santo helped raise over $65 million for JDRF, and that when you walk, ride, or give to a Victoria Cumbow, a Moira McCarthy, or a Jeff Mather who is Riding for a Cure, you are helping to find a cure too. And she reminds me that I have a long way to go in the advocacy department.

The link to the full video is below, courtesy of MLB Network. A few snippets that resonated with me:

“Ron said that playing the game was easy… that only the diabetes made the game hard”.

“He embraced his gift and his hardship equally– believing that one would not have mattered without the other. He believed in his journey and he believed in his cause. His journey has led him here to Cooperstown. And his cause is finding a cure”.

“…in his legacy let it be known that here is a man who attained the highest honor his sport can give, while playing with an insidious disease”.

The speech starts at about the 1:55 mark in the video. If you can, please take the time to listen. And let this speech inspire you to make a bigger difference.

Baseball Hall of Fame | Ron Santo is inducted into the Hall Of Fame – Video | MLB.com: Multimedia.

 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Aftermath, Part 2.

July 8, 2012 – 4:28 pm

A freak storm came through the Mid-Atlantic about 11:00 p.m. Friday, June 29. The main part of the storm lasted 45 minutes, uprooting trees and downing power lines. More than 1 million residents lost power in the corridor from Baltimore southwest to Northern Virginia. Some are still without power.
Owing to the fact that all news is local, here’s the take from our little part of the world in the past week.

Some interesting things happen when you go through something like we have in the past week.

For some, it’s a bonding experience. I’ve suffered the way you have, and that connects us (PWDs understand this, yes?). Others feel that the way to bond is to tell us how tragic their story is; making their story sound worse than yours helps them feel more important. That bothers some people. But I understand that… it’s human nature.

Some people escape. Neighborhood’s a wreck? No power? Let’s find a hotel room, or go to our vacation home. Tweet when it’s over, bro.

Still others stick it out. Through thick and thin, hot and cold, wind and rain, they are there helping others where they can, and hunkering down when necessary. Not always nice– equal parts cranky and sweet, persistent and persnickety, every neighborhood needs these helpful, faithful residents.

And then there are the rocks. The ones who never talk about themselves but always find time to ask how you’re doing, if you need help with something, if they can pick up anything for you at the store. I try to share that kind of compassion, but I have to admit that sometimes my efforts come up a bit short.

Just some observations from connecting with my neighbors again this past week. Not a point to any of this, really. Except to say that I feel closer to my neighbors after everything we’ve been through. While I would like to get away to the mountains, I chose to stay. And although it’s trying at times, I try to help with a kind word, or an invite to the “Let’s grill all the meat in the freezer before it spoils” barbecue. Most of all, I’m so happy that everyone is safe. Nothing more important than that.

All of these photos were taken by The Great Spousal Unit or myself, and are within two small blocks of our home.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , | Comments (0)

The aftermath. The kids are all right.

July 2, 2012 – 7:05 am

Our neighborhood was one of many that were struck by a freak storm late Friday night. Like many in Maryland, we got it bad. Vehicles destoyed, homes destroyed, power lines down everywhere. And then Saturday, a friend and neighbor was electrocuted when working around a generator. He suffered some injuries, but he’s okay.

And I am happy to report that Maureen, Rachel, the dog, and the cat are okay. When we get the power back, I’ll share some photos. That figures to be about Friday or Saturday.

I hope wherever you are today, you are okay too. Don’t forget to tell someone you love them. You need it as much as they do.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Comments (0)

A Non-D Post.

June 24, 2012 – 7:59 pm

I got a few photos last week, and they’re totally non-diabetes related, but I wanted to share them before they’re too old.

About a week and a half back, Baltimore hosted something called the Star-Spangled Sailabration. It’s part of many events the city will be hosting over the next couple of years, celebrating America’s (and Baltimore’s) involvement in the War of 1812. For this celebration, several tall sailing ships, and some naval vessels, came into Baltimore’s inner harbor from around the world. It was a very cool spectacle watching them sail in, and then sail out, of the harbor.

I was able to get these photos while the ships were leaving the harbor last Tuesday. They are either taken from my desk, or from the window by my desk at work. Just a lucky spot to be.

I’ll get back to the diabetes-related stuff very soon. In the meantime, here are the photos:

This is the only American ship I could catch. Sorry… I had too many meetings to get a photo of everything.

This is a Mexican vessel. If you look closely, you’ll see sailors stationed up on the masts of the ship. All the way up. Don’t believe me? Check out the next photo.

Don’t worry… there’s a rope behind each of the sailors that they’re holding onto. But still, it can’t be easy standing up there.

This ship is from Columbia. The sailors are doing the same thing here, but the sailors are easier to see.


 
 
 

By StephenS | Tagged , | Comments (0)