Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013!

We’re at the end of 2012 and there are Top Ten lists for everything (and I mean everything!).  I love those lists, although a list of “Top Ten Apologies” makes me pretty skeptical when Libyan President Mohamed el-Magariaf and Vice-President Biden are listed alongside Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame.

Really, Time.com?  I think you just made my list of “Top Ten Disappointing News Outlets.”

Anyway, I love almost all lists so had the “brilliant” idea to ask Robert what he enjoyed about 2012.  I thought it would be a fun way to create our own Top Ten list to end the year and get started on 2013.

Sometimes conversations with Robert are pretty, hmm, well, short.  He’s been known to surprise me, though so I didn’t know what to expect.   

I started by asking, “What did you like about 2012?”

Robert took a bite of his Rocky Road ice cream and said, “A lot of things.” (Even though he didn’t say it, I’m pretty sure “Rocky Road Ice Cream could be at the top of his list so we’ll count that as Number 1).

Um, like what?

“Watching movies.  There’s a lot of good movies at Day Program.” (There’s Number 2)

That’s nice.  What else did you like this year?

“It was excellent.  I had a good time.” (Nothing specific but good times definitely count as Number 3)

I reminded him he was in the hospital this year (thinking this would trigger gratitude for getting better).

“I had a good time there too.”  (Not the answer I expected but I have no doubt he did have a good time!  While I was worried sick as he battled pneumonia and sepsis, he was also getting plenty of sleep, eating in bed and being visited by nurses around the clock.  Let’s count “good times in the hospital and getting better” as Number 4)

Is there anything else good about 2012?

After scanning the family room, “My walker is good too.” (Number 5 – we’ll take it)

Is that pretty much it? 

“Yeah.”

He didn’t quite make it to ten but I can think of a few more to add to his/our Top Ten List of What Made 2012 Wonderful:

6.  2012 was the year of New Home getting a terrific new House Manager!  Robert may not realize how important this is but it has eased my mind tremendously having someone there with Robert’s best interests at heart.

7.  Robert’s adaptable clothing from Buck and Buck.  He now doesn’t have to worry about buttons on any of his shirts or pajamas and I’ve even switched him to Velcro closing jeans.  After I worried he wouldn’t like the switch to a Velcro close in his jeans, he now won’t wear any other kind!

8.  Robert and I were part of an interview for the AARP produced PBS program, Inside E Street.  Robert giggled when I told him people would be asking for his autograph once he was filmed and he loved every minute of it (even though he was sick at the time and ended up in the hospital the next day!). 

9. Robert was able to visit our grandmother for the first time in years and, although the visit was much shorter than anticipated, Robert’s happiness meter was off the charts. 

10.  Robert may not have been able to meet all of the amazing, new people and fellow advocates I’ve met by advocating for Epilepsy Awareness, but I’ve told him about everyone and he knows people read about him on the computer.  He always says, “That’s nice” when I tell him about it. 

Thank you for sharing 2012 with us!  I look forward to many more moments in 2013 that will make the Top Ten next December 31.  Robert will be doing what he loves: eating Rocky Road Ice Cream and seeing the “excellent” in everything.

Have a very Happy New Year filled with many moments to make you smile. 

“Inside E Street” – Focus on the Working Caregiver

As I briefly wrote not too long ago, Robert and I were interviewed for the AARP produced for PBS show, “Inside E Street.”  

It came about so unexpectedly I barely had time to think about it much less write about it.  I received an email from a producer on a Tuesday evening asking if Robert and I would be interested in participating.  After getting over my initial skepticism that this was a spam email or someone selling something, I couldn’t believe my good fortune and was stunned I was being asked to talk about the working caregiver.  I took a deep breath, composed a reply email (proofing it several dozen times) and calmly responded we would be very interested. 

Inside I was jumping up and down doing my happiest happy dance!

Once all the dancing was over and I shared my good news with my hubby and daughter (who were doing their own happy dances), I mentally prepared a quick checklist of things to do before the television interview:

• Talk to Robert to be sure he wanted to do this (given his life purpose is to spread awareness about epilepsy I was confident of his answer);
• Research the best colors to wear on television;
• Review my list of facts and figures on epilepsy and working caregivers;
• Lose ten pounds (hey, if the camera adds 10 pounds, I need to lose 10 pounds to counteract that effect!);

The producer responded to my reply the following day (Wednesday).  He was happy we could participate and would like to film footage at my office, film Robert at his Day Program and do the interview at our house (thankfully we just had the house cleaned so I don’t have to add that to the list!).

Excellent!  Just let me know when you’d like to film and I can make the arrangements.

“Tomorrow.”

Ack! Tomorrow!?  As in, the day after today?  (Crap – so much for losing those 10 pounds!).

Doing the interview so quickly actually was a good thing because I realized I would have turned into a bundle of nerves if I had to wait weeks to be interviewed.  (I was nervous enough with a day’s notice!).

I talked to Robert and asked him if it was okay he was interviewed the next day.  He gave me his usual, “that sounds good” response but laughed when I told him he would be a star and he would have to give people his autograph.  He was on board!

Day Program and my office were equally agreeable to my unexpected request. (Thank you!)

Since I’ve never done anything like this before, I didn’t know what to expect.  The experience was actually quite fun and the producer, the sound and camera guys were absolutely terrific to work with.  They eased my nerves and were so friendly and kind to Robert. 

The segment was focused on the working caregiver as well as the limited definition of family under FMLA. I was more than happy to discuss this topic since it is so important to me and closely affects my care of Robert. 

The end result was broadcast on our local channel KVIE2.  Our cable company actually doesn’t carry it so I didn’t get to watch it on television but our segment is on the "Inside E Street" website and can be viewed here. 

(The day after this was filmed Robert was hospitalized with pneumonia and sepsis which definitely put my working caregiver hat to the test!).

I have to express many thanks to the Inside E Street show for focusing on this important topic and to the producer and his crew for making this such a positive experience for Robert and I (and for their excellent editing skills!).

Once this was available to view on the website, I showed Robert the video and he declared it "excellent." 

Now, I just need his autograph . . .