Monday, August 13, 2012

Moments in Life


It’s August already!  I haven’t written a blog post since May.   It’s been a very busy summer for us.  I started a new job. My daughter had a wonderful experience for 6 weeks in Australia. Jon completed a summer class.  Jon and I traveled to the Fort Lauderdale for the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Annual Connect Conference.   He was a panel member and provided his perspective on being a trial participant.  We took a very quick trip to NH to visit some family and friends.  Jon has been using the summer to adjust to having his own power chair. He will be able to navigate campus and use the equipment in his biology and chemistry labs much easier.  Jon’s chair is a Permobil c300 with the tilt and the elevate feature. 
Jon is also beginning to learn how to drive.   There is an organization in my area called DriveOn they teach disabled people how to drive safely. They have a modified van with the electronic modifications like the kind Jon will need in his own vehicle.   Jon is excited about the prospect of driving. He was able drive on the road with his driving instructor this week using his wheelchair in the instructors modified van.

Jon shared his driving experience with his friends when they met at local ice cream parlor.  The summer will be coming to end soon. Jon’s friends and his sister will be going back to their perspective colleges in a week or two.  This past weekend was low key, pizza, and wings.  My husband and I watched the movie a “Time to kill” while Jon preferred to surf you tube and play some video games.  His sister was out with a group of friends.

The low key evening turned into a very late night for Jon and my husband. They watched the Perseid Meteor shower until early morning.  Jon wrapped in a blanket tilted back in his wheelchair, and was enamored watching natures light show igniting the night sky.   My husband was equally thrilled he was able to watch the night sky with Jon.   This morning as we started our day I enjoyed listening to both of them discuss how beautiful the night sky looked and reminded me of a quote Rose Kennedy “Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments.”    I’m extremely gratified to be able to share these moments with my family.