The Glass is Half-Full

  I have had two very different experiences shopping in the past week. At two different stores in two different cities. While in Grand Rapids for a dermatologist appointment (nothing major found, just a couple zaps/freezes - which is amazing for this fair-skinned lass who had had more than her fair share of sunburns!), I decided  to check out Horrocks Market. It's a store I visited once or twice in Lansing and they opened this GR location near our home in Kentwood a few years after we had moved. I have always wanted to check it out and last week seemed like a perfect chance. First, the ramps into the store are very steep and making rolling up a feat my abs and arms did not appreciate. The store did not have a motorized cart that I could see, or the little shopping carts with wheels (love the ones at Walgreens). So my now noodle-y arms and my chair wheeled through the store with my shopping bag from Aldi. I enjoyed exploring but not 'shopping' because my bag could only hold

  I understand that there are those who may believe my use of the term 'gimp' is derogatory or demeaning. I do not use it lightly or to belittle anyone, it's just a lot easier for me to than 'disabled' or 'handicapped' because it uses a little snark or humor to something that could use a little of that. Or in this case, I specifically want to make light of my situation so that it doesn't feel depressing. For you or me. Let me try to explain.  One of my pet peeves is the look of sympathy I get from well-meaning people. Like, "Aw, sweetie, I am so sorry that you are less abled, confined to a wheelchair and less able to live the full, active life that I lead."  I am in a wheelchair most of the time and my life is different because of that but in truth I never wanted to run a marathon of play pickleball or climb Mt. Baldhead (I've done the latter too many times usually bringing up the rear of the group I was with and/or being cheered on by the

  I am not sure if its aging, the current state of chaos in the world or something more personal, but I have had a difficult time in the past couple years finding the positive in everything. It used to be my superpower. Hence the title of the blog, the glass is half-full. Instead, I find myself struggling to find that positivity in all things. Its like my superpower has been voided by kryptonite or something sinister. And as its happened I've simply succumbed like a weak-assed ninny, laying down my the shield that protected my positive mindset and opening it up to the onslaught of skepticism and mistrust. The durability of my positive mindset was replaced with an attitude of 'oh what the hell-ism'. My desire to go out in the world and conquer all curmudgeons with my steadfast will to make them smile has been overcome by the that ever-forceful and evil lassitude. While I've not reached that state of my glass being half empty, its more like the glass is half full-ish. You