Thanks Ann for Calling this One of your Favorite Blogs!

While I started this blog to help me share what I was going through and express myself, the feedback, comments and followers are very encouraging. I received a note from Ann Ahnemouse who nominated me for The Liebster Blog Award. Ann has a partner with dementia and writes about her experiences while taking the time to remind us to live and take risks in our own lives.

“Liebster” is the German word for “favorite” and this is a rolling award you bestow to other blogs with less than 200 followers. As such, we are asked to:

1) Thank the nominator
2) Link back to them
3) Copy and paste the award logo
4) Nominate five other bloggers
5) Tell my readers 10 random facts about me

My five nominees are:

1. Portrait of a Morbid Optimist – A woman returns home to take care of her father and shares short snapshots of her days, many of which are hilariously sad and recognizable for those of us dealing with our parents as they age.
2. Mom & Dad Care – The eldest son of aging parents shares topical news stories often along with his own personal commentary.
3. Well, This is What I Think – Stephen “Yolly” Yolland is a well-known Australian/British businessman, marketing expert, advertising guru, writer, social and political thinker, speechmaker, media presenter, author and now: published poet. He shares topical news and funny items.
4. Tam Can Rant – A 40-something Delaware native and sole caregiver for her 81-year-old mother who has Parkinsonian dementia. She is also a single mom to two teenage boys. It’s nice to know you aren’t alone.
5. La Rue Neuve – Described as a personal style blog of a young DC professional, the author is passionate about new media and helped me realize I needed to start my own blog about my experiences (even if she doesn’t know that until now! Thanks CG). I hope she will help me stay current through her blog so my daughter doesn’t disown me. She has more than 200 followers already – but it’s still a blog you should know about.

Ten random things about me:

1. I am sometimes too competitive for my own good. My husband once said that he  thought I wanted kids so I would have someone at home to play board games      with (and beat).
2. I live right outside Washington, D.C. and want to live on a farm in the middle of      nowhere – but I think I only believe that because I have NEVER lived in the middle of nowhere.
3. People who are direct may like me better because I do not pick up silent social cues.
4. I am the youngest of four siblings.
5. I met my husband the first day I returned back to work after my honeymoon.
6. I love to hang at home with friends and family over going out.
7. I am an introvert, which most people perceive as me being snotty or standoffish. I prefer to sit back and observe before I jump into social situations.
8. I want to make a difference in how we age and celebrate life, so I started a company called MemoryBanc.
9. I love to wake up and stay in bed with my eyes closed as I map out the coming day mentally.
10. I remember things people don’t expect me to remember, especially about them. I am determined to remember what I’m going through so I won’t repeat this      experience with my children.

Thank you for reading my blog. Honored.