I played the disability card. Well, actually Susan did it, but on my behalf. She worries about me, tries to make my life easier, so she made the call. We flew to Portland recently, Oregon, not Maine. A long flight, probably about as long a flight as you can make from Baltimore and still be … Continue reading The Disability Card
Tourettes
I Swear
Bruce sent me a text the other day: Hey Jeff, the movie “I Swear” is opening in a local Baltimore theater. It’s the life story of Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson. G and I are going to see it this weekend. Maybe it’s playing in your neck of the woods. Bruce is one of my … Continue reading I Swear
So Much More Than Tics
We finished the class with standing sprints to Bring Me to Life by Evanescence, a five-minute climb to 4 Non Blondes’ What’s Up, and cooled-down to The Jam’s That’s Entertainment. As the opening bars to Beck’s Loser filled the room, the spinners slowed their pedals to a stop, dropped their heels, and stretched their calf … Continue reading So Much More Than Tics
Reunited?
Reunited, and it feels so goodReunited, 'cause we understoodThere's one perfect fitAnd sugar, this one is itWe both are so excited'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey Reunited, a Peaches and Herb song from my high school years. So distant from the music I preferred—Springsteen, Beatles, Thorogood, CSNY, the Stones, and of course the breaking new wave … Continue reading Reunited?
Lyric
She stood before the room rolling a pink box in her hands. “This box contains two doses in case the first one doesn’t work.” The presenter, unexpectedly named Lyric, oozed compassion, a solemn vibe. Overdosing is serious business. I had this training once before, that guy was a comedian. His unboxing bit went like this: … Continue reading Lyric
The Book of Losman
Losman and I are identical. I often felt like I was reading about myself. So much so, that by page seventy-five, I was so agitated I almost stopped reading altogether. This is an excerpt from an email I sent to Kyle Semmel the other day. He’s the author of the book I just finished. Right … Continue reading The Book of Losman
Apologize all you want…
Apologize all you want, you're still a Dirt-Bag.* Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stepped into a big stinking pile of Donald Trump the other day. Like so many American politicians repeatedly do, Albanese showed his true colors when he became annoyed with political opponents who interrupted him. “Do you have Tourette’s or something? You know, … Continue reading Apologize all you want…
A Social Compact
-- My name is Inigo Montoya.*-- As you wish.*-- Inconceivable!* Yes, I watched The Princess Bride last week. Every summer, Gettysburg’s college-owned ‘art theater’ hosts a Wednesday night classic movie series. When it got started fifteen years ago, it was all Casablanca and North by Northwest and Rear Window. These days, under new management, the … Continue reading A Social Compact
Jump Ropes and Caffeine
Every time I open Facebook, I’m presented with a video of a woman—thin, blonde, smiley—jumping rope. It’s mesmerizing. It’s stupid. I know that if I pause to watch, Meta will just give me more jump-roping videos, but I can’t help myself. She jumps, I watch. Months ago, when I read an article reporting that Facebook … Continue reading Jump Ropes and Caffeine
Ben – A Guest Post
David Don, also known as DD or DeeDee on WordPress, saw my years-old call for guest posts on my readers' impressions on Tourette Syndrome: Write me a story. I think in most cases I would have said “sorry, too late” But DD is truly one of my favorite bloggers. His haiku posts are interesting, cleverly … Continue reading Ben – A Guest Post
Vanishing Act
Did'ja miss me? I'm not sure if I missed you. Two weeks without blogging has been relaxing. As I get farther from my last post, as fewer people visit my site each day, I begin to lose the compulsion to check my stats every hour. But I feel I owe an update. I made an … Continue reading Vanishing Act
Dear Psychiatrist Sam
Dear Psychiatrist Sam, My husband has Tourette syndrome and OCD. Years ago, before he began a twice-daily dose of antipsychotics to reduce his Tourette tics (unwanted movements and vocalizations) intrusive OCD thoughts regularly dragged him out of bed in the small hours of the morning. As a happy side effect of that medication, those intrusive … Continue reading Dear Psychiatrist Sam
Telling my Story, or Not
I ran into Sandy in the hallway. “Oh, hey Jeff, this is a heads up. You're going to be formally invited to be a book in the Living Library.” Sandy’s statement probably makes no sense to you, so let me elaborate. A big trend in libraries right now is to offer patrons a chance to … Continue reading Telling my Story, or Not
Medication Management
Every time I talk with my father, which can range from three times a week to twice a day, depending on life circumstances, he asks me the same question, “What’s new?” And I tell him, “Nothing’s new,” every single time. He thinks I live the most boring life imaginable. When I hang up the phone, … Continue reading Medication Management
Writing to Write
That time God spoke from the clouds. In many of the "Rules for Writing" lists on the web, know your audience is number one. I know my audience. I'm writing this for myself. ~ ~ ~ “Hey, where ya been?” That’s what you’re thinking right now, isn't it? At least in my mind you are. … Continue reading Writing to Write
Alone in a Crowd
I encountered someone with Tourette Syndrome last week—I think. Their tics, facial twitches, were subtle. I stared too long and probably got caught. Still unsure, I stared some more. Once I decided I had it right, I wanted to walk over and say “Hey, me too! Tell me your story.” Susan said “Don’t, it’s none … Continue reading Alone in a Crowd
Wavers and A**holes (my rules for running and life in general)
In this great wide world, there are two types of people: wavers and assholes. By the great wide world, I mean the national park where I run, the Gettysburg National Military Park (aka the Gettysburg battlefield). By wavers, I mean runners who wave or nod to other runners as they approach. And the assholes? I’m … Continue reading Wavers and A**holes (my rules for running and life in general)
The Meaning of a Shriek
Our house was seventies suburban, solid hardwood floors but with drywall so thin I once punched a dent in it during an uninspired attempt to show my dad a bit of emotion. Each morning my father awoke early for work. He started every day with a shower. Everyone else had an extra hour to sleep, … Continue reading The Meaning of a Shriek
Potpourri
I used to call posts like this one my ‘cliff hanger’ series. A nod to my propensity to write about a life event, usually an essay steeped in concern over a probable outcome or inevitability, leaving the reader on a proverbial cliff. And then I never mention it again. Weeks later someone might ask about … Continue reading Potpourri
Torque
Step, step, step, torque. I twist my torso, a jerking motion, hoping for a violent stretch. Looking for a pop. A release, like a knuckle crack, like that crunching sound Eli makes with his neck when he drops his head to the side. I torque the bottom of my ribs on the left, not quite … Continue reading Torque
The Other Stuff 