19 February 2012
So this past Thursday, the 16th, was the annual Disability Day at the capitol and I went. It was such an empowering day for me personally because lil, ole me made a sign at the last minute and this very sign attracted a lot of attention. On one side, I wrote,“I have a disability that you cannot see…mild traumatic brain injury”and on the other side, I wrote,“Brain injuries affect everybody-Spread love.”
I wanted to send a strong message to the lawmakers at the annual Disability Day rally in Atlanta, 16 Feb 2012. It was a very effective sign as the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Gainesville Times photographed and interviewed me, much to my surprise.
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution photographed me and the Gainesville Times photographed and interviewed me. I wanted to represent my fellow brain injured survivors and speak on their behalf, so to speak. I have finally found my voice and I’m speaking out more and more every day.
The funny thing about the sign is that I wanted to do it the day before didn’t have time. Then that morning, I said to Jacques and Monique, twice, that I wanted to make my sign. I practically had to beg them to let me do it and I finally told them that I would catch up with them, but they said they would wait.
The event had provided posters and magic markers so it was just perfect. It was slim pickings though! I asked to join this table that I was passing by because they had the supplies. Then I went to another table to hunt down more markers because the first table had only four markers and there were four of us sharing them! The kids were taking too long passing the markers around so I left because I was mindful that Jacques and Monique were waiting outside.
So when I shared my sign with them, they suggested that we tape it to his umbrella, which interestingly enough, the same thought popped into my mind a split second before. So then, we had to walk back inside, glancing table after table, and I’m trying to stay under control even though I felt dizzy walking up and down the tables, and the music is blaring and there are people everywhere and the room is crowded; and all I wanted to do was run and hide from it all. But I hung in there until Jacques suggested we look in the other room. I had to decline so I waited outside. To my amazement, he came out with tape! And even though it was drizzling rain, the umbrella was put to good use as a handle for my sign!
Tonight, I celebrate four weeks since my last migraine. How nice it would to be say “my last migraine” as I’ve been taking my Ayurvedic herbs for almost two months and I love them. I attribute the absence of migraines to them and my overall state of being is calmer and I have more energy.
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