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In the early 1980’s there was a dessert place in Seattle, that had the marketing slogan, “Eat Dessert First, Life Is Uncertain!” Arden and I adopted this as a family motto. Circumstances always remind us that life is uncertain. It is important to find enjoyment in life and don’t put off things that you want
Nick has been having a wonderful time in Ireland, until just after 10:00 pm Sunday night. Without warning, he had about 30 minutes of pretty intense seizures. It was particularly terrifying. Once the seizures had stopped, it took a little while for him to fully recover and now he is sleeping. Arden and I are
We took Nick out to the Malin Hotel to see his favorite singer, Shunie Crampsey. Nick is typically predictable. Some of this is his autistic behaviors, some is his determination. When we go out in Ireland, he likes a specific beverage that he only orders in Ireland – blackcurrant syrup with white lemonade in a
One of the main things that we recognize about Nick, is that he finds joy in many things. Situations that many people term the simple pleasures of life. Everyday he experiences something in his life that he feels is wonderful and it lights up his face. You can see an example of this in
This picture is a depiction of some of my days. Yes, we have had some days when we woke up and actually discovered the road to town was impassable, but I was thinking figuratively today. We can plan and organize our lives, our schedules and our appointments, and sometimes that road is unexpectedly not open
NORD, or the National Organization for Rare Disorders truly is a life-saving organization. NORD, along with its more than 230 patient organization members, is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and patient services. Donations to NORD directly benefit families like ours. One of the programs
Nick will speak his mind. His speech is not always understood by others and often we become his translators. He also isn’t always aware of expected cultural social behavior. Sometimes this turns out to be funny, sometimes it is not so funny. In any case we all get to decide how to respond to his
Over the years, Arden and I have tried to discover things that will make caring for Nick easier both for us as well as easier for him. Some ideas have worked out and others we have scrapped. Sometimes we are brainstorming and planning for awhile and other times, the light turns on and a solution
On Sunday afternoon we visited Strokestown House and the Irish National Famine Museum in Co. Sligo, Ireland. It was a unique and memorable experience. The weather was fantastic, but the warmest part was the wonderful treatment we received from the guides and staff at the site. Strokestown House is a Georgian Palladian mansion preserved with
In Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, Ireland, there is a large 767 airplane in a field. It is part of the Quirky Glamping Village. As you know, Nick loves planes and we were told we had to see it. He thought it was very funny. Over the weekend, we heard many stories about the man who envisioned
Announcing that I have finished a book with the working title of “The Fairy Fort.” I am currently pitching it to publishers. Keep checking back to watch the progress of my newest novel.
Here is a quick glimpse of the story.
Sarah Doherty is an 18-year-old living in rural Ireland at the tail end of the Great War. Plagued by severe epilepsy, she is protected by her parents and lives a sheltered, secluded, lonely life. The Fae, local Irish fairies, interfere with her life. She falls forward a century in time through the local fairy fort of standing stones. She had a seizure in 1918 and woke up in 2020. The 21st century world includes life-saving prescriptions, physical comforts and the independence and freedom she seeks. The locals are welcoming and Andy Mclaughlin, a handsome young historian, is intriguing. She doesn’t want to return home.
Then a letter arrives from Boston divulging the story of Sarah and Andy’s lives that are deeply entwined in the previous century. They are not yet in love but as they seek to verify the letter through online resources, they feel a growing obligation to their unborn family and to each other. What would happen to their posterity living in Boston if they don’t return to 1918? Even if they do make it back, her parents can never know what happened to her or that would change everything.
This Young Adult time-travel romance explores the question: Do we have the freedom to make choices or is free will an elaborate illusion?
This is my third book. I love reading time travel romances. I am an advocate for epilepsy awareness because my 43-year-old son has intractable epilepsy. As a genealogist specializing in Irish research, I live part of the year in the village where the story is based. I wrote the book to help young adults understand that difficult situations can change your life. Sometimes miraculously.
