I'd like to say that my love of thrift shopping stems entirely from eco-friendly, frugal, and charitable intentions, but I have to admit: it's also just really fun to hunt for treasures in places where every individual piece feels one-of-a-kind. My home region, the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, is rich with thrift shops, antique… Continue reading Buying Second-hand in the Pioneer Valley: a 2023 Review of Local Shops
Degenerative, progressive, fatal. These illness-related words can inspire feelings of doom in a person learning about their new diagnosis. But what about the word “chronic”? When I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or collectively ME/CFS) seven years ago at age 30, my doctor was vague about the timeline of the illness. Do… Continue reading Recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: It’s Complicated
Note: I began experiencing ME/CFS symptoms shortly after a bout of mono more than 10 years ago. I was finally diagnosed with ME/CFS roughly 7 years ago, and over the past 2 years I have experienced marked improvement (see Parts I and II). I’d say I’m about 90% recovered, or in a partial remission. Recovery is relatively uncommon… Continue reading My ME/CFS Recovery, Part III: What’s Working?
Before you read: I began experiencing ME/CFS symptoms shortly after a bout of mono more than 10 years ago. I was finally diagnosed with ME/CFS roughly 7 years ago, had “moderate” ME/CFS for about 5 years, and over the past 2 years I have experienced marked improvement. I’d say I’m about 90% recovered, or in… Continue reading My ME/CFS Recovery, Part II: GET, CBT, and “Brain Retraining”
I’ve had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or collectively ME/CFS) in varying levels of severity for almost 10 years now. For the past two or three years, I have experienced gradual and nonlinear improvement in my health. I can never be sure if my improvement is permanent, but what I’ve experienced along my ME/CFS journey… Continue reading My ME/CFS Recovery, Part 1: Everything that Didn’t Work
It's taken me a long time to realize that, when you add things to your life, you usually have to subtract some things, too. Unless what you've added is more time or help, and then you might be subtracting money. The holiday season fools me each year, especially now that it includes Thanksgiving, Chanukah, three… Continue reading December: Taking Time to Celebrate and Be Sick
I went for a walk with my son today. We do this almost every day. It's a gorgeous day, sunny and unseasonably warm. The leaves are changing and falling. Some of the trees—enough to be quite noticeable—aren't changing their usual fiery colors. The maples in our yard have gone yellow with brown spots. They say… Continue reading Spotty brown leaves and making meaning in a changing climate
Our seasons aren't quite what they used to be, here in New England. June of 2021 was the wettest on record in my region, and quite cool. We had a couple of stretches of days in the 90s in May. I'm never sure when summer ends and fall begins, now. With weather consistently in the… Continue reading 2021: year of the mushroom
When I first started knitting and crocheting, and for many years afterward, quick projects were delicious to me. I enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction and relief when I completed a project. I like finishing things. I don't like putting them down, or waiting, or being patient. And I most certainly do not like boredom. But… Continue reading How I learned to love slow knitting
Throughout the pandemic, I've been doing little art and craft projects here and there, usually while my son is napping. It's relaxing, gives me something productive and fun to focus on, and prevents me from doing too many physically strenuous things that make my CFS worse. I've always been a dabbler in drawing and painting.… Continue reading My library fan art
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