Hi everyone.
Aiden attended a friend's birthday party this last Saturday at this crazy arcade. Under one huge roof they had all of the standard video games, air hockey, a playground and a Tilt-a-Whirl. I do not mean that it was some silly little toddler-friendly machine that went in circles but a full on carnival size spinner. I could still smell the K-weed smoke from the tooth challenged carneys that operated it for years and feel the echoes of the countless fifteen-year-old boys who talked their girl friends into a ride so they could cop a cheap feel.
The only reasons I knew I was not at the carnival which used to set up on the old hill at 63rd and Quivira was that it was inside and that it was operated by serious faced teenagers. I believe that the stern face is drilled into them by management to make people more comfortable with the fact that you are placing your life into the hands of someone who practiced driving that morning at the high school parking lot with their new permit.
I rode with my son and a good friend of his. Neither had ever even seen a Tilt-a-Whirl. I sat in the middle and made sure they didn't go shooting out. They were laughing before the car started moving and it escalated to full shouting when the first hard Gs hit. I shouted with them. By the end of the ride I had both of them yelling with me,"Bring it! Bring it! Is that all you got?"
It was simply glorious. Find a carnival, ride with a kid, scream your ass off and watch the kid's face the entire ride and then make sure you smile that way at least once a day forever.
......and now for some tips about seizing.... Avoid them if you can. If you must have one, sit down as soon as it starts coming. If you are with someone, tell them what is about to happen and that they do not need to do anything and that this is, unfortunately, normal. It is important to let them know what is coming so they do not get uncomfortable or freak out. Take the initial rush straight on. Don't try to make it go away-it will not. Dare it mess with you. Keep your mouth closed. Even close friends are not comfortable with drool. Do not avoid hallucinations. Strike up a conversation. It might be more enlightening than you think. When you think it is over, wait five more minutes before you get up. When you do get up, have some cold water. It clears your head and gets rid of that horrible dry mouth. If you were with anyone, thank them and make sure they know that you are OK. Answer any questions they have. Use the opportunity to move forward in line or take advantage of other social situations.
My seizure frequency is going down. Unfortunately, the ones I do have are harvey wallbangin, hallucinating, stunners that just blow my mental doors off. I stay conscious but I am pretty far out of it. I always hallucinate now but have come to terms with that.
Thank you again to everyone who supported, prayed, sent good thoughts, drove me around, helped Amy, and made me laugh over the last year. Your healing touches have helped change me forever and I love you. It means everything to me.
jobey
Thanks for the Tilting tip..beautiful:)
I am SO doing that with my kids...
You're welcome Love:) I hope the harvey wallganin,hallucinating,stunners bugger right off!
Posted by: Lael | January 04, 2006 at 11:18 AM