Thursday, March 06, 2008

Taco Bell

When Annie and I got married, we moved into an apartment right next door to a Taco Bell. Our first year's meals comprised of tacos, bean burritos and Nacho Belgrandes, sometimes for both lunch and supper. Needless to say, our wallets got thinner, our mid-sections thicker and - after moving away a year later - we both lost our taste for food from South of the Border for quite some time.

That's kind of what happened with this blog.

For a while it was great being able to discuss issues dealing with Down syndrome. I did it often, sometimes twice a day. But, like after eating too many bean burritos, I started to feel like I was "clogged up." I needed some "greens" in my diet, and no, the lettuce on a taco does not count.

Stepping away from daily blogging - and reading blogs - kind of felt like going on a healthy diet. It helped me realize that I really don't see Ian's Down syndrome much any more. Of course, his hilarious little laughs help.

I've also been getting more work done, both on videos and at home. And, after a 5-year hiatus, I've started going to church again. I even went to a fund-raising event to benefit Special Olympics, which I'll post about later.

I'm often a person of extremes - either all in or all out. I'm hoping the pendulum is starting to slow down and find some rest in the middle.

13 comments:

RK said...

Really great analogy there, and for what it's worth, I think it shows alot of insight. Kudos for getting back to church again, and for the getting more work done. Here's to continued mental success and a calming pendulum.

I've been pondering a type of technology/blogging diet, but I'm not sure I've got a regular life to fall back on anymore...but that's for another day.

Shannon @ Gabi's World said...

I think it just shows that you are getting to a stage of even more acceptance and realizing that Ian is Ian (not that you didn't know it before, but just even more now). You'll still have times where Down syndrome will be your topic of discussion. It just won't be as large of a subject as it once was.

Also, I go through weeks that blogging is more like a chore. But it passes quickly and I have fun in it again. Usually that comes with something I am dying to share about one or more of my kiddos!

rylie's mom said...

Tom- I understand where you are coming from. Since I started blogging about Ds and reading blogs about Ds I think about Ds so much more then I use to. But for me right now it is a good thing. Reason being,is that I am over the shock, so anything I read or write is just a good learning experience. But the 4 1/2 years before I started blogging I really didn't think about Ds too much(just in the beginning when Rylie was born)

Jeffrey Goble said...

Good.

Kim Ayres said...

If you've been using the blog to medicate, and you're not needing to medicate in the same way to the same extent any more, then that's a good thing, right?

We write about what is obsessing us at the time. If the DS feels less obsessional, then I'd say that's a real step forward.

Your next post should be about a duck, a candle and a distortion pedal for an electric guitar.

terri said...

hey, there's another thing we have in common...i lived by a taco bell when i first got married too. when i was pregnant with my first son i pretty much mainlined burrito supremes. icky. i'm glad you're finding a little balance and sanity. take care...

Unknown said...

It will still be fun to read when you do post. And excellent choice for you to control your blog, instead of it controlling you.

Michelle said...

and there ya go ;)

bella said...

I know what you're speaking of.
when I first started blogging, I was processing my own health and not having the body I once did.
and the something changed, is changing.
Like you, my hope is to let myself go to all the extreme mes and find that there is a place in the soft middle.
While I have missed you here, I'm so happy to hear you have been giving your energy in other life giving ways.
Whatever you bring here, it is enough.

Anonymous said...

Sounds very healthy. Blessings to you.

Stacy said...

Love the analogy. I enjoy your blog, no matter what you are writing about because I appreciate your perspective on things. Down syndrome related or not.

Tom said...

RK: Funny thing is, writing about Taco Bell is making me crave some tacos.. :)

Shannon: I'm starting to wonder what I made all that fuss about in the first place; guess this is a good place to be.

Rylies Mom: Really glad the blogs are helping... it was - and is - a life saver for me. Looking forward to reading many more years about Rylie's adventures. (My niece is named Rylie)

elbog: Great.

Kim: Definitely was using blogging as some form of medicine. Think I just need to cut my dose in half :)

Terri: I think all newly weds should start off living next to TB; gives you motivation later on to never eat fast food again. (of course, it hasn't quite worked out that way for me.)

Carole: This is Tom's blog speaking... I have, and will continue, to control Tom. I'm coming for you next.

Michelle: Here I am... :)

Isabel: Now I just have to figure out what to write about :(

Lint: Thanks..

Walden: Glad you enjoy my rambling... tune in next week to hear what I think about bass fishing.

Sandra said...

Think I know exactly what you mean. This feeling of being "clogged up".

I think we all do that, in different levels and in different situations.

We look for information on something, we discuss it, we go through it over and over in our heads. I think we do it to try to find some sort of control.

Sometimes it gives us more insight, more control. Sometimes it makes us even more confused.

Anyway, it's great reading your blog no matter what you write about.

Finally, love how you used Taco Bell to get to your main point in this post. Creative! I hate most kinds of fast food, but for some reason I really like Taco Bell :) So they must be doing something right :)