[QUAD-L] keeping in touch

[Jason Thurston]

Dear Quad List Here's my attempt at catching up with everyone who's important to me.  The first big news, if you haven't heard, is that I have a job working for the local Center for Independence.  My job title is independent living specialists, some of the things that I do for work pertain to establishing consumer directed care.  Whereby people can't hire their own personal attendants.  I will be traveling to Washington DC in May for conference with the National Council for Independent Living.  This is almost a weeklong event that will include activities such as seminars on independent living, a march on the capital, and meeting with government representatives to advocate for people with disabilities.  One of the other objectives for the Center is to organize and create a guide to the Tri-Lakes for people with disabilities, so that visitors with disabilities can know what services are truly accessible. Another change in my life that has made a huge difference...  I met someone, her name is Floreen.  She is quite possibly one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and definitely since my accident.  Even though I have only known her for three weeks, give or take, we are very happy together.  She has a special ability to see me as a whole person, not as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair.         We seem to be a perfect fit in a lot of ways.  We have been in the same social circles for a long time.  It is amazing that we hadn't met sooner.  As fate would have it, we met at just the right time. Ever since my friend Melissa decided to move out, I was faced with many challenges.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep my home.  I called on many people for support.  Shelly, from the independent living Center was trying to find me a backup caregiver.  She obtained a list of people that work as personal attendants in Clinton County, Floee was on this list.    I spoke with her on the phone on March 6 we arranged for her to meet me the following Wednesday.  She came back on a Friday so that Melissa could show her around, and she could learn how to help me in the morning.  The rest is history; we can spend hours talking about everything under the sun.  Smiling to the point where our cheeks hurt.  My house has never been cleaner, she is an excellent cook, and we have already been for several walks.  She gets along very well with Jaron and Fox.  She is having trouble right now with her ex, and the custody of her two children, Casey and Madeline.  I have not met them yet but I can already tell she's a great mom, and once the courts get involved I am positive she will get at least joint custody.  Right now she has a Ford Explorer which is impossible for me to transfer into.  But she's talking about getting a car so she can take me places; spring fever is in full effect, I can't wait to get out of the house.  I hope this generic message isn't too impersonal, but I can't think of a better way to keep touch. All the best, JT