Summer@Home - Day 1

Day 1
My summer at home has officially begun. School let out five days ago, so most people might consider that the official beginning of summer. But for me, summer began today — the day my husband went back to work in the office and I stayed home.

If you don't know me, you may not realize the significance of this. I have not driven since February 9, 2013. On February 10 I had the first of a series of fainting and dizzy spells that occurred multiple times a day for a month until my doctors were able to get a partial diagnosis and find medicines that would help. I passed out for the last time on March 13, so I am not allowed to drive again until I have gone six months without an episode. September 13 is my magic date.

So with school out, and my husband back at work, I'm starting a new — albeit short — phase of my life. At home. All day. Every day. All...summer...long.

Showing His divine sense of humor, and just in case I was thinking about cheating, God decided to call my car home a couple of weeks ago. So even if I wanted to, I couldn't hop in my car and take an illicit jaunt to the grocery store or ice cream stand.

I am truly stuck.

Kill me.






But I went out to dinner last night with a friend who has been in my place. In fact, she was there last summer. She has occasional seizures, and each time she has one, she can't drive for six months. She had a seizure on June 20, 2012, so she spent most of last summer at home, her third at home stint since she got married. She had several words of wisdom for me:

1. Don't expect your husband to fill in all the gaps.
Herb has been working from home at least part-time for the last 3.5 months, but it was time for him to go back to the office. He needed it, his employer needed it, and his clients needed it. Don't think that his idea of a good time is going to be driving you to 20 different appointments all day Saturday.

2. Find a teenager to be your chauffeur.
It will make you feel good to pay someone else to take you where you need to go instead of relying on friends or husband or in-laws over and over.

3. Make goals of what to do with your extra time.
As much as it sucks to be at home constantly, not being able to go somewhere every time the thought pops into your head you will give you more free time. Plan ahead of time what to do with it.

Hmmm...sounds like I need to find some things to start ... and then finish ... by the end of the summer.

So my Summer@Home journey has begun. Strap on your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy ride.