Writing By Laura

I had ambitions for Summer 2022. I had ambitions for Fall 2022. However as the pages on the calendar flip on by, I am realizing that my ambitions and plans were too ambitious for where I am at in my brain injury journey. So I am taking a step back from my grand ambitions and plans and instead focusing on me as I am now and what I can realistically achieve. Because at my core I am a realist. A creative realist but still a realist.

Honestly I don’t feel like I want to set goals. I just want to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and breathing in and out (I think that is from “Sleepless in Seattle”). That feels like all I can do right now. I am in no way being dramatic or setting off alarm bells. I am just giving an update of where I am in hopes that others may have been here.

Brain injury isn’t a constantly improving thing. And it’s not a regressive condition either. It is a moving target where the target changes shape and form. One day I may feel like writing thousands of words in my memoir and drawing cute pictures and cards (usually starring my 🐶 Selby). Another day I may be dealing with increased brain injury symptoms (such as headaches, exhaustion, increased aural distortions and sensitivity to all stimulation and irritability). Post brain injury I have had a long streak of improving and adding skills to my abilities post TBI. And unfortunately that has stopped right now. For the last 3 to 4 weeks or so I have been experiencing increased brain injury symptoms. The target has definitely moved and changed form and now I have to figure out what I can do to get back on track with a target I understand. I am consulting with my doctors for their guidance.

In the meantime, I thought I would be a little silly and write a list of titles for memoirs I could write. The sillier the better. I used to watch “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (James Cordon is now hosting the show) and Craig would have a joke that he would use whenever a phrase in his monologue struck him as silly and say “____ that’s the name I used to dance under.” (Joking about being a male stripper for comedic effect.) Now that I live with my parents I have begun to use that joke only I have altered it to suit me and be more wholesome (since I am making the joke to my parents after all). So my joke is “____ that’s the title of my new memoir.” So since I am struggling to write in my actual memoir, I thought I would share silly titles for memoirs I could (but won’t write). Like I said, the sillier, the better!

Silly Memoir titles I could write but won’t

• “They’re Shrinking: Living again with aging parents who aren’t as tall as they once were”
• “How not to yell at the technologically-ignorant when they do dumb things”
• “Sure, I can reach that, you shrimps! Being 5-7 inches taller than your short parents means having to reach things on high shelves”
• “I Told You That Already: Living with aging and forgetful parents again.”
• “My Independence Was Short-lived: living again with your parents in your 40s”
• “What? Huh? Are you talking to me? Having hearing loss and living with aging parents with hearing loss.”
• #Dogstagram: My dog has more followers than me on Instagram
• Dog Mom: My “kid” is furrier than your kid
• Did I tell you the cute thing my dog did today? Stories from a proud dog mom.
• Lady Slippers: Going from pounding the pavement in dress shoes to owning more slippers than shoes.

As you can see, a lot of these “memoir titles” are making fun at my sweet parents. Because honestly we spend a lot of time together and a little gentle ribbing makes the heart grow fonder. Also, my brain injury makes me very honest in the moment, so I am not saying anything here that I haven’t said in exasperation (don’t worry, they’re good sports).

A Selby Sweetie Conclusion