Amy Kristen님의 프로필Amy Kristen사진블로그리스트 도구 도움말

Amy Kristen

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I'm a senior at the University of Washington and am a current intern at the National MS Society.

Amy Kristen

If my words don't quite come together, please listen to the melody.
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7월 16일

Sequim, WA

Saturday, July 15th, 2006
 
I took the ferry again from Edmonds to Kingston in order to travel over to Sequim.  My friend and I were going to the Lavendar Festival in Sequim and were going to visit a few of the lavendar farms. 
 
The ferry wait was incredibly long, longer than I'd ever seen it.  I think it had to do with the fact that we didn't arrive in Edmonds until almost 9:30 and usually when I go across I'm there by 8:30.  Of course, Emily was late and we would have been there earlier had she arrived to meet me on time!  Jeez Luiz, Emily!!  I'm always waiting for you.  It's starting to get aggravating! 
 
Hheeemm.  Since the wait was so long, I was nearly starving by the time we got on board.  Too bad ferry food is disgusting, or maybe I'm picky, because I chose to starve a little longer and get something in Kingston.  Thought I could subdue my hunger with a little coffee, but even the coffeee machine wasn't working and I don't drink black coffee.
 
In Kingston, we stopped at a small strip mall and I went into Thriftway to find nothing fresh or appetizing to eat.  I bought a bag of Sunchips that lasted all day as my snack.  Stopped by next door at Subway, and got a turkey sandwich.  I was a little peeved that they didnt have smoked turkey.  Subway does have smoked turkey, doesn't it? AND, then I stopped at some little coffee shop (next door.  Why couldn't they all be in one place, huh?) and got a mocha.  This wasn't neccessary but it was Torrefazione Italia.  *Sigh*  I think I like them better than Starbucks, which is why I was dissappointed to discover Starbucks bought them out, or something to that affect.  And so their shops have closed down.  They only sell their coffee grounds now. 
 
So, after all that, we were set and we headed out to Sequim.  It seemed everyone drove under the speed limit.  And there was an accident too.  Beautiful.
 
We didn't arrive in Sequim until after 1:00pm.
 
The festival itself was ordinary, crowded and not very entertaining.  So I decided we should go out and see the Spit, instead of visiting the lavendar fields.  I didn't care to see the fields anyway.  I saw them driving over, and there was no thrill there!
 
The Spit was amazing as soon as we strolled out of the woods.  It was gorgeous. 
 
I had it in me, since before the trip, that I wanted to see the lighthouse.  My friend didn't think we could walk that far (the lighthouse is at the far end of the spit, which is 5 miles long) and neither do I think she wanted us to walk that far.  But I started walking, and didn't plan on turning around unless she twisted her ankle or something. 
 
It was alot of fun.  I think we went crazy or hyper about half way out there and started singing lyrics to whatever songs we could remember.  Hahaha, we had a hard time thinking of enough songs that we knew more than one line to.  Found a poorly crafted stool of some sort, that was our treasure find of the day.  Oh, and I found an agate.
 
Saw a baby seal, cormorrants, a bald eagle, seals playing in the ocean, a sand beetle, and of course lots of gulls.
 
We made it out to the lighthouse a little before 5pm.  Thank goodness because we were able to tour the lighthouse and go up to the top before they closed it to the public.  It was really pretty up there and I could see how long the spit was.  Pretty incredible.
 
Before leaving, the lighthouse keeper/volunteer gave us a couple bottled waters because we didn't bring out any water of our own.  It didn't feel like it was really neccessary for either of us, but I'm sure it was the healthy thing to do.  I know I don't drink enough water.  And ten miles certainly deserves a couple glasses of water!
 
Headed back, we practically ran.  It took us less than 90 minutes to walk back the 5+ miles to the truck.  Hahaha.  I say, it was more than practically but literally a race.  You see, this couple was walking behind us and nearly on our heels.  We thought this was kind of annoying so we were trying to race them back.  I found it a little uncomfortable though, so I decided to take a picture on the side and allow them to pass.  Well, much like driving, the couple didn't seem to walk as fast when they were in front.  How *ack* annoying.  Oh well.  It made the walk back less a focus on the endurance and more a focus of the race.   
 
And we beat 'em back.  That's right!  We beat 'em all back!  More than 10 miles in one go, completely unplanned and unintended.  Woo hoo!  And I could have ran back.  Hahaha.  Just kidding. 
 
Fun times.  And though the day doesn't really end there, this blog is going to.
 
Have a great day.
Later,
Amy
 
7월 4일

Happy Independence Day, America!

On the Fourth of July in 1776, the Declaration of Indepedence was signed.  This act put in motion the indepedence for the United States of America.  Happy 230th America!!
 
From the Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

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Additional links:

Independence Day website

Respect the Flag--A very good poem

Create your own fireworks--not that great

Hope you all have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Amy

7월 2일

Sunday, July 2nd

Elbe, Washington
Drove all the way out to Elbe, Washington!  The foothills of Mt Rainier... sorta.  Past Eatonville, WA and past the NW Trek.  This drive drove me crazy today.  I felt like a child again!  Are we there yet?  Are we there, yet?!?  Actually, it was more on the way back.  And then it was more like... friggin fraggit, I want to travel by helicopter/plane/wings from now on!!  Stop lights and urban sprawl are TOO MUCH for me!!
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Our quest for this trip was to take a ride on an old fashioned locomotive, or train.  Hence our trip out to Elbe.
The Mt Rainier Scenic Railway is an historic track that takes one over the Nisqually (?) River--where there is a fantastic view of Mt Rainier--and up to Mineral Lake before coming back again.  It was an hour and a half excursion, bumpy but enjoyable.
The train we rode on was #91, a Heisler locomotive built in 1929.

 

 

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Photo of Mt Rainier

At 14,410 feet tall, this is one of the tallest mountains in the US.  (I think Mount McKinley in Alaska and Mt Whitney in California are taller.)  It is a very popular climbing mountain, about 20,000 people attempt to climb it each year.  And it is visible from both Seattle, WA and Portland, OR.

6월 27일

Bloedel Reserve

Sunday, June 25th, 2006:
Edmonds-Kingston Ferry
Originally, we had planned on going over to Whidbey Island and the Meerkerk rhododendron Gardens but we found ourselves headed to the wrong ferry terminal.. haha I guess we weren't thinking far enough ahead of ourselves!  So, we altered our plans, picked up a brochure, and choose to go to the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island instead.
Here you can check out the Washington State Ferry Service.  It is the largest ferry system in the United States, although that could be debatable.
Bainbridge Island
Located just West of Seattle, Bainbridge Island can be reached by ferry service from Seattle-Bainbridge or the Edmonds-Kingston terminals.  From the (Olympic) pennisula one can drive over a bridge to get to the island.
The Bloedel Reserve is located on Bainbridge Island, just West of Seattle.  It encompasses nearly 150 acres that have been set aside as a reserve after the original owners, the Bloedels, passed away.  The reserve includes a bird refuge, natural wooded area, glen, japanese garden, moss garden, reflection garden and visitor center which was once the Bloedel mansion.  Most impressive to me were the large Empress trees near the gatehouse and visitor center, although I also enjoyed the wetland area in the woods.  There were many types of ferns, oxalis, large gunnnera, hostas, and apparently hundreds of thousands of wild cyclamen (although, I believe they only bloom in fall.. so perhaps that is why I did not see them).  I thought the reserve was beautiful, peaceful and very natural.  It did cost $10 though, which is rather expensive for viewing gardens, and required a reservation as well.
 
Poulsbo
Bayside Broiler
Sluy's Bakery
Bought this beverage at a scandinavian market in Poulsbo.  It is from Sweden and reminds me of every other berry flavored carbonated drink.  I had the raspberry flavor.. mmmm.  I love raspberry!
 
Monday, June 26th, 2006:
HOT
 
 
6월 7일

Hopefully...

What's that?  Someone's graduated?  Hahaha.  Yay!  I finished my last final exam of the year, so you're looking at a Senior (4th year) college student, now.  I'm feeling rather confident in my grades but, I don't like to get too excited because sometimes the gpa is depressingly surprising.  Hopefully, I've made the Dean's List again.  Hopefully!  That would be too cool!!
 
Ah.  I had a great time this week.  Some totally unexpected surprises though!  On Sunday, a friend from California just showed up out of the blue.  We had lots of fun and he helped me study for my final the next morning. 
 
Monday, I woke up early and had breakfast (eew campus breakfast is the worst).  Tried studying some before my 10.30 SIS ("Violence") final, but I was too tired.  I only got a couple hours sleep, so I don't know that the last minute studying helped much.  I was nodding off and only really succeeded in staring at the text.  But, I did study before hand, so it's not as though last minute studying was all I did. 
 
After the final, I recieved my final papers for the class.  My final paper wasn't what I hoped it would be.. and my last topical response was much better than I thought it would be!  So, my grade has the potential of being very pleasing, but I'm not really feeling it.  Boo.  But no worries, I went downtown with my friend and we walked down to the waterfront and checked out Ye Old Curiosity Shop again.  Fun place.  And ran through Pike Place (was swarming with tourists, like always.  Everyone loves those fishermen guys).  Then drove over to Woodland Park, where I tried skateboarding on my friend's long board.  And had the squirrels drinking caffeine out of my hands.  Hahaha!  I know, it's a form of cruelty to feed wildlife drugs like caffeine but it was pretty funny!  (Anyone seen Over the Hedge, yet?) 
 
Tuesday, SOC Methods final exam, 10.30am.  Another night of not enough sleep and I think that is what honestly made me sick, along with the breakfast I had in the morning.  Yuck.  My stomach never likes breakfast much.  I nearly threw up 5 minutes before the exam but I was praying so much that it would just stay down and go away.  It came up in my mouth, but then subsided after that.  I went into the exam room with a paper towel and held it to my nose and mouth a number of times because my stomach was so sensitive to smells and even thoughts of smells or foods.  I think I was close to having an anxiety attack to top it off.  AND it was hot in the room!  I went so slowly through the first half hour of the exam, but I felt better after awhile.  I really don't think I did that bad on the test.  So, hopefully...!
 
Wednesday, was my last final: SOC Theory, 2.30pm.  Was packing all day today because I'm moving back home.  I think the final exam went decently.  It was a written exam, and I had alot to say so that will hopefully translate into a bunch of points. Hahaha.  Hey, it was almost fun.  Symbolic Interactionism and Ethnomethodology were much more interesting to learn about than the Rational Choice or Durkheimian tradition.
 
Et cetera:
*I've been wondering for awhile now.. do Native Americans have facial hair?  Because I never see them with mustaches or beards and I can't imagine that they would all collectively opt to shave.
 
*Recyclables.  Maybe it's just me but, before I throw anything away, I typically think about the object and whether it is a recyclable material: glass, paper, plastic, etc.  It's not too difficult.  It doesn't take me too long.  And if it's a questionable material, I simply flip it over to find the recycle symbol.  Then, if there happens to be a recycling bin, I dispose of it in there.  Not difficult.  YET, somehow a challenging concept to some.. hhmmm.  I guess it doesn't frighten some that their trash will out live them. 
 
*I'm almost out of here!!!
 
Amy
5월 28일

I despise writing papers.

I hate writing final papers.  I hate it so much that I'm tempted time and time again to simply not write one at all.  How unfair it is that some people can simply type out their thoughts fluidly and intellectually.  I, on the other hand, am an average individual with boring, average intelligence.  Average.  Yuck. 
 
Have you ever heard of a "failure-to-thrive" syndrome?  Man, sometimes I feel like that is me.   
 
Night,
Amy
5월 22일

Bellevue Botanical Gardens

Sunday, I went to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.  I was most impressed by the gigantic peonies in the perennial gardens.  I LOVE peonies.  Peonies, calla lilies and roses.  *Sigh.*
 
Cool new websites I've found:
   You can order cut flowers online.  Gorgeous bouquets in romantic packaging.  You can also choose options to send a new bouquet weekly, monthly, etc. This option is extremely expensive though. $289/month?  Psshh, I don't think so!! 
   This message in a bottle (sent via mail, of course) is a unique and fun gift.  Though expensive, it really can't compare to any other type of correspondence haha.  It was my favorite gift to send.  Oh, and this wasn't such a new website for me.  The previous site made me think of this one.
   I've been using this website to document all the films that I have seen, as well as whether I thought they were worth it or not.  I think I have something like 400 listed now.  It's difficult to remember all those movies, especially the boring ones like Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo and Juliet.  *Gag*  And James Stewart is my new favorite actor.  What an honorable guy
   If you've been to enough (garden) nurseries, then you might recognize the name Monrovia.  Monrovia grows quality plants and sends them to many established nurseries around the States.  I'm sure they are a large business and make plenty of money, so I am in no way suggesting you buy their brand.  Buy whatever you want.  But their website deserves some awards for asthetic appeal, organization and availablity of information.  For example, I looked up the climbing hydrangea and got a gorgeous (and full-length) picture, plant attributes/description, care instructions as well as a suggestion of companion plants.  *And by the way, we got a climbing hydrangea this weekend.  Not a Monrovia (as they were 8 bucks more), a hydrangea anomala petiolaris is a climbing hydrangea no matter what grower's label you put on it. 
 
Later
5월 13일

Ramblings

Finished another week of school.  Signed up for Autumn quarter classes yesterday.  Unfortunately, I didn't get many courses I really wanted to take.  And, I'm taking a SOC class this summer.  We'll see how that goes.  It'll be expensive--as I have to pay outrageous parking fees ($300? Although, maybe summer quarter will be cheaper.  I'm not sure) and can't take the bus.
 
I went to another film screening this week.  It was called the Final Solution and had to do with the Hindu-Muslim conflict in Gujarat, India--particularly after the burning of a bus at Godhra that killed 58 Hindus.  The response was widespread violence on both sides, but ultimately the result was a genocide of large numbers of Muslims in and around the region of Gujarat and hundreds of thousands were displaced from their homes.  This happened in 2002 and I don't ever remembering hearing about it... then again, I didn't go searching for the news as I do now.  Can you believe I get quized on the New York Times?  There's a lot of stuff in there to remember, and to read, over the course of a few weeks and then recall for a quiz.  Ah, well.  It's rather fun and I like feeling somewhat informed.
 
Ah, played Carroms today.  First time in a long while... perhaps 5 years or so!!  I was never that good but I'm even worse now!  Hahah.  I won the game for my opponent (put her last player in the hole) while I still had 8 guys on the board!  Darn game hurts my finger.  And I can't aim at all.  * After research, I learned the game was quite popular in the East.  Our board is sorta old--a Carrom Industries 1961 #85 to be exact (researched that too)--and is a version of American carroms, with a checker board front and a Crokinole board on back (whatever that is).  Interesting. 
 

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So I have this old Lane cedar chest that I was given awhile ago.  And it's in tremendous need of some refinishing work.  Now, I don't want to pay some one a hundred plus bucks to refinish it when, in all reality, it's probably not worth a whole lot.  I don't want to ruin it by messing with it myself, because I hear that would de-value it more than anything.  What should I do then?  Just polish it or sand down just a bit?  Because I really have a hankering to get rid of the water spot on the top of the chest.  And I suppose antique value doesn't matter much anyhow since I think the latch and lid has been refurnished.  I don't know wood-working terms. 
 
I better hit the hay,
Amy
5월 7일

Must Everything Be Given a Title?

I've been called to jury duty for the second time in just a year, and this time I'm a little afraid they won't accept "undue hardship."  Ah well.  If I do get called to the courthouse it may just be for the interview.  Or it could be an interesting experience.  Plus, I can always explain undue hardship later.. as I don't know what I'll be doing in June.
 
Cruised around downtown Snohomish on Saturday.  I love Snohomish.  I have memories on every street.  I should be a tour guide.  A tour guide for the state.
 
This summer, I MUST ride a train.  Rather, I want to ride this one in particular: the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad.  I don't know what it is about trains, but they just seem so exciting.  I believe I've been on one before, when I was really young. All that I can really recall is standing at the station in dappled sunlight.. possibly standing upon the boardwalk and a vague memory of looking at the front of the train, the locomotive or engine (?).  That's it.  Oh, trains remind me of Anne of Green Gables too.
And I want to add Shi Shi beach to my list of places to go this summer.
Or to cruise along the Columbia and Snake River on a steamboat (which, by the way, is something I want to do on the Mississippi)!
Yowza, I want to do everything.
 
Night,
Amy
4월 25일

Tuesday, April 25th

I'm bored.  I'm tired of reading, tired of watching TV--shows, news, documentaries, movies, etc, and tired of the daily routine of eating, sleeping and getting ready to go to class.  Blah.  Granted that the material I am learning about is interesting, I still *ACK* can't stand it!  It makes me tired!  I am NOT an intellectual.  I want, more than anything, to be informed and to have a vast knowledge basis to draw from to contribute in any conversation.  I've discovered though, that I have a terrible memory anyways.  College can't teach me dates or any of that crap, what I remember from all of my classes and all the work I put into them is simply that you must question everything and never dare to judge when you don't have all the facts.  I don't know that any thing else matters. 
 
One of my classes centers around violence and torture.  It's interesting but then there's a lot of reading.  I never thought I would complain about reading, especially concerning the material but some of it is just a pile of big words in ridiculously long sentences... blah, blah, blah.  But the class provides the opportunity to go to a number of lectures, symposiums (ew) and documentaries that--because I recieve credit for them--also give me the incentive to go to them, plus I hear of a number of these lectures that otherwise I would never know of.
 
Here are just a few (if not for you, they are for me to remember):
Invisible Children.  Awesome organization and cause that is getting alot of national attention!  Tomorrow, April 26th, Oprah Winfrey is going to talk about these guys.  Check it out.
Buyer, Be Fair.  Talking about fair trade coffee and FSC lumber.  Environmental.
Elias Khoury.  "The Novel--The Novelist and War, the Lebanese Experience."  Lecture (symposium style?) about... the book.  Basically about the process of contextualizing a history for Lebanon through text and authors, of fiction writing, and what that has to do with war.  Okay, got it?  Thick accent.  I only barely understood him, plus, I'm stupid.. but it was still cool to listen to a man who has been very influential Middle Eastern author.
Well-founded Fear.  Documentary examining asylum process in the U.S.  Talking about immigration, refugees and asylum seekers.  Hosted by Amnesty International. 
 
Enough of that.  I'm ready for some randomness.  Are you?
Do you know that the sandwiches they serve us here on campus cost $5.75?  Just a sandwich! 
I like Vitamin Water now.  I don't know if it's like the placebo effect, or what, but I seriously feel like I am drinking power water, liquid HEALTH, when I have that stuff.
It was such a nice day, yesterday!  Reached 71 or 72 degrees fahrenheit and I wore shorts for the first time this year!
I am a new fan of Jimmy Wayne.
Oh, I got on the Dean's list for my grades last quarter. 
 
I think that's all I have right now, except that I feel really stressed out.  It's more than just this quarter, it's the planning of next year--apartment, job, internship, finances, etc; this lingering worry over family members on hospice, and over my mother who is exhausted at this point in taking care of everything, and then the loss of my greatest friendship and the only person I think I ever really invested anything in.  I'm not a deeply personal being because it is tiring to express one feeling, emotion or narrative without wanting to provide the entire background for it to make sense, plus I feel like sharing some information is just not appropriate unless a person knows you at a certain level.  For example, it's just not right to cry about something in front of someone who isn't going to really feel for you, or understand what's going on.  Not that I want to cry.  I just feel really weighted and distracted.  Burnt out.  Repetitive.  Bored.  Tired.
 
So I guess I'll go to bed, and say that is it for today. 
Amy   
4월 23일

Tulips and Snow

Mount Vernon, Washington
 
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Drove up to La Conner and Mount Vernon in Skagit Valley to see the tulip fields today.  Skagit Valley is well known for it's tulips (www.tulips.com), and lesser known for its daffodils and irises.  This is right off hwy 20 into Anacortes (for those of you who take the ferry into the San Juan Islands and know where that is).  Also close to Chuckanut Drive--one of my favorite scenic routes in Washington.
 
 
 

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It was a gorgeous day today!  In some places it was above 70 degrees fahrenheit.  So after a quick trip up to Mount Vernon, we chose to go hiking in Verlot (Baker Nat. Forest to be technical). 

 

Lake 22 is a pretty hike up the side of a small mountain.  At the top, there are views across a lake where there is usually snow, and around this time you can witness miniature avalanches off the side of the peak.  It wasn't cold when we went.  In fact, the snow was melting fairly fast and in some areas the trail was under water.

 

On Saturday, my grandma had her 90th birthday!  Despite her recent stay at the hospital, she appeared to be doing really well.  She read one birthday card out loud (one from Norway, to stimulate her mind a little).  She was awake and even humorous at times.  Though in actuality, and as we have learned just earlier today, grandma is not doing very well at all.  I've heard mention of "suns down syndrome"??

 

I met some of my new cousins for the first time too.  My cousins, Neata and Kari, were up with their famlies.  Neata is moving from San Diego to Pensacola.  She's always anxious that I come and visit her.  So perhaps I'll have to stick to my word this time and check out Florida.  Sounds fun!  Never been to florida before.  Although, I'm real disappointed I missed out on San Diego!  Hahaha.  Oh, and her little boy is one of the new cousins that I was talking about.  And there's another one on the way. 

 

Kari was also up and with her husband.  She has a little girl and boy, and also has another one on the way. 

 

 

Amy

 

4월 5일

Invisible Children

Saw a pretty powerful documentary film today.  It was informative, humorous, heartbreaking and beautiful.  Check out the website: www.invisiblechildren.com
And if you ever get the chance, watch the full length video.
 
   

The Invisible Children refers to the children in Uganda who live in fear every day of being abducted by the rebel armies.  Children who live in fear of remaining at home because the rebels will snatch them from their families and murder their loved ones, so they walk miles into town each night to sleep together.

The abducted children are desensitized to violence by the rebel armies and instructed to kill or be killed.  Yet, the government does nothing to help nor protect them.  Amazingly, many people that have the power to help do nothing at all because they can shrug it off as merely the culture of Africa.  Is a child in Africa so very different from a child in America or Europe?

 

FACTS:

  • Northern Uganda is called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today because of the lack of attention
  • 1.7 million people forcibly displaced
  • An estimated 20- 50,000 children abducted to fight as soldiers
  • Tens of thousands of children commuting nightly
  • 130 people die per day in Northern Uganda due to violence
4월 3일

Sunday's MS Walk 2006

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I volunteered at the MS Walk in Seattle this Sunday, April 2nd.  It was a great experience for me because there were so many people there who donated money for a cause that meant something to me and meant something to so many of them.  I met with people who had mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends diagnosed with MS.  I saw men and women of varying ages with canes, walkers and in wheelchairs.  A couple guys were my age and were recently diagnosed with MS.  I met a woman who looked younger than me or was, atleast, no older than 24, also diagnosed. 
 
They estimate we raised nearly a million dollars, but I have no idea whether that is true or far off that mark in either direction.  I know, though, that I received donations of up to $3,000/person and so many pledges that were atleast a hundred.  
 
To register for the walk, we asked for a minimum pledge of $50.  For that, we gave a free drawstring-type backpack (you know what I'm talking about?), and asked that they fill out a racing "bib" (?) with the name of their team or the individual they were walking for.  They then pinned it to their backs and wore it for the duration of the Walk.
 
For a $100+ pledge, individuals received a t-shirt and the drawstring pack.  If they were an MS patient, they could also recieve a red MS Champions hat (which has meaning that ppl in the MS Society know about.  It encourages people living with MS to connect with others who also have the disease, or are affected by it.)  Nearly everyone had someone they were walking for.  And it was something else to see all these "name tags" of sorts that mapped out, in words, how the people around me were each affected by MS.
 
It was so beautiful to see the people who came to hand in donations, all with this delight and hope that it could make a difference.  And it can.  I just hope it will be soon.  It's not fair that I see a young mother with MS, who must cherish the time she has to run about and play with her daughters, because it may not be long before her muscles become too stiff to move about as freely.  It is heartbreaking to hear the same of a young man, recently diagnosed, who is just now learning that the numbness he feels will soon be replaced by a burning and pulling of nerves, that his mobility will be stiffened and that things like running, biking, and even walking will become increasingly difficult before becoming completely impossible.  It's ridiculous that, for some, it is not just decreased mobility and pain that makes up MS, but also degeneration of the brain, eyesight, memory, as well as significant stress placed on the relationships of all those who know the patient. 
 
I HATE MS.  I would walk for my father and every other MS patient out there.  No one deserves to live with MS.  It is a cruelty. 
 
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4월 2일

Family

I went home on Friday.  My father’s side of the family was coming over on Saturday, so I wanted to be home for that.  I also wanted to visit grandma in the hospital if I got the chance.

 

My mom was with grandmother at the hospital when I arrived home.  I felt a nagging to go in and see my father then, but had to build up the courage to walk into his room.  I walked up to his bed (because, in case I haven’t said it yet in as plain a words, he’s dying and hasn’t the strength to sit throughout the day).  His bed is, in fact, a hospital bed and complete with all the metal rails and such.  The catheter hangs on the side of it and fills with an unnatural reddish-colored fluid.  Because we are blessed to have money and a great insurance plan, he also has a strange kind of moving mattress which prevents bedsores.  There are numerous other medical supplies and equipment in the room—my parent’s bedroom.

 

I walked up beside his bed and looked down at my father.  It’s heartbreaking and unfair.  Not only is he dying but, he looks like he is dying.  He has lost so much weight from wasting that he just looks so thin and frail.  It’s really something you can’t put into words.  Unless you’ve looked down on some one who is dying in such a way, your experience can not compare.  My father is dying because his body is shutting down, not because he’s reached the end of his life, not even because he received irreparable trauma to his body.  He won’t die away suddenly, like some blessed people.  He will die having starved to death, not able to hold down any food; or he’ll die of an illness that you and I would never even feel the affects of because our immune systems work properly. 

 

Anyhow, when I spoke he opened his eyes.  He looked at me.  He communicated when he could with a nod but even that, I think, was moving mountains for me.  He’s that bad—where a nod is too much energy.  Apparently, MS has even stolen away his throat, making speech and swallowing difficult.  The muscles there and in the face have also had their nerves deadened, so speech is impossible for him.  My father can’t speak at all. 

 

I only stayed with him a few minutes because it was very tiring, on him and on me.  The only question I asked him that really mattered was if he knew who I was.  I think I've always prepared myself and expected that he would not remember me (because I'm a jerk).  But he nodded… and for some reason that means more to me than any present or “I love you.”

 

Then when his family was over (my grandpa, two aunts and two uncles), I felt as if one of my uncles was really saying his good-byes before he left.  It was a little hard for me because, in essence, it was another person who knew him that also acknowledged—obviously—that his condition was serious.  I don’t think my grandpa really understands.  And for so long the family has not done anything in the way of acknowledging my father's MS, never knew of the seriousness. 

 

My Aunt Sharon gave me a hug that felt so comforting.  For that, I think she must be one of the sweetest women on the face of this planet.

 

On Saturday morning, mom and I went to see my grandma in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  She was doing much better, awake and talking with us.  By that evening she was moved into a wing in the regular hospital, so that is good.  I saw her again before I took the bus back down to the dorms that night.  I gave her a kiss and wished her sweet dreams but she didn’t want to let go of my hand.  It was yet another moment of heartbreak because it felt cruel to leave her alone in the hospital.  

 

My mother had the doctor fill out a Polst form for her.  The feeling is that my grandma should have been able to die this last time.  We have a DNR for her, but it doesn’t specify what measures the hospital should or should not take to save her life. 

 

She was blue when they found her alive, but her lungs were filled with CO2.  They didn’t resuscitate her.  They hooked her up to a machine that forced clean oxygen into her lungs, thus forcing the dirty carbon dioxide out of her body.  She's alive but with a quality of life now further diminished.  And unfortunately, it's not likely she will recover much from this episode; rather she will also be placed on hospice care.

 

My grandmother and my father on hospice at the very same time. 

 

I don't know how my mother handles it, but she is the amazing woman who takes care of both of them.  I do what I can but being on campus makes me feel like I am neglecting her.  I can't help but feel distracted. 

 

I also feel so angry, like I expect understanding at the drop of a hat from people.  I feel angry at those who say "I understand" because God knows I don't understand all kids, even though I've been one.  "I understand" is a terrible, terrible sentence that I have never liked.  I don't think I've used it much at all. 

 

And then at times, it also feels unnatural.  I feel like throwing it out there when some one aks how I'm doing, or how my weekend was... "Oh, my dad is dying.  How are you?"  Hahaha.  And I can laugh a little.  It's.. so.. weird.  And not something I can handle too well.  If it were gone and over with, we'd be talking grief and recovery.  This is just lingering torture that I want done with... but at the same time don't.

 

It's immeasureably terrifying.  I want to get away from it, but with the mind... it's completely inescapable.

 

Amy