Painting

College Art Class

Last night I had my first watercolor class.  The painting above is a watercolor I painted my junior year of college during an intro to art type class.  The assignment was kind of a past, present and future assignment with icons depicting the major events in our life.  I did not become serious about taking care of my diabetes until I started writing this blog, and yet this was done 3 - 4 years ago and most of my icons are diabetes related.  

Diabetes Icons

The river: diagnosed with diabetes

The green trees: Camp Carefree

The red cross: ketoacidosis in 2003

6.0: diabetes A1C 

I believe that the third island is "future."  This island includes Camp Carefree, 6.0 A1C, becoming a teacher and traveling.  The only thing I have done is traveled.  This is not bad, it's just another reminder that life doesn't always go in the direction you think it will.  I never did make it back to Camp Carefree, But I went to Gales Creek Camp, which is also part of traveling.  And I may not be a teacher, but I do teach every day and I love my job and feel as though I am making an impact.  And right now I'm working really hard on the A1C.  So hopefully I can get that part of my future island.  And maybe not 6.0.  But a 6._ would be incredible.  

"The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder."

For all of you who participated in #dsma on Wednesday night, I want to thank you for welcoming me with what felt like open arms, open minds and open hearts.  The replies & RTs made me feel like I've been there before.  I have to admit though, I'm not knowledgeable about insurance and insurance company policies, or how it can affect me.  I just got my own insurance, but have not had to pay for my own prescriptions since I still have insulin and strips from the last time on my parent's insurance.  And the only thing I knew about clinical trials is that Rebel got denied for one this summer because her pancreas still makes C-peptide (or something).  

As I was thinking over the entirety of the conversation yesterday, I remember sitting in class my freshmen year of college, and the professor talking about three different types of information.  There are things you know.  There are things you know you don't know.  And then there are things you don't know you don't know.  (Yes, it took me a long time to understand that last one.)  But one day it clicked.  And on Wednesday it clicked too.  First and foremost, I had no idea it would be so hard to read and respond simultaneously.  There's just so much awesome stuff being said!  But I got to read about others' experiences and I got to ask questions.  It was so helpful, especially to just read at times.  I wanted to research what was happening in front of me, but it was all happening so fast, and all of a sudden it was 10:00 and we were done.  

And then last night I listened in on the blogtalkradio show, and that left me feeling even more astounded.  There are so many smart, articulate people out there, and I'm glad that I have found you, but now where do I go?  My brain was trying to process what it was hearing and reading, but there was no output in return.  I asked questions, but I had nothing to give.  It feels good.  I know that there is more out there I need to learn about, and now I've got a reason to get started on it.  These conversations have lit the fire under me.

December 10: Let It Snow