I Love The Moon...November 19, 2021

This week Peter and I pulled into the parking lot of our dentist's office. I sighed, looking in that fishbowl reception area....

...there is a small boy and I scare children sometimes...

...for I am different, like a zebra with pink stripes, the elephant in the room. At home now, I am just me. But when I go out it is Me and all the Two Leggeds, and all of them Together.

There is a beautiful quote by Audre Lorde, "It is not our differences that divide us, it is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate that difference."

But as we rightly challenge society to accept and celebrate differences, we must also celebrate our own differences. What is the story that we write about our lives? About who we are? Not waiting for someone else to recognize us first.

For I didn't become unique when I lost my leg...I have been diverse since I was born. It was just easier to forget before, as I suppose I blended in better somehow. Although I am called an Amputee now and put in another definable group, I have always been Julie first.

So when I head out today...

...I will remember that I love mochas and chocolate sprinkle donuts and have Starbucks peeps. That I still adore shoes and had a stamp collection when I was young with a fave Walt Disney one. I was sort of scared of Santa Claus coming down that chimney. And I held the sixth grade high jump award.

That I love the moon and awoke to see the eclipse last night.

I am Julie...who are you?