Mindpop
by Nina Mitchell
I had a stroke when I was 26, and my Mind went Pop. Mindpop. My stroke took away my limbs and speech for a while. Here are some chronicles…
I. Racy Conversations
“If the average person talks about sex 10% of the time,” says my friend Aarti, “you were about 30%.” My conversations right after my stroke were often racy. I don’t remember this period at all.
II. Lonely
After my brain surgery, I said good-bye to all my friends. I gave up my job. I gave up my apartment. I went to live with my parents, in a different town, in a different state, far away. I did not know people there.
I stayed with my parents for almost two years.
III. Parties
At parties I have become very good at concealing my stroke. It’s not because I want to hide it, but I don’t want to explain it in the middle of a party. Hiding it is not so hard. For one, everyone is standing around tipsy, not moving much. Also, if I’m talking to you and I lock eyes with yours, Western norms dictate that you will not look down if I don’t. You will not see my hand.
IV. Hair Annoyances
I have yet to figure out a good way to put my hair back in a ponytail with one hand. Or an easy way to blow dry my hair straight with one hand. You know, with the ends curled under like TV anchors. Contest! Winners will improve the do’s of one-handed people everywhere!
Previously: Other Mindpop posts.
Nina Mitchell also writes on Mindpop and Facebook.
© 2011 by Nina Mitchell, The material in this article is protected by copyright and may not be copied or published or otherwise distributed without the Author’s permission. All Rights Reserved.