Sunday, March 22, 2015

Weekend Recap: A Bit About Guns, Neurology, Meyer Lemons, Books, Food and Burkas

Driving Meyer Lemon


Those are some Meyer lemons that I picked off my friend Jenni's tree yesterday afternoon, after I dropped Oliver off for a birthday party. He finally got to do that airsoft gun thing and, of course, had a blast. He told me that there were some creepy people dressed all in camo running around. Grown men. He said that I would have taken one look and walked out. He knows me well. He asked whether he could go again with Henry, and I said that I wouldn't pay for it or drive them there. Ever. Would I let them go if they paid with their own money? Why, yes, I would, at this point. I figure that if I don't let them do these things, they 'll do them all the time when they get older. They might actually be that grown man in camo running around in Lawndale, California pretending to be a soldier.

Anyhoo.

Later this week, I'm participating in the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles conference/summit. On Friday, I'm sitting on a panel with a few other people to discuss CBD in front of a whole bunch of neurologists and physicians. The other participants include an eminent male neurologist from UCLA, an emergency room physician who is also a father of a child with epilepsy and a woman who has something to do with Realm of Caring, I think. The UCLA neuro is in charge of the show and sent over a suggestion for how the panel discussion should proceed. I am evidently first, and he listed my name like this:

  1. Start with strictly parent viewpoint - Elizabeth -- I'm assuming you're not involved in research or healthcare.
And so on. Reader, I had to do it. I had to respond with my characteristic thinly veiled irritation. The veil is, of course, irony and black humor. I'll give a fabulous prize to the first person who guesses why I was irritated and what I might have said. I should add that The Neurologist is a great guy, that he responded to me appropriately and with great humor and that we are all looking forward to the weekend. If you remember, the last time I spoke about CBD, I was told that it was as if a bomb had been let off in the room. Maybe this time I'll wear a leotard and light sparklers. On Saturday's Family Day, I'll be with my peeps, showing the Extreme Parenting Video Project that I made some years ago with Erika and Phil and talking a bit about the journey I've been on with Sophie since she's been diagnosed. I guess I should wear the leotard to that event as well, or maybe a burka to suggest the complete erasure of my identity over the last two decades.


What did you do today, Reader? I did some more purging -- lots and lots of it. Frankly, though, my room still looks like the same, cluttered somewhat bohemian space it looked like before. The Barbie closet is sleeker, though, and I threw out a lot of papers. I flipped through some old journals and had to talk myself out of a deep depression. Suffice it to say that there is nothing new under the sun.

I forgot to tell ya'll about Friday night's Books & Bakes. I think it might have been the best one ever. We talked and laughed about John Lanchester's really great novel The Debt to Pleasure. It'd be hard to describe it, but think travelogue, murder mystery, erudite food criticism, recipes, laugh aloud wittticisms and a creepy serial killer. Here's what I cooked:

Provencal Fish Stew
Toasted Baguette with Aioli
Roasted Tomatoes with Farro
Green Salad
Espresso Creme Brulee

Here's what we drank:

Lillet
Pimm's Cup
Rose Wine
Water

The next book for the salon is Anthony Marra's A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. It's happening on April 17th at 7:00 pm. Please come if you can.

Love,

Strictly Parent Viewpoint Elizabeth


21 comments:

  1. How can you not be involved in health care with your daughter?

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  2. I don't know how you responded but I imagine you included the fact that you are on the very leading edge of health care and research every day of your life for the past 20 years. Because, well. You have been, whether you consented to it or not. Still. I am glad your voice will be in the mix. We need your voice.

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    1. I think I'm going to cut and paste this comment and use it as my intro. Thanks!

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  3. Ok. Just a guess since I only met you in June and have read your blogs since AND your book. No...... Not "real" research or Healthcare just 20 yrs of the reality of both" and maybe a mildly disguised expletive. I was not planning on attending but may just have to so I can attend your sessions!😊

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  4. Dear Strictly Parent Viewpoint Elizabeth, I encourage you to introduce yourself by mentioning how many seizures you've witnessed from you strictly parent viewpoint. I encourage you to list the number of days you've cared for a person with epilepsy, how much reading you've done on the subject, the number of medications you've administered and for how long they were given. I encourage you, from your strictly parent viewpoint, to also mention how many times your heart has been broken, and then from your strictly parent viewpoint, I hope you light up that sparkle suit, fire up that jet pack that I suggest you wear, and explode through the ceiling of the room, raining just a bit of debris upon their illustrious heads.

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    1. Denise, you win. I put your comment at the top of my blog along with Mary Oliver, Virginia Woolf and Seamus Heaney.

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  5. Oh God, what Denise said x 2.

    I went to Yoga Nidra and then watched Netflix all day and then went to Islands with friends. Exciting day.

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    1. Joannne -- One of these days I'm going to do the Yoga Nidra. What did you watch on Netflix?

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    2. Crash, Ida, and Two: The Story of Roman and Nyro - I love binge movie watching!

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  6. You made me laugh out loud with you comment about the boys and camo...
    You go girl.

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  7. It is 12:50 a.m.. I've been coughing since I fell into bed at 9:30 p.m.. I'm up drinking hot water with honey and lemon. I can only focus on the Lillet. Did you serve it with lemon or orange?

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  8. Denise said it.
    And that neurologist may be a great guy but has he NEVER stopped to think about what it means to be the parent of a child like Sophie? I'm betting you may well be one of the most educated people in that room when it comes to epilepsy. Research? Has a day gone by in twenty years that you haven't done at least a bit?
    Jesus.

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    1. I'm trying not to obsess about all the things I think go through neurologists' heads, none of which I imagine are parent friendly.

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  9. I'm guessing you were annoyed by the notion that you're "not involved in research or healthcare" despite the fact that Sophie is the PATIENT for whom, allegedly, research and healthcare exist. Or perhaps that your viewpoint is strictly parental and not also informed by your identity as an educated, thoughtful individual. Or both!

    Adult men running around in camo -- I just don't get it. Complete mystery to me.

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    1. I just read the other comments -- Angella and Denise and Ms Moon all hit the nail on the head. :)

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  10. I love that you put your foot down about enabling the airsoft adventures, but will allow them to make their own choices and investment in it. That is the kind of parenting I can get behind. I can't keep you from doing it, but I don't have to fund it.

    As for the rest, I love that you put yourself out there and talk and share your wisdom and stories with folks who need to hear it. I hope that you put the doctor in his place by reminding him that "healthcare" does not only extend to the sterile walls of the hospital or clinic, but out into people's lives and bedrooms and cars and schools, and that what parents and patients do to care for themselves is much more "healthcare" than writing on a prescription pad is. But I'm sure you did. And I hope he heard you.

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  11. "I'm assuming you're not involved in research or healthcare." Seriously? WTF? I have no doubt that you know more about the subject at hand than 99% of people out there, healthcare workers included.

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  12. I also meant to say that those lemons are so yellow! They must fade by the time they make it to Canada.

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