Birthdays Get Better Every Year

When I turned 16 (in the middle ages) I had high expectations for the big day.  I was going to drive myself everywhere with my new driver's license, look and feel beyond beautiful, a certain boy was going to come to my house with chocolates, flowers, and an official "sweet sixteen" request to be my first date, and I was going to finally be grown up.  Well, I was so grown up that the day ended in tears; no boys lined up outside my door in a frenzy to be my first date mate, and even though I got to drive around the small town of Cedar City, Utah that day, it was probably only to take my mom to the chiropractor.

For this year's birthday last month Brett had to go to a lecture at the university so he asked if he could take me to dinner the next night.  I was kind of bracing myself for a quieter day but it wasn't that way at all.  Abbey and Brett made me a yummy strawberry/peach pancake breakfast complete with whipped cream and a certificate for a massage at the Ritz Carlton (oh, I can't wait!).

Because Brett had been so busy with work the week before my birthday he hadn't had time to take Abbey to get me a gift.  When she woke up that morning her face was crestfallen. Her sadness tore me up and I was quick to reassure her that she was the best gift she could ever give to me.  After saying that, her face lit up with pleasure and she rushed into the kitchen.  Instead of dawdling to get ready for school she made her own lunch and let me enjoy breakfast.  That was probably my favorite gift of the day, and if she only knew how much I hate making lunch every morning, she would have known what a treat it was for me. She gave of herself that day and it was the perfect expression of her love.

Another sweet person gave of herself that day, my neighbor and friend Afton.  First, she picked up Abbey from school so that Brett could play hooky from work in the afternoon and take me to see The Rise of the Planet of the Apes.  I like science fiction movies and this was an especially good one.  I really like James Franco because he is not the typical actor type with all his Ivy League degrees and genius I.Q. and the story was very interesting and character-driven.  And of course it was nice to have Brett all to myself in the middle of the day.  Then Afton, after doing research on what my favorite birthday cake is, made me a lemon pie - without the meringue just the way I like it.  She and her children brought it over and then sang "Happy Birthday" to me.  I even got some little kid loves and it was so sweet. Abbey entertained the kids by making them into an impromptu choir and Afton and I got to chat for awhile.  She is the most thoughtful, most patient friend ever (she often shares her delicious cooking with us), and I hope to grow up to be just like her someday.

That night Abbey and I had our own birthday date while Brett was at his lecture and we went out to get gelato at the new Alaska Gelato place close to our villa.  What more could a girl want than lemon pie and gelato on her birthday?  Oh, and then we read together from The Chronicles of Narnia.

The next night Brett took me out to the Pearl, which is the richest and most exclusive area in Qatar.  I didn't quite feel like we fit in there but it was a beautiful setting for a celebration. The restaurant was not Arabic, not Lebanese, not Turkish, not even Iraqi or Thai.  It was French!  Les Deux Magots.  Oh yum!  There was even an unexpected guest who visited our table and almost made me scream:  a lizard.  Small rodents or reptiles are kind of the equalizing factor all over the world.  No matter how fancy or uppity your establishment, an uninvited guest like that at anyone's table could be reason enough for a free meal.  Maybe we should have tried.  At least the food was so delicious we forgot about the lizard visit.

 I think his name was Pierre.

 Crab appetizers

 Beef tenderloin for Brett!

 Sea bass for me!

 I can't remember the name of this decadent delight but it was heavenly.

Brett ate his dessert before I could snap a picture of it!  Yes, it was that good.

 We explored The Pearl a little bit, but it was pretty humid that night.

And guess what Brett surprised me with at the end of the night . . . . the photo above is a clue . . . Well, I had you for a second, didn't I?

At sixteen I never would have imagined that an old lady Grandma Dianna birthday could be so wonderful. But birthdays are much better now, now that I really am "mature" and my expectations don't resemble something from a fairy tale.  It is funny how that works though. The less I expect my life to be a Molly Ringwald or Meg Ryan movie, the more it becomes something worth living, something that brings my own dreams to life and I get to be the star in my own story line.

Modern Art Museum Qatar

Have you heard of Mathaf?  It is the new museum of modern art in Qatar and we finally paid a visit.  I wasn't expecting much, because, well, this is Qatar, but I wasn't disappointed.  It is a great diversion for the art, color, and culture-starved population of Doha.  It is located just outside of Education City, so there's no need to pass through any official looking gate and leave your I.D.; you can just drive into the small, empty parking lot, like we did, and get your fill of pointillism, impressionism, and abstractism (and yes, those are all words in the high-falootin art world).  The best part of the whole experience is that it is free, so you are only spending your time, and to me, it is worth it.  You can visit the website here to get more specifics and see a video about the museum.

From the looks of the photo above, Mathaf is not much to look at, but when you drive into the compound and walk across the parking lot, this is what you see.

The Guardian of the Fertile Crescent by Ismail Fattah (deceased) and finished by Ali Nouri.

 Al-Safina (the ship) by Adam Henein

The outer courtyard seems very Egyptian-esque in its presentation but maybe there are some baby Stonehenge influences as well.

In the lobby of the museum there are gigantic paintings of the Qatari emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned by Yan Pei-Ming.  They are impressive and Brett really liked the style the artist used.  They are one of the few items I was allowed to photograph, so I can share them here:

Another lobby exhibit:

Another appeal of this museum is that it isn't so big that the amount of art to investigate is overwhelming.  We spent maybe 90 minutes and had a quick look at all the exhibits.  If Abbey hadn't been with us we might have spent a little more time, but her opinion was, and I quote, "This is just a quick glance museum."

Yes, even the signage was artsy!

Because photography of the exhibits is not allowed, I cannot give you any visuals from the other exhibits but I thought they were interesting and inspiring.  It is great to see Middle Eastern artists being recognized in this way.  The local culture seems so mired in tradition that it was refreshing to see some more contemporary interpretations of the Middle East.

As we left, we again enjoyed the outer courtyard, but this time in the dwindling sunlight.  The setting sun gave it a whole new look.  And just as the desert breathes a sigh of relief as twilight approaches, so did we, having had our artistic cups filled with a few more drops of local culture.

21 Things About My Invisible Illness

It is said that 50% of the U.S. population suffer from some kind of invisible illness. This is invisible illness week so I thought I would share 21 things about how I deal with Type 1 Diabetes.  And why 21 instead of 30?  Well, I was diagnosed 21 years ago this month.

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 Diabetes
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:  1990 (September)
3. But I had symptoms since: Three months before
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: having to spend so much time taking care of myself. 
5. Most people assume: that I did something to cause it.  After I was first diagnosed I had a close family member tell me that I probably got diabetes because of the anti-depressant I started taking the previous winter.  People like to find reasons for things that usually have no identifiable reason.  Also, people often assume that I have Type 2 Diabetes because I am overweight and I was 26 when I was diagnosed.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: that they come!  I am a true Night Owl.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Glee?  Not medical, but my ER days are over and my own life is enough medical drama for me.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My insulin pump, my new Dexcom CGM, and my new compass in my car - an archaic GPS system for a girl who now lives in the Middle East but is used to living in the Rocky Mountains and establishing her whereabouts with peaks and valleys
9. The hardest part about nights are: making myself give up on the day and actually going to bed.
10. Each day I take:  one vitamin, and five other pills, and of course insulin infusion.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I think alternative treatments have their place but when a few of the health "experts" in my family try to convince me that my type of diabetes can be cured through diet, exercise, or the homeopathic drop of the month, I get my back up and stand more firmly behind science and traditional medicines.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Both?  It is nice being somewhat incognito with my illness, but there are times when I wish diabetes could have a more visible, public, heart-breaking appeal so that researchers, rich donors, and governments would be more motivated to find a cure.  Which Hollywood mogul is going to wear the diabetes ribbon on his or her awards ceremony designer fashion and pound the pulpit of awareness?  Even the celebrities who have diabetes are pretty quiet about it.  I bet Wilford Brimley comes to mind when you think of diabetes, but what about Mary Tyler Moore, Halle Berry, Nick Jonas, and Salma Hayek?  I think that because this disease is perceived as so "manageable," along with those who suffer from it, the world does not make it a passionate priority.  Maybe we need to get more rowdy fellow diabetics!!!
13. Regarding working and career:  I used to be a junior high English teacher, in fact one of the biggest reasons I went back to school and chose a stable career in teaching is because I knew I would receive health benefits.  We had no health insurance when I was diagnosed, so when I landed my first teaching job I felt so blessed to finally have help with my medical costs.  Unfortunately, teaching is a rigorous profession and physically demanding.  One of the many reasons we moved to the Middle East is so Brett could make enough so I wouldn't have to work and I could concentrate on taking care of my health.  Has it worked?  Well, that is another blog post entirely.
14. People would be surprised to know:  How much time, money, and energy it requires to be a proactive diabetic.  Insurance only goes so far.  Sometimes I fantasize about all the Hawaiian vacations we could have gone on with the money we spend on diabetic care.  I also fantasize about being Elasti Girl too, but that isn't all about diabetes.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Limitations.  I have never been good with missing out on anything.  My mom tells me that I never liked going to bed as a child and it probably was because I couldn't stand to not be in the middle of things.  So sometimes diabetes has waved its annoying hand in my face and forced me to lie down, rest, cancel a fun appointment, and on one vacation, miss hours of Disneyland fun.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: travel to less than modern countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Jordan, and live in the Middle East.  Yes, it is possible to take a year's worth of insulin on a commercial airline in my carry-on bag.
17. The commercials about my illness: are lame and frustrating and don't seem to educate the public about the diversity in the diabetes community.  Do you still use the term "juvenile diabetes?"
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: making my own insulin.
19. It was really hard to have to give up:  My freedom from gadgets.  I'm not one of those women who is glued to her iPhone.  I would rather not have to recharge any battery, EVER, but it seems that the longer I have this disease the more bionic I become.  I tote my insulin pump on my right hip and my Dexcom on my left.  I often feel like a pink version of Clint Eastwood ready for a blood sugar gun fight at any time.20. My illness has taught me: I am stronger and weaker than I thought and has made my life and the miracles of my working body parts so much more precious.  And I CAN do difficult things, even when my blood sugar is hovering at 32.  I don't recommend it, but I have done it.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Leave the house without a giant purse full of diabetic supplies and probably jump into the pool without worrying that I am ruining a $5000 gadget - yes, I've done that.

You too can share about your invisible illness by going here and answering the simple questions.  You don't have to be as wordy as I have been and you might get through all 30 questions!  

July 4th 2011

We were jumping with activity this last July.  We celebrated Independence Day the way all good Americans do - with fireworks, a parade, licorice, salt water taffy, and hot bursts of country love and gratitude.  Abbey and our grandchildren were especially fun to be with and we watched the day through their eyes. Unfortunately, Brett sprained his ankle a few days before the holiday, so he either had to hop along with the activities or sit them out.  Our family loves the traditions of the day and we enjoyed being together in spite of the July heat and the sticky sunscreen.

Highlights of our 4th of July:

Definite highlights were buying light sabers for my grandsons (and Abbey) and watching the Centerville fireworks show while cuddling with my invalid hubby who braved the crowds in spite of the crutches.

 Yes, the licorice was enjoyed by everyone.

 Did you know licorice could be functional as well as tasty?

Even the five month old had a short taste!

The crowd was WILD for parade action . . . well, maybe wild is too strong of a word.

Kimball loved the opening of the parade the best.  Floats and bands just can't compete with police sirens, fire trucks, actual policemen, a red flamed sheriff's car, and F-16 jets doing a fly over.

 Abbey loves being an aunt!

Jared kept his little bundle away from the sunshine and got some good cuddles in the process.

The boys were thrilled when they saw the same green car they had seen at the car show in the park a few days before.

Our Bountiful Stonecreek Stake had a beautiful float entry (way to go Pam!) and actually won the Ensign Award at the Salt Lake Days of 47' Parade a few days later.

This was Kimball's brilliant invention.  About half way through the parade he got tired of holding his bag of salt water taffy that had been thrown from parade entries, so he came up with his "Taffy Backpack."

 It even got the big brother's approval!

Well, Millie's mug says it all:  It was a sweet, sweet day, and as we watched the American flag wave in our front yard we felt grateful to be able to display our heritage, our nationality, and our freedom so proudly.  Before living in the Middle East we took that for granted.  I really like this quote from Erma Bombeck:

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.  - Erma Bombeck

Ramadan Kareem 2011

Tomorrow begins the month of Ramadan, which is a holy month of celebration, fasting, and introspection for Muslims around the world.  There are Muslims all over the globe, but four years ago, I had never heard of Ramadan, and even if I had I don't think I would have spent any time finding out more about it.  I lived a very secluded, sheltered life then.

Since moving to the Middle East I have become aware of so many cultures, religions, and even countries I had never known before.  The diversity in the world is astounding yet there are so many commonalities too.  I have seen many similarities among many religions.  Mormons and Muslims have many things in common like believing in prophets, scriptures, and holding up the family as the rock of society.  Muslims and Jews also have common ground like say . . . the same ancestors.  The most difficult thing I have learned from my experience overseas is how even with so many values, beliefs, and practices in common, many people all over the world seem to look for divisive points to hold out and use as a wall or weapon against peace.

I was reading an interesting article about Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress in 2007.  He said a very powerful thing:

"If you use your religion as an identity as opposed to a path to divine, inspirations and guidance, then you are no different than Crips and Bloods [gangs]," he said. "And I want to say that I mean that."


This statement impressed me because I think many people are guilty of using their faith as their identity, and then that identity as a comfort zone to surround themselves with sameness.  Some Mormons I know are guilty of this and so are some Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus.  I have been guilty of this at times, much to my dismay.  Moving to Qatar definitely forced me out of my comfort zone, but I think I was ready for that. I was ready to be released from my shelter of familiarity that had almost ceased to bring the expected comfort because I knew better.  I knew that my little bubble of understanding was not enough for my own growth and progress.  Now I'm not saying that people who are born in one place and then stay there all their lives do not grow and progress.  Many people are able to open up their minds and their hearts to new vistas even when they live in a smaller (in distance) circle of influence.  I guess I am one of those people who has to learn through experience. Now I know what Ramadan is . . . the only catch though is that I'm not feeling too terrible about being in the U.S. for the duration of the Muslim holy month this year and I don't even feel guilty eating and drinking openly during daylight hours!  I guess growth and progress come to all of us at varying speeds. :) So to my Muslim friends I say "Ramadan Kareem", and if you happen to come and visit me in Utah, I will not partake of food or drink in front of you, and I will fast along with you next Sunday, but I am pretty happy about not having to sip my water on the sly while I am out running errands.

Baby Flashdance

 She's a maniac, maniac . . .

 . . . on the floor . . . 

. . . and she's dancing like she's never danced before!