Fifteen years ago, a thoughtful high school teacher introduced Mikelle Learned and Jerome Stewart, she had a hunch these two might become the best of friends. She was right. Jerome played football, ran track and was a well-liked senior at East High School. He, like Mikelle, was a recent transfer student from another high school.
Soul Mates. A Story of Love and Friendship Read More »
Bless our hearts. The heart, our capable and vigorous organ pumps our life force throughout our body. It pumps while we wake, slumber, worry, laugh, hug, quarrel, growl at traffic, touch a lover’s hand, sip hot coffee, savor a mint julep, or a tangy sassy margarita. As Christmas approaches, our hearts are focused on family,
Whoa! Does the world appear to be a little off-balance these days or what? Let’s be real. Most of what we knew growing up no longer exists. Wishing we could go back to what appeared to be stable and predictable isn’t going to help you cope with a quickly changing world. We see daily life
Feeling Out of Balance? Read More »
Recently, Mikelle and I had the honor of interviewing Jim Warne, film producer of the documentary, 7th Generation. I met Jim at the Washington Initiative on Supported Employment annual Community Summit last June. She attended is a powerful session on disability, the importance of community and tradition and learned more about the terrible trail of
Jim Warne, Ogalala Lakota film producer meets Mikelle! Read More »
The Christmas tree is back in the box. Time to put out the welcome mat for 2019. Most of us are tired from all the holiday shuffle and are tempted to fall into the warm arms of a comfy chair, cover ourselves with a cozy quilt, and sip tea as we look out at the
Get TechFit and TechStrong. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Areas in life, once strong become weak. It was a gradual weakening, one we didn’t notice until it was obvious. Mikelle’s voice was growing quieter. The digital voice we had become so accustomed to was increasing silent as she began to rely on
Can You Speak Mikelle? Read More »
“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”- Forrest Gump Valentine’s Day and chocolates go hand and hand, like peas and carrots. Do you remember Valentine’s Day was a big deal when you were a child? Boxes of chocolate were affectionately given from grandparents,
Love is Like a Box of Chocolates, Right? Read More »
Soe Are you the gift under the tree? Imagine a small dollhouse on a post next to a big pine tree in a suburban front yard. The walls are painted with a warm, inviting color, perhaps trimmed in white. There is a small shingled roof and double doors which open wide. Now, imagine the little
The Christmas Gift is You! Read More »
By Taylor Mason and Katherine Carol Three times a week, Taylor receives this message. “Where are we meeting today?” “Cheeseman?” “How about Starbucks on Colfax?” She replies. “Sounds good. See you at 10:30.” Is the answer. Three times a week Martie and Taylor (or Martie and one of Mikelle’s other support team) have this conversation.
Mikelle, Massage and Martie Read More »
Target on Target. A guest blog for the Shining Beautiful Series by Taylor Mason. Lately, Mikelle and her girls have been spending more and more time in the wide, red-accented aisles of Target. We’ve come to appreciate those aisles for their width and the ease in which Mikelle is able to navigate herself in them.
