Pieces of Me

Still-life pumpkin 11/21/13 By Gloria M. Matthews (First still-life in six years) Six weeks of dealing with back to back illnesses and six weeks of lots of thoughts.  However, in those six weeks I had to tolerate balancing motherhood with household duties as well as personal responsibilities. This past week was the first full week I felt good. My stomach issues still remind subtle but under control.  As I started to feel better with each passing day, I got my passion and determination back to draw, to paint, to write, and to get creative again.  I don't know what it is, but for the last six years I've been itching to be the creative person I once was so many years ago.  I studied art for years but never majored in it for it was something I could never have under the microscope of "grades".  I believed as artists we are storytellers through our works. I posted my most recent work on to my FB page and for those who knew me in my younger years have remembered I u

Let me start off by saying it's been a year! Already!  However, due to being ill for the last few months, it has interfered with my ability to process sounds well with my CI ear. Prior to getting sick, I was JUST starting to normalize out with all the sounds around me and I was doing just fine in getting to listening better in noise.   Now, I kind of have to go through a detox from all my medicines which I must stop completely and for good as my doctor thinks it's causing my stomach issues. So if you ask me do I regret it?  No, I don't.  I will say I still got a way to go on my part.  I'm not 100% YET or close to it.  But I am slowly building my way up.  I do listen to audio, but I get tired out fast.  My situation of being a single mom of an active Kindergartener and other things I'm swamped by.  But I do go out and chat with my friends and meet with those in the cochlear implant group(s), when I can.  Sometimes, finding time for me is just enough

You know how people are quick to comment or make remarks about things that they have no idea about?  Well, I have dealt with my fair share of those over the years.  Granted, while I knew some meant well just out of concern others - well they got to be a bit bossy and pushed unrealistic "ideals" towards my way.  You can bet I walked away from them for good. Over the years, I have always been the athlete, the artist, the thinker, writer, idealist, and a whole other bunch of hats.  However, because I am considered young (newly 30 yrs. old), for years I had to keep my health issues at bay and focus on things that were positive for me.  I love writing, but hate academic writing (most professors on the junior level gave me hell for my grammar and all those petty little details for a hard of hearing/late deafen student doesn't always hear EVERYTHING!)  But my ideas are well put and written.  I love drawing, when I can.  I love reading, researching and learning new things every