33 Reasons to Celebrate
Today I am celebrating 33 years of type 1 diabetes because…
1. DOC
2. Camp Sweeney
3. Rules about not eating or drinking or having food on my person do not apply to me
4. I am a cyborg
5. Diabetes Art Day
6. The World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange
7. Because I have an invisible disease, I try to be more sensitive to others’ invisible struggles
8. When I say my husband is a life-saver and superhero, I mean it
9. I can shoot up and be high without interventions, rehab or prison time
10. When someone invents a trivia game about the carb counts of various chocolate bars, I will win
11. I know D-Moms are special because of how special my D-Mom is
12. I don’t post like I used to, but I still love that I can come here, write stuff, and a few people will be there to read. I’ve made so many wonderful friends because of this blog.
13. D meet-ups
14. I decided my sense of purpose in this life is to try to help people find their silver lining in the black cloud of diabetes, and that brings me joy
15. So does finding meaning in what otherwise seems like meaningless, horrible events and circumstances
16. The diabetes road has been rough, but it eventually led me to Jason
17. Jason has a dependable shoulder to cry on when I need it, and with diabetes, that counts for a lot
18. I understand the value of social media because I’ve benefited so much from it
19. I have a valid excuse for having done chemistry experiments with pee-pee when I was a kid
20. I can appreciate the notion some have that diabetes shouldn’t be used as an excuse, but the universe dealt me the diabetes card, so I’m not shy about playing it if the circumstances call for it
21. Along those lines, “I’m sorry, but I can’t _______ because my diabetes is flaring up” is both practical and funny
22. I hear I can get a cut-in-line-and-bypass-the-crowds pass at Disney parks
23. There’s nothing untoward about waking up at 5am, topless, with 3 EMT’s in my bedroom
24. Jason has mad glucagon skillz
25. Diabetes camp friends are forever friends
26. I am who I am because of this disease, and I’m damn proud of that
27. Every time this disease knocks me on my ass, I get right back up and keep going because I am greater than diabetes
28. I’m going to be Dr. Thill because…
29. I’m out to prove that glitter glue and paint are useful tools for diabetes management
30. Every morning that I wake up brings me the much appreciated gift of a new day
31. It takes a disease like diabetes to appreciate the great joy in something as inconsequential as diet soda
32. Art therapy can heal that which isn’t cured
33. While luck and happenstance have something to do with reaching this 33rd milestone, especially considering that I didn’t take care of it very well for almost 20 years, now I’m dedicated to managing my diabetes, enough so that I don’t regret eating an ice cream sundae with 3 scoops of Forbidden Chocolate, hot fudge, marshmallow topping, brownie chunks, and whipped cream. I earned it.
WOW…Happy 33 years Lee Ann!!! I hope you lived it up like the ROCK STAR that you are.
Happy Diaversary! And OMG I totally want that sundae! Celebrate away!
Happy Diaversary Lee Ann! That was a great list!
I am so happy I can call you my friend Lee Ann! Happy Diaversary! <3!
#25 made me smile <3 It's the #1 good thing about having diabetes in my mind (and heart).
Well done Lee Ann! I really like #s 20 & 21
We just passed the 3rd and forgot it was D day.
Nice. Congrats on 33 years!
happy d-anniversary, lee ann! love this list! and #22 is totally my kid’s favorite thing about D! besides summer camp and FFL, i think!
Happy Diaversary! I love this list. This is the first I’ve heard about cutting at Disneyland. I have a trip planned in 2 weeks so I’m gonna have to look into it!
You rocked those 33 reasons just like you rocked your 33 years!!! Congrats and happy Diaversary!!
Happy Diaversary! What a great list! My favorite is #29 because it should be that way!
Happy belated D-versary
Photo = priceless 
I love this list, and I love you. Happy anniversary Lee Ann!