Time For a Change
Author: Sheri Denkensohn-Trott
I generally view myself as someone that does not have difficulty with change. Overall, I tend to go with the flow although I do like rituals. But other than that, I have adapted to many changes throughout my life, although I must admit that moving is the hardest change I have experienced. 
So maybe my most recent rejection of change relates to that. But it still surprised me.
We have had our current bed for 16 years and it is part of a built-in unit in our bedroom. Because of a variety of factors, including that I need a better air mattress and Tony needs an easier way to access his side of the bed, we were faced with buying a new bed. For people without disabilities this is no big deal. They check out whatever they like, figure out how it fits in their room, and buy the bed. But when you have a disability, finding a bed that fits your unique needs is no easy feat. There is not a large supply, so you consider what is available and figure out how to fit it within your space.
We found a bed with the ideal features, but it is king-size, comprised of two individual beds. This design allows for a special air mattress on my side, and an easier way to access the bed for Tony. Each side goes up and down with its own controller. We currently have a queen-size bed. Fitting any size bed into our bedroom is complicated by the fact that we have sliding glass doors on one side of the room. 
At one point in our selection process, just hearing the word “bed” sent my head into spin mode.
With the help of consultants who specifically work with individuals with disabilities purchasing new equipment, we confirmed that by adjusting the configuration of the room, the king-size bed will fit. So here we go! On July 1, the old bed will go out and the new bed will come in. We will then have to move furniture around, put new tables next to our respective sides of the bed, and become accustomed to a whole new mode of operation. We will be moving pictures, hanging a TV in a different place and in the end, it will look like a completely different room. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. But whether I like it or not, change is here.
news every evening and usually watching the local news again at 11 for possible breaking news, sports scores, or weather updates. During this pandemic though, watching that much news in one day can be quite dispiriting. We rarely picked up the telephone to talk to a loved one because of my lack of hearing but I’m trying to use a new translation tool by Google to make it easier on the phone and when people are talking on the computer.
over. We do make watching Jeopardy a continued activity, and many times it is the point when we just breathe
the Rookie on Sunday evening. OK, some plotlines may be kind of corny, but we need some of that these days.
taking advantage of the myriad of lifelong learning practices through webinars/podcasts. This is something that we have always wanted to do, but never had time. And personally, getting together on a weekly basis with certain members of my family for a virtual Dungeons & Dragons game is a great stress reliever!