Alternately abled and passionately happy…all words of description. Let me explain a bit.
I consider myself alternately abled instead of disabled.
I contracted a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy after undergoing chemotherapy for cancer years ago which left me wheelchair bound.
I am also sight impaired due to Retinitis Pigmentosa.
I am blind in my left eye and have less than 5 degrees of vision in my right eye.
I am alternately abled because I can do most of what other people can do with the help of technology.
I admit I am limited in some things like climbing stairs, painting ceilings, or changing light bulbs in the ceiling fixtures.
But, most activities I need to accomplish on a daily basis I can handle by myself.
I am passionate
I consider myself a master at crochet.
I even teach the art to students locally.
I make everything from dishcloths to bedspreads.
I do seed bead weaving. I make jewelry pieces out of beads the size of mustard seeds which are laced on threads that are hand woven or loom woven into original designs.
I use a camera positioned over my work that projects an image onto a monitor to see what I am doing.
And I do paintings in ballpoint pen and colored pencil. Subjects for my paintings are most often flowers, birds and animals. I am fascinated at how I can take a common ballpoint pen and cause it to render beautiful flower petals or bird feathers.
And so you see, had it not been for me becoming “disabled,” I would probably have never taken the time to realize my passion. And now, everyday, I am able to find tremendous joy, happiness and gratitude for the usual and common things in my life. Today, I am still able to do the work I am so passionate about that brings me so much happiness.
About The Author
Brenda Dennis owns with a. She is wheelchair bound and legally blind. She crafts unique handmade jewelry by weaving original seed bead designs. She also stitches crochet pieces from dishcloths to bedspreads and doilies. She has recently begun to “paint” with ballpoint pens and colored pencils. Her artworks are displayed in various venues locally. Connect with her on and on Twitter @SuzyQue19605.
