One day. One park. My solo trip to Magic Kingdom.

We answer to many names at times, nicknames, last names, pet names, names we love, and names we hate. I answer to names like Amanda, Sue, Mom, and Panda, but my favorite thing to answer to, besides “mom” of course, is Aunt ‘Manda. I love being an auntie. I think my favorite times lately have been to make memories with the little ones in our families. To take my nephews to an indoor water park in the dead of winter, felt epic at the time, all for the memories. Wave pools, arcade games, water slides and french fries, oh my. The laughter was worth it. 

Now they say that Disney is the most magical place on earth. I’ve been a few times; Disney does not disappoint, but is it magical when you walk in alone? Is it a magical Main Street while solo? Is it still fun when watching out for numero uno? The answer surprised me. My sister had been planning a trip to Disney for over a year and I always told her, if I was able to tag on to her trip, somehow, I would. The memories of her kids’ faces brings me so much joy, it’s unexpectedly wonderful. 

So I started poking around the internet. Started texting and inquiring about all pieces of this travel puzzle. I started investigating scenarios. Hotels. Flights. With Enzo and Tony. Without Tony. Without Enzo. What were the options? Airport parking. Do I have a suitcase after the great basement sewage flood of ‘24. What would be my food options per day? Which days were possible. And then, would this even work with Courtney’s schedule with her family. 

The stars began to align. 

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From Deathbed Diagnosis to Flowerbed Revival

My scares and triumphs over the last year 2024-2025

So here we are—March 2025—four years after my last post and nine years since the coma. Are you sick of my grief math? I’m sick of it too. Let’s throw it away! Be gone, grief—for now, anyway.

Let us call this post: From Death Bed Diagnosis to Flower Bed Revival: The Beginning of Being Type One Diabetic. HA! You didn’t expect me to say diabetic. Lol. You thought this was another coma blog. Ha! Tricked you. This is about my sugar, sugar.

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5 Years Out, Y’all

Five years out, y’all.

March 12, 2016. Exactly five years ago, I was admitted and intubated.

March is weird, and it has been a rough five years.

Repeatedly, I was told ARDS survivors take five years to return to work. FIVE! I said, “Nope, not me! I’m not going to take THAT long.” Just another time I was royally wrong.

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Freedoms, Joys, and Only Boys

Freedoms, Joys and Only Boys; A Case for My Singleton  

Being a mom means dealing with mom guilt. For moms of more than one child, it’s “mom guilt multiplied.” For moms of an only child, it’s “mom guilt amplified.” Regardless of what we call it, mom guilt can wreak havoc on our minds from time to time. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t at every turn in today’s world. I’m here to say, let’s let go of that guilt together.

I want to dedicate this post to my biggest source of guilt: having a singleton.   

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Southern Style Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits

If you know a Maury, you know we love “Chocolate and Biscuits.” We brag “chocolate and biscuits,” but what we mean is Grandma Weezy’s famous chocolate gravy poured over fluffy hot Pillsbury biscuits served alongside sausage links, with a big glass of milk or a nice hot coffee for a fulfilling savory and sweet breakfast on a cozy Saturday morning. 

“Chocolate!? For breakfast ?! ”

That’s what people say when they hear us ask if they’ve ever had chocolate gravy.  

Like we are somehow crazy for having chocolate for breakfast. 

Count Chocula AND my Granny said it was okay, so we are good here.  

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