The Queen of Optimism started this blog and after a few months, realized it needed the domain name of www.medicalpuzzle.com . Why? Because her primary care physician calls her “my little medical puzzle.” The idea for this blog came to Queen while waiting in line for 45 minutes to pay for a shiny pink cane at the medical supply store. Sure, she could 
“focus on the positive” like her friends and family keep suggesting. The cane is pink and shiny for a granny cane. But it’s still a granny cane. The fact is this experience sucked. Royally. No one in their mid 30′s wants to be walking around with a cane! C’mon.
So, the Queen began to think that perhaps she was just pessimistic and incapable of “focusing on the positive”. No way! The people telling her to stay positive – what did they know about staying positive? Life is not all lollipops, rainbows, and candy. A true optimist knows that it’s not about focusing on the positive, it’s about permitting yourself to feel both the gratitude and the sucktitude. Sure, there are people that are worse off than you. So what? That doesn’t make your situation, your diagnosis, your pain, your disability suck any less.
Besides being a patient and medical puzzle, the Queen maintains a professional full-time career, a family, and a social circle whenever possible. Why is she the Queen? Because she’s always wanted to feel a little extra special. And as far as optimism goes, she continues to have hope in spite of the dead ends related to a diagnosis and treatment.
Please note that author of this blog is fully aware that the best blogs are not journals like this one. The author has maintained other informational blogs and, well, she already spends a lot of time doing technical writing for her employment. This site is her cathartic release and a means for documenting a pretty hectic time in her life. Perhaps it will resonate with someone else.
You can reach Queen at theqofo [at ] gmail [dot] com.
Want to know what’s wrong with me? That list is over on this page.
At the risk of appearing falsely optimistic, I would have probably celebrated some latent, hystrionic tendency by putting a big, pink, silk rose right at the base of the cane’s handle. No, really! I really do stuff like that!! It doesn’t mean that I don’t still go home and cry about it, but at least I have fun with it part of the time. I think of it as putting on a big, floppy, purple hat when I’m 80 years old…why the hell not?!
Susan S.
I too am living in chronic pain and have to use a cane as well, I have for the past 7 years and I’m turning 35 this week, so I know that you are speaking of here and I can SO relate!! My cane is but a boring black and I think its awesome that you are rockin it with a shiny pink cane:)
Q, I am really moved by your blog and can relate to it in so many ways. I wanted you to know that I have nominated you for the Versatile blogger Award! You can find the specifics about this award here:
http://cravencreativity.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/versatile-blogger-award/
Your blog is an inspiration, keep doing what you are doing:)
Sincerely
Karen
How kind! I look forward to learning more about you and the award.