How I See It: Reflections on spirituality, technology, and the art of everyday life

I'm Not Charley  Hello, my name is Odell! I was born in 1961. I have an Associate of Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts degree. I'm a Pilot, Photographer, Poet, Philosopher, Mystic, Writer, Musician, Amateur Astronomer, and for over 45 years I've been a professional computer programmer — and a lot more. I mention these accomplishments because of something that happened in 2nd grade. I was falling behind academically, having problems learning to read and write. After much humiliation (my classmates constantly made fun of me) and testing, I was diagnosed as being “brain damaged.” My parents were told that I would never learn to read or write or have normal relationships or a normal life — in fact, that it would be best if I was simply placed in an institution. They were told they had three other children and another on the way, so it would be best for everyone. My parents disregarded this and kept me in school and “mainstreamed” me. I was held back and had to repeat 2nd gra...

A Small Airplane Daydream I had an odd little fantasy pop into my head today. I imagined getting on a plane, finding my seat, and realizing the person next to me is Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory . In the dream, I do what I always do, settle in quietly, mind my own business, try not to bother anyone. But eventually the excitement gets the better of me. I turn to her and say, as apologetically as possible, that I know people must approach her all the time, but I’ve always respected her work and I just had one question I couldn’t resist asking. “What do you think about autoimmune encephalitis?” After all, she really is a neuroscientist. Next: I'm Not Carley Previous: A Few Words on Caring

Christmas Letter 2017 Dear Friends, It is my custom at this time of year to celebrate with my friends by giving them the gift of self — to share with you some of what the last year(s) have brought for me. I don’t mean to make skipping a year a habit, but shortly after Thanksgiving last year something happened that I do not want to go into here. Suffice it to say, I did not feel up to writing this letter, so I missed an update for 2016. I hope to make up for that now. Most of what has happened during the last two years has been medical, so I will report on that at the end. When I last wrote, my father had passed away. So in January of 2016, I went back down to LA for the funeral (with Phoenix). These were her first two airplane flights, and she was a trooper. The rest of 2016 was rather boring. I made a couple of trips to Seattle and the coast, went to work most days, and lived the boring life of an adult. 2017 was a little more eventful. We started the year off with a big snowsto...

Rituximab, CD19 and Hashimotos encephalopathy  I just got the results of my most recent CD19 test. Normal range for this test is between 6% and 19%. Twelve weeks ago my reading was <0.1 (almost none). Today’s results are 2.85%, so my immune system is reactivating. For most people that’s a good thing—but not for me. My doctor has ordered another round of Rituximab. CD19 is a test that shows how many B cells are in the blood. B cells are a type of white blood cell and part of the immune system. They produce antibodies when the body needs to fight an injury, infection, or disease. In March I was given Rituximab. Rituximab is a powerful immune suppressant that not only inhibits the body’s ability to produce B cells but also actively seeks out and destroys them in the blood. Hashimoto’s encephalopathy (the condition causing my neurological problems) is an autoimmune disease where my immune system misidentifies nerve cells as invaders and attacks them. Since my t...

Christmas Letter 2015  Dear Friends, It is my custom at this time of year to celebrate with my friends by giving them the gift of self — to share with you some of what the last year(s) has brought for me. I’m very sorry that last year I did not finish my letter. Frankly, my health issues have been getting worse and I simply did not have the energy. Please accept my apologies. I will quickly try to update you on the past two years. Sad to say, the largest change in my life is that my father passed away shortly before Thanksgiving this year. He was 74. I will be heading down to LA in January for his funeral. In 2013, I was in Mazatlán, Mexico for Christmas. I do not speak Spanish, but I did learn one word on that trip: Mazatlán is Spanish for DUMP . Let’s just say it was an awful trip and leave it there. I traded in my 2005 Toyota Prius for a Nissan Rogue. I wanted a car that was easier to get into when I’m having hip or leg problems, and one with modern safety features like a ...

Christmas Letter 2014  Dear Friends, It is my custom at this time of year to celebrate with my friends by giving them the gift of self — to share with you some of what the last year has brought for me. This year I am celebrating Christmas for the 53rd time in my life. This year I will be home for Christmas, so I am hoping for a white one. Last year I was in Mazatlán, Mexico for Christmas. I do not speak Spanish, but I did learn one word on that trip: Mazatlán is Spanish for DUMP . I was so disappointed. I wonder if I will ever head to Mexico again. It was noisy and crowded, and the house we rented felt like a prison — complete with guards across the street watching us and telling us not to use the A/C. We christened the house Casa de Cockroach . I had to rent a car, and it seems everyone there learned to drive in New York. It was very little fun, and I am afraid that trip was a dead loss. When I last wrote, I was hoping to do some comet viewing while I was in Mexico, but the c...

Christmas Letter 2013 Dear Friends, It is my custom at this time of year to celebrate with my friends by giving them the gift of self — to share some of what the last year has brought for me. This year I am celebrating Christmas for the 52nd time in my life. Normally, I would be wishing for a white Christmas, but this year I will be in Mexico on Christmas Day, so the closest I’m likely to get is the sand on the beach near the house we are renting. When I say we , I am referring to my friend Mary — more about her later. Since I’m going to Mexico with someone , I will not be hanging my traditional bikini by the fireplace (in hopes that Santa will fill it). I would definitely have to say that of the years of this millennium, this one has been one of the best. Not that it hasn’t had challenges, but as I sit here writing on Thanksgiving Eve, I find that I have more to be thankful for than in many years. Phoenix, my service dog, is coming along in her training. I just wish my health were...