25 Random Things About Robert

One of my favorite bloggers who is also an amazingly talented artist, Franziska San Pedro,  recently created a “25 Random Things About Me” post.  It was entertaining (mostly because it involved donkeys), it was very open (read it and you’ll see what I mean), and it was enlightening. I learned so much about this delightfully exuberant person in just five minutes!

I’d love for you to know more about Robert and this list is the perfect way to do that. (I promise to create something similar about myself but for now, this is all about Robert).

1. Robert stuck a fork in his eye when he was 6 or 7. Other Brother, Robert and I were having a picnic in our backyard and Robert was goofing around and stuck himself with a fork. He thought the eye patch he got from the ER was pretty cool! (Don’t worry, there wasn’t any permanent damage).

2. Robert’s favorite color is blue.

3. Robert’s favorite television shows are Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Of the two, he likes Jeopardy the best.

4. Robert is very committed to his faith and considers himself Baptist. I know of no other Baptists in our family.

5. Robert has had epilepsy his entire life.

6. When living independently, Robert sent money to someone in Jamaica because they called him and asked him for it. I am still wishing for Karmic justice on this person for taking advantage of a disabled person.

7. As a child, Robert loved to play with LEGOs.

8. Robert can tell you all about being awake during his brain surgery in 1990 and how happy the surgeon was with him and his progress afterwards. He usually can’t remember what he had for lunch.

9. Robert had a seizure while in a swimming pool when he was 15. After being pulled out, he was in a coma for a few days and says God talked to him telling him it wasn’t his time yet. It certainly wasn’t!

10. Robert’s favorite meal is a cheeseburger and fries with Rocky Road ice cream for dessert.

11. Robert says he can sometimes fight off seizures. I believe him.

12. Robert’s medications currently include Depakote, Clonazepam and Zonisamide (for seizure control) and Levocarnitine to improve liver function.

13. When Robert was little he loved to carry around a blanket (the kind with the silk on the edge) and just rub the silk. It was very soothing for him.

14. Robert always wears button down, dress shirts. Preferably blue.

15. Robert loves 7-Up and is never without a bottle of it.

16. Robert can’t drink caffeine because it may trigger a seizure but he likes decaf coffee.

17. Robert enjoys doing Word Search puzzles.

18. When in the car or riding the bus home from his Day Program, Robert counts school buses and “diesel trucks.”

19. My parents took Robert to Switzerland when he was 8 to see a renowned neurosurgeon to see if he could cure Robert’s epilepsy with surgery. The doctor couldn’t do anything.

20. Robert’s best friend in elementary school was run over by a bus in our neighborhood. It was a horrible, awful thing.

21. Robert lived with a woman he considered to be his wife for almost twenty years. She also had epilepsy. When Robert could no longer live on his own and I moved him to a facility near me, she broke up with him.

22. Robert loves jewelry (rings, watch, bracelet, necklace with a cross) and wants everything to be 14-carat gold.

23. Robert is very routine-oriented, bordering on OCD.

24. Robert absolutely loves to play Kings Corner (a card game) and beats me 99% of the time.

25. Robert is the only one in the family with curly hair. I always wondered what the mailman looked like. :-)

I'd love to hear a few random things about you if you'd like to share in the comment section!