Ever since I had my stroke nine months ago, I can get a little short-circuity from time to time.  It’s weird.  Say I’m searching my medulla oblongata for a particular word to use in my blog.   My brain, for whatever reason — will become hard-pressed to locate that word and I’ll be forced to find a suitable alternative.  I must have spent fifteen minutes trying to pick a word that meant “poignant”.  Of course, poignant would have been the appropriate choice, but my brain was having no part of it.

To keep myself frosty, I tend to read and write a lot more than I used to.  I’m now writing daily blogs for a fun website called MoxieQ.com.  It’s a good exercise in freestyle writing.  I pick some sort of random, inane pop culture topic and go to town.  The blogs are quippy, zippy and often inspired by whatever topic is water cooler-worthy.

I’ve also started studying German, which, I swear, is an IMPOSSIBLE language to learn.  I wonder if I could have gleaned its subtle nuances better before I had my stroke.  Doubtful.  Although I have had a lot of fun practicing German’s guttural, phlegm-y, barking patterns.

Last week, one of my friends asked me if I had any lingering effects thanks to my stroke.  I acted incredulous … and a little annoyed.  I immediately shot back, “No, I’ve recovered nicely, can’t you tell?”  My friend pressed a little further.  The conversation went a little something like this:

Friend: “Good, so you’re not taking any meds or anything?”

Me (still incensed): “Nope.  I just take the occasional fish aspirin and baby oil.”

Friend: (stares blankly) “Wait, what?”

Me: “Again, no, I’m not taking any meds.  I’m perfectly FINE.  The only thing I take is fish aspirin and sometimes some baby oil.  But thanks for your concern.”

Friend: (after lonnnnnnng pause) “Goooood, glad to know you’re still sharp as a tack.”

Me: “Yes … as if there was ever any doubt.”

Friend: (dies laughing)

Eventually, I did concede that I inadvertently said baby oil instead of fish oil.  I had a good laugh about that snafu.  And with that, admitted that maybe, just MAYBE  — I was slightly affected by my stroke more than I previously thought.  Happens.  The whole experience was quite an amusing eye-opener and rather … wait, what’s that word …

Oh yeah, poignant.