One Year Home

I cannot believe that I am already writing our one-year home post. The month of July started off with Eve and I going to Disney World for a few days with @shelbi.nichole, @kristentheguideingeye, and another friend. We spent five days in Disney World visiting Magic Kingdom, Hollywood studios, and Epcot. Overall, it was a good Disney trip, but I definitely learned a few things from that trip. The most important being Musher’s Secret and a cooling vest to combat the heat and humidity,

Lindsay and Eve Standing under the Epcot ball.

Lindsay, Eve Tiffany and Shelbi posing with Princess Aurora.

Lindsay, Eve, Tiffany, and Shelbi posing with Princess Ariel.

Lindsay and Shelbi working Eve and Kristen in a double through Epcot.

Behind the sense of Figment.

Eve resting her head on the Living with the Land boat.

After this Disney trip ended we headed to the National Federation of the Blind’s (NFB) conference, where we met up with old friends and made new ones. While at this conference we attended guide dog seminars, educators for the blind meetings, general session, and of course a Guiding Eyes meet up.

The state of California delegation sign during general session.

Eve taking a nap during general session.

Eve and bunny wanting to play during the guide dog seminar.

Lina and Daphne, Lindsay and Eve, and Shelbi and Kristen standing together right before banquet.

Kaitlyn and Irish, Lina and Daphne, Lindsay and Eve, Shelbi and Kristen standing together before banquet began.

As the NFB convention was coming to a close, I got the call no child wants. On July 7th, 2024 my mom passed away in her sleep. Her passing was not a complete shock as she had taken a fall earlier in the year and had not healed properly after this fall. It did not help that she most likely would not be able to go back to work after this fall, and so mentally she had gone downhill from there. Although this is a hard time in my life right now I am comforted in knowing that my mom is no longer suffering. I know one of her biggest worries as I have traveled across the country for various meetings over the years was my overall safety as a person living with low vision. As I have now traveled almost a year with Eve by my side I know this worry was becoming less so and she knew that I would be Ok.

Lindsay and her mom standing together after Lindsay was crowned in the homecoming court.

On July 12th, 2024 Eve and I celebrated one year since we had met. This was the caption that I used when posting a series of pictures documenting this year, but I think it summarizes our first year together well.

“Happy gotcha day Eve! I can’t believe that today marks one year that we met. This year has taught me a lot about patience, capabilities, and to trust another living being to get me from Point A to Point B. I would be lying if I said that we didn’t have our bumps in the road, but despite that we have been on many adventures in this last year. From countless hours in the office and grad school lectures when we get home, 16 flights, 10 protests, 9 states visited, 8 job interviews, 7 theme park trips, 6 speaking engagements, 5 conferences, four banquets, 1 wedding, and countless people asking to pet you in between. It’s been a wild year, but I wouldn’t give it up for the world. Thank you for being you and thank you for keeping me safe in whatever adventures we end up on.”

Once we arrived home from the NFB conference I spent the rest of July cleaning up my mom’s things and getting her affairs in order. I am so thankful for my Long Beach State family for allowing me to take this time to process the life changes that happened in July. Without this time off I do not know where I would be, nor would I have as much together as I do. Things are far from settled, but I could only imagine where things would be if I did not take this time off. I can only hope for a better August and the months to come.

Packing Tips for Guide Dog School

Eleventh Month Home