Photo: ©Zoë Kessler, 2011

It’s often said that our external environment is a reflection of what’s going on inside us.  It’s with this in mind that I’ve decided to take you on a tour of this year’s balcony garden.

I must warn you: it’s not one of those wonderful garden tours where you go from estate to estate, ooh-ing and aaah-ing over luxurious flower beds which the owner has planned to change from golds and yellows to purples and pinks, with such skillful scheduling that an ADHDer can only look on with envy as the season unfolds; …no, it’s not one of those gardens.

When ADHD women get together with non-ADHD friends Photo: ©Zoë Kessler, 2011

Four women, three days, one cottage: will they survive?

This long weekend, I treated myself to a few days at a friend’s cottage. I was really looking forward to spending time with three of my dearest friends.

What I didn’t expect, was how much fun it would be to watch two ADHD women interact with two non-ADHD women. I should note that one of us (me) has been diagnosed, while the other has only recently discovered that she has ADHD and has not yet received a formal diagnosis.

Photo: ©Zoë Kessler, Sept. 1/11

I live just south of an intersection. There’s a flashing light hanging above the intersection, at the bottom of a steep hill. It took me about a year to figure out why the brake lights of my car looked like they were on, and flashing, 24/7.  So much for my shrewd ADHD mind.

For about the past month, there’s been a roadblock and detour signs at the bottom of the hill. About two-thirds up the hill, are more orange- and black-striped roadblocks. To date, I’ve never seen any construction crews on that hill; the road is intact; still, the detour signs remain.

Danger! Danger?

At all hours of the day, and well into the evening, exuberant cyclists and skateboarders (mostly young men who look to be about 16 or under) wildly race down the hill. They’re taking advantage of the fact that there’s no traffic on that stretch of road. I’ve been tempted more than once to try it myself, except I’ve figured out that there IS traffic at the bottom, once you emerge from the pylons. Guess I’m not so dumb, after all.