Author Archives: Kevin Schaefer

The 2021 Netflix movie “Awake” imagines a world in which a mysterious catastrophe wipes out all electronics and takes away humanity’s ability to sleep. Mass hysteria ensues within hours of this apocalyptic event, as people long to let their minds and bodies rest. Citizens turn against one…

When I was younger, I enjoyed the hyperactive nature of the teacup ride at Disney World. My mom hated it, but my dad was willing to accompany my siblings and me on this headache-inducing extravaganza. Spinning around inside a giant teacup from “Alice in Wonderland” was enough to entertain…

A few years ago, I started listening to comedian Chris Gethard’s podcast, “Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People.” The premise of the show is that people call in, and whoever gets through talks with Gethard about any subject they want for an hour. The only condition is that…

“Yesterday, All my troubles seemed so far away, Now it looks as though they’re here to stay, Oh, I believe in yesterday.” Among the countless hits by the Beatles, “Yesterday,” released in 1965, has stood the test of time as one of the most revered and influential songs in…

I listened to 78,978 minutes of music and podcasts in 2022. Thanks to the popular feature Spotify Wrapped, I and millions of users can look at a summary of our listening habits each year, for better or worse. Some may find my avid consumption of pop albums…

“Your 60s you’ll have a major surgery, the music is still loud but it doesn’t matter because you can’t hear it anyway. Seventies, you and the wife retire to Fort Lauderdale, you start eating dinner at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, you have lunch around 10, breakfast the night…

“Pneumonia! It’s been a few years. How’ve you been? Sorry to be blunt, but I’d rather you not stick around for too long since you’re a real pain in the butt.” Fortunately, my most recent encounter with my old acquaintance was relatively brief. I spent one night at the…

The other day, I had my annual evaluation with a nurse to make sure I’m still disabled. This is one of the things that those of us who use government services for caregivers just have to do. It’s no secret that having a disability is a full-time occupation.

On the last day of this year’s Cure SMA conference, I sat on a panel called “It’s a Wonderful Life” with other adults in the community. The cheeky title is meant to reflect the notion that adults with SMA can and do have fulfilling lives. It’s a bit…

I recently attended my first pop culture convention since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masked up, I felt right at home among the crowds of “Star Wars” and “Stranger Things” cosplayers passing by. Though it had been three years since my last con, I eagerly anticipated a…