Let the Countdown Begin!

This Friday is my 12th anniversary. In honor of that momentous occasion (ok, really I'm just looking for another excuse to draw attention to myself...), I'm doing a week-long Life In Review series where hopefully you'll get to know me even better (you don't have to say it, I can sense the excitement from here). I'm doing four Allison's Top 12 lists, and then a special post on Friday. Wheee! I'm excited. Are you excited?

My Top 12 Reasons Why I Don't Always Mind Having Diabetes

12. I laugh when people complain about the flu shot.

11. At school, I can say I'm "high" and not get in trouble. Come on, who didn't like casually mentioning you were "high" last night in front of all your friends and your teacher. If nothing else, it just sounds funny. Go on, say it. In public. I dare ya.

10. "Legitimate" reasons for skipping gym class. Not that I ever did such a thing...

9. I can lecture people about why the Atkin's Diet is a crock and people believe me. Honestly, don't you just want to take the people who say "Carbs are eeee-velle!" and just smack them?

8. Diabetes camp is better than non-diabetes camp. Trust me, I've been to both. Diabetes camps have a much stronger sense of comradery and there is a bond between children with diabetes that just never fails to amaze me.

7. I can use big words like "ketoacidosis" and "hyperglycemia" and sound smarter than I really am. I bet you'd never guess that I flunked 10th grade and actually have an IQ of 79.

6. The Never-Ending Guess Game as to what my pump is. Best guess: Walkie-talkie. Runners up include: pager, cell phone and MP3 player. I wish! It's funny. People amuse me greatly.

5. Free stuff! Granted, it's all diabetes-related, but I've never paid for a glucose meter, publishing companies send me copies of diabetes books (so far I've received Think Like a Pancreas, Conquering Diabetes, and Yes I Can! Yes You Can!) and the Australian rock band Brother sent me their CD Urban Cave (which is uber cool).

4. Having an Insta-Friend when you meet someone else with diabetes. It's like that saying "A Stranger is a Friend you haven't met yet." A "Stranger with Diabetes is a Best Friend you haven't met yet." I have met so many awesome people over the years with diabetes. And without diabetes (::waves to the Parents::). I think Diabetes does something to the people it affects to make them cooler. Or maybe it's just me.

3. I can talk about myself for long periods of time without seeming self-absorbed. I mean, you're reading this blog, aren't you? And you see that Wall of Shameless Self-Promotion over there? Apparently people actually like listening to me. Seems I'm "educational." I spend literally hours and hours a week talking about my life experiences and what I think about anything and everything and somehow, people are still talking to me. Amazing.

2. I'm inspirational for just being me. I didn't ask to become a diabetic/PWD. I didn't wake up one morning and decide to have a chronic illness to prove to the world how mature/smart/caring of a person I am. I'm just living my life, one day at a time, trying to make the best out of the situations I'm given. Sometimes I'm a royal mess. Sometimes I kick butt. But we all do it. In our own special way. I think the key to being inspiring is not to try to be Unique or Wonderful, but just to Be. Not to go all Oprah on you, but I think as long as you try to Live Your Best Life, everything else will take care of itself.

And the number 1 reason why I don't always mind having diabetes is...

1. I'm saving the world. I mean, come on...