Today is Petunia’s 11th birthday. 🩷
Eleven seems to be an age of transition for us Shelley women. My family moved from Dearborn Heights to Temperance when I was 11 — altering the course for the rest of my life. Similarly, my mom moved from Missouri to Dearborn Heights at age 11.
So by comparison, Petunia’s transition is much less intense, but I am still feeling a lot of feels about it: Petunia is getting ready to retire.
Petunia has seen me through 3 different jobs over the past 9 years, and we’ve both grown older and (mostly) wiser together. She’s been giving me signs for a while that she’s ready to quit working, though, and I think I’ve been a bit selfish in trying to delay the inevitable as long as possible.
So what does retirement mean? It means Petunia gets to stay with me (thank goodness!) but instead of going to work with me every day, she gets to stay at home, take naps, and live her best retiree life. ☺️
I may have already scared some colleagues at the museum who haven’t seen her around as much and were worried something happened. But don’t worry if you see me without Petunia over the next few months! We’re just practicing with her being at home! Right now I am taking her to work 3 days a week, and letting her stay home for 2 days. Come May, it will switch to at work 2 days a week, home for 3 days. So come June or July will come full retirement.
I am on the waiting list for a successor dog for Petunia, which will hopefully happen later this year or next year. I can’t wait to share the adventures of my new dog and partnership (as well as the sass that will be given once Petunia realizes she’s no longer an only child 😂).
Until then, good girl, Petunia. Happy birthday, and thank you for consistently being the best colleague I could ask for! 🌸💕
My highlight of March was being able to spend time with amazing powerful disabled women!!! Also if any of you have pictures of us on your phone please send them to me lol
#pridemobility #jazzycarbon
Lead with power. Rest with with purpose 🩷
There is something empowering about being in a room full of disabled women. Last weekend was an adventure to New York I will never forget and I cannot wait for next year. #disabilityempowhernetwork #disabilitypride #disabilityadvocacy #lifeatilevel #quantumrehab
WE WON A MOSIAC AWARD!
Crazy to say, but the documentary I worked on for a year for TMA won Nick Corbin Productions a Mosaic award from the American Advertising Federation!
"The AAF Toledo’s Mosaic Awards recognize agencies and individuals whose commitment to diversity and inclusion are evident through their creative work and organization-wide initiatives."
Massive honor and a great recognition of not only the work so many people put into this, but also the amazing advances the TMA is making towards ensuring access for all.
Couldn't have done it without the help of Taylor Yarborough, Katie Shelley, Jennifer McCary, @johnfmedia , @spencerstamitoles , and @bradtumasian
THANK YOU to all the lovely humans that came out tonight to chill out & break in our patio with us! I feel very loved & so lucky to have y'all in my life!!! ♥️♥️♥️
Trailer is HERE! The documentary I helped produce for the Toledo Museum of Art is available NOW on their YouTube!
Huge thanks to everyone involved at the museum, and my constant collaborators, John Fleischmann, Spencer Stamitoles, and Brad Tumasian. #toledoohio #youwilldobetterintoledo #filmmakers #disabilityawareness #neurodivergent
I can’t believe it, but today is my sweetest boy’s 5th Birthday! He has formally protested all of my adventures this summer, but he’s the first kitten to welcome me home. He is my shadow, tells the best stories, and makes the biggest biscuits. I can’t imagine my life without this silly fellow right now. Happiest of Birthdays, sweet Merlin!
I've worked on this for a year (since June 2024!) It's almost here! This documentary chronicles the immense number of changes and improvements TMA has made to ensure the museum is open and accessible to ALL. Thanks to my filmmaking partners @bradtumasian , @spencerstamitoles , and @johnfmedia for working on this with me! #disabilitypride #disabilityawareness #toledoohio #ada
My baby boy, #schroedercat is 2 today! I don’t know how this is possible and yet it is. 😭 He has brought such joy into my life and to just about everyone he meets, because he is absolutely my little social butterfly. He can be sweet, chaotic, and cute all in a 10 minute span and I don’t think I’d want him to be any other way! Happy Birthday, Schroeder!
Just in time for Mother’s Day, these fantastic photos from Petunia’s 10th Birthday photoshoot courtesy of @its.me.katie.marie have come our way! 💜 Happy Mother’s Day!!
