I made it. A whole year has passed since my unfortunate interaction with a Toyota Corolla.
The accident still plays in my head, often, in full color; a vivid memory. The jingling of shattered headlamp glass, the screeching of rubber, the sound of wind leaving my lungs as I tumble, the scrape of plasthc sounds off in my ears as my helmet skids and pops and slams along the road. The smell of your own blood, mixed with earth and grass and hot asphalt. A memory that will fade in time, but will be permanently locked into my brain in between fuzzy old memories and all the little voices that raise up from time to time.
The accident still plays in my head, often, in full color; a vivid memory. The jingling of shattered headlamp glass, the screeching of rubber, the sound of wind leaving my lungs as I tumble, the scrape of plasthc sounds off in my ears as my helmet skids and pops and slams along the road. The smell of your own blood, mixed with earth and grass and hot asphalt. A memory that will fade in time, but will be permanently locked into my brain in between fuzzy old memories and all the little voices that raise up from time to time.
I’m lucky. No, I’m not lucky, I’m downright INSANELY lucky to be here today. Nobody walks away from an accident like that. The nurses and the doctors all said so. But somehow..... I did. So I get to live some more, and I best better enjoy it, and be grateful for the opportunity.
Here I am 12 months later. Thankful that I can walk. There were a few moments where I felt sure that I would walk with a permanent limp, or constant physical pain. (the knee ‘reminds me’ it’s there every once and a while) I still have issues with the flexibility of my knee, but I can in fact, walk. Thankful for that. I could have lost a leg, an arm, a foot, a hand, or suffered brain damage. (I think my doctor might argue that last point :-) ) Thankful that I didn’t, and damned lucky that I’m using both hands to type, and that both my feet are propped up on the ottoman right now. Kneeling to pray for thanks is only an issue if I choose to kneel on my right knee. Fortunately I have two. Luckily, I still have two.
My stamina is coming back to me, slowly but surely. Walking more than a block was a chore for so many months. I can stand up to watch a band play it’s entire show, without needing to sit and rest. (now if I could just find a band that doesn’t suck major ass) I can carry a ladder from the garage to replace a couple of light bulbs at my folks’ house. I can wash my car in the driveway. I can mow the lawn. (and stay the hell off of it, will ya?) I can exercise without being in severe pain 15 minutes later. Slow and steady wins the race.
There are so many things to be grateful for today. Life, health, friends both real and on the interwebs, and humor and clear thought. I am humble and grateful today, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be here to share. I look in the mirror and smile because I'm happy, AND because, I'M STILL HERE.
