Walking Spirit

So I found myself wavering back and forth on what I wanted to do on the anniversary of the accident. People kept asking me what I was going to do. In the end I really felt like I should spend it like any other day. However, my family wanted to be with me that evening so we did have a nice dinner at my home. The house still smells of fried apples and bacon!

We went to breakfast before church, the usual Sunday morning, although we were a bit late and we had to park across the street. I walked across the street, stepped over the curb, went up the ramp and into the restaurant. That was a little bit more than normal but definitely a step in the right direction.

When we arrived at church we were greeted by a "happy anniversary!" Stated by the security guard whose always ready to help me in. For a moment I thought that it was a strange thing to say but, as the day wore on I came to the realization that it is a happy anniversary, in that everyone involved in the accident survived. Before Sunday school I visited with a young woman from our group who had been the first person from the church group to come to the hospital to support Sarah while the doctors were trying to keep me alive. She told me that she and her family went to Germany shortly afterward and that she had lit a candle for me at every church and cathedral they visited.

As we visited a few others trickled in and I shared with them that I had seen an anger in the mirror that morning that I wasn't really aware of. The others voiced how that wasn't surprising to them and that they thought it was important that I allow myself to feel that anger. I am angry that this has dominated my life for the past year but I am not angry that I've had this past year, and have many more, to overcome that dominance. The warmth and strength of the congregation certainly went a long way to helping me feel better.

Later, after church Renee, with her mother, niece, and nephew in tow, came by to work with me on therapy. Of course therapy was simply the cover for showing her nephew my star wars collection. Stunned fascination was the result! After the kids recovered from room of star wars figures we went to Starbuck's.

I walked out of the house and got in Renee's car and she put the wheelchair in back. When we got to Starbuck's I got out of the vehicle and walked in. We went to the counter where the guys working told me how impressed they were to see me walking. (they've never seen me before but they were still impressed) I got my wallet out, paid for my coffee, and then walked to the table. (Renee carried the coffee) At the table I sat down in a regular chair and the wheelchair stayed in the car. When we were done I stood up from the chair which, didn't have any arms, I walked out, and got in Renee's car. When we got home I got out, walked into the house, and sat down on the couch. Renee brought wheel chair in and headed out with her family.

A few hours later Sarah and Madeline arrived, a little while after that Mom and Dad showed up and we had dinner with my roommate Jamie. Fried apples and bacon with biscuits and pumpkin pie afterwards. It was a lovely fall dinner and a great way to end the anniversary.