Will you join me in a celebration?

[draconis]

Wow... I didn't realize I've been away from DW so long. Going to have to do better about that!

And now, on to the post at hand...




Will you join me in a celebration?


One year ago today*, I very nearly shuffled off this mortal coil. In those 365 days, I've gone from:

- a fractured skull
- 5 fractured vertebrae
- a physical inability to bend more than about 10 degrees, and
- a medically-ordered limitation not to exceed 20 lbs of exertion in any direction

to:

- slightly decreased mobility in one shoulder, and
- slightly decreased sensitivity in one hand

and both of those are still improving. Other than that, as far as I can tell, I am fully recovered.

When my accident happened, I received a PHENOMENAL outpouring of love and support from my family, friends, students, "grand-students," and co-workers. There were people from across the country and even around the globe praying for me, doing healing work/ceremonies/etc for me, even having meals sent to my home. The accident happened in the middle of some house renovations we were having done, and three people jumped in their car and drove several hundred miles to come help make the house safe for the just-barely-functional person I was at that time. Two others took it in turn to stay with us and help my wife take care of me and continue getting the house back in order during my convalescence.

I don't know what I could ever have done to get such awesome and amazing people in my life, but I thank you all from the bottom of my (still beating) heart.

There were so many who did so much that it would be impossible for me to even begin to pay them all back -- nor would most of them allow me to if I tried. Since I can't do that, I feel compelled to at least "pay it forward."

Even more so than usual, today I'm going to try to help others, or to simply do nice things for them. Things like buying my team coffee and donuts this morning. Things like maybe giving that panhandler a bit more than I would have otherwise. Things like maybe pulling over and helping that person with their hood up on the side of the road. Not to say I wouldn't be inclined do these things anyway, just making a special effort to do things like that even more.

I'm not trying to change the world, I'm just trying to make this corner of it a slightly better, slightly brighter place for still having me in it.

Won't you join me? Please?

* Since I wrote this post this morning, I've found out that my mental calendar is off by two days. I didn't fall on Oct 20, it was on Oct 18. The reason Oct 20 stuck in my head was because that was the first day of work that I missed, and the date that I had to put onto a small mountain of paperwork.

Comments

[raine]

((hugs)) So glad to know you've made such progress.

[draconis]

{{{hugs}}}

Thank you! So VERY glad to be able to report such progress!

[em_kellesvig]

Has it really been only a year? Wow, you really made a lot of progress in a very short time. So glad you're okay and getting better than okay. (((hugs)))

[draconis]

Thank you! And yes, it really has been one year! {{{hugs}}}

[devohoneybee]

SOOO happy to celebrate. :)

You've done an AMAZING job of getting the best of what had the makings of a pretty hair-raising situation.... until it met YOU, that is. *grins*

[draconis]

So glad you can join the celebration!

And come on, you saw those pictures, didn't you? If anything, it was a hair-LOSING situation!

[tarshaan]

I gotta say, you scared the hell out of us! I'm so incredibly glad you came out of it as well as you did. And have come as far back from it as you have.

And you had amazing support coming in from absolutely everywhere. It was amazing to witness. and speaks volumes as to your character. I mean, I already knew you were awesome *g*, but that was the kind of proof you rarely ever get that everyone else knew it too!

{{massive hugs}}

[draconis]

Thank you for being an absolutely vital part of that support!

{{{HUGS}}}

[ilyena_sylph]

+happily joins in the celebrating+

[draconis]

Thank you, Yena -- for so much!

[senmut]

+hugs gently and long+

I am a better person for the sake of knowing you. You and Rhi and just so much wonderful from there!

Continue to improve, and be careful with yourself.

[draconis]

(hugs you tightly, then feels a need to sit down when he reads that)

You... I... what?

Asp, I literally have no idea of what to say to something like that, so hopefully this will convey a small shadow of my feelings:

{{{{{HUGS!!!!!}}}}}

[senmut]

People with your sense of compassion and heart are rare. To know one is a treasure.

[draconis]

Well, I'm very flattered that you feel that way. To me, I'm just... me.

On the other hand, I have some really special people around me... like certain people who hear about a friend in need, and DO something.

Thank you, my friend, for being that sort of person. :-)

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

Please don't do it again.

Glad you are better.

Love 'n' hugs