My Handicapaversary

[benquad]

So my actual accident date was Aug 11, 1998 but as is the case with many of us that have been through an accident that causes some serious damage (permanent or not) the time in ICU, step-down, & even rehab can be blurry. First my Intensive Care in West Palm Beach’s StMarys where in my mind we were all at the movie theater & on the screen we watched Jeopardy, a Dolphins game, or in the trippiest times we’d be out somewhere & randomly run into the visitors. Oh yeah! I had a horribly realistic hallucination where something out of 2,000 leagues under the sea was trying to kill me & I swore to god if I lived id behave. (Should I be held accountable for what I said on Morphine?)
I later wrote
“Truth be told, my soul I sold
When dead I thought id be,
I lost my mind, which I would find
Was all that’s left to me.
I was transported to Miami’s Jackson Memorial hospital which is an hour drive from my hometown, its hazy but I recall visitors vividly as well as experiences good & bad alike (Meeting the future playmates of the millennium, moving my right foot toe a tiny bit to having ants crawling on my halo, face then around my lips for leftover sweets or a roommate dying) I don’t really have solid or realistic memory than once I was in rehab. In late October I Flew from Miami to Denver for my rehabilitation at world renowned Craig Hospital in Englewood thus beginning my fascination with Colorado. I spent my 19th bday at Craig hospital & then against the Drs wishes I left just before Xmas so that id be back to Fl for the School break most my friends had from college, guess that shows my priorities lol(the idiots at the airport that were supposed to help me into the plane dropped me on my face in the jet way by the planes door!)
So I guess I could a spared the preamble but my point was that my 10yr recollection didn’t really sink in until recently as it’s just kind of weird to think that a decade has gone by. I know that my life has truly been enriched by my experiences. Id like to take this chance to thank all of you who’ve been with me on this crazy ride & no matter how our paths have crossed I’m better or at least a lil smarter after it all!

So, I have a few questions Does you're date of injury stop meaning something after awhile? Do u think of it as your “Alive Day” like our soldiers? Referring to an HBO special in which soldiers recalled the date of injury as their alive day. I’ll prob have more questions as I think about it.
Im sorry about the way in which this was written it started as a journal entry that I figured might have relevance here.

[Pony]

I think everyone is different, but for a long time after my accident the anniversary didn't mean much to me. In fact, I'd forget it completely some years, but in the later years (and i've been chaired for 28 years) i've done more 'reflecting'. I dont call it my 'alive day', but no denying it started a brand new life, new body...i'm not sure ever completely be comfortable with it, but enough so that it isn't the focus of my life. The years seem to fly by, yet the feeling of my able-body seems like yesterday. Whether you like it, or not, everyone has to pick up the pieces and move on down the line. Your attitude sounds good to me after a decade, and that's the most important part, I think.

[Phil]

I never heard of the "Alive Day" term, so no I don't use it. I'm 20+ years post injury, and my injury date often goes by without a second thought. Sometimes, it'll hit me 3 or 4 days after that it went by. I guess that it's just another day now.

I don't like to focus very much on the past, what I once did, stuff like that. In some odd way, those thoughts often feel like I was in a different life. This is my life now, and like everyone else, I'm just trying to squeeze out as much good and happpiness from it as I can.

The years do fly by. I guess that's the case no matter what. As I've aged (and grew up, lol) and realized how close I came to death, I've adopted the mindset to enjoy this ride, celebrate life and live like you could be gone tomorrow. Some day we all will. The ride ends much too soon to waste time on BS stuff, harboring negative thoughts. It works for me.

[princess]

Since you probably have NOT been behaving your self, I'll say NO, you shouldn't be held accountable for what you say on morphine. Otherwise I imagine you'll be in trouble.

[BA]

Jan 3, 2009 14:06:44 GMT -5 @ukquad said:

My date was 09/02/91 and I never really give it a thought. Even in those early years. Until now! Thanks Ben LOL

Urgggh, my birthday is 9/2. Then again, I know a few people born on 9/11.

[southernman]

I almost always remeber my date October 22, 2002 , I have even thought about getting a tattoo with the date and the words under it "Sentenced to Life" but i havent done it because sometimes I just think that would be stupid.

[mrjefffurz]

my anniversary, 8/28/82, (ask the denizens @ a cripsite like PQ about their anniv. they will assume u mean their if they r sci)that date has always been important to me...usually mourned,,,a couple times celebrated when i feel like a survivor,,,until this year,,,shortly after midnight i wished a "crappy anniversay, a PQ-ism, to a dude who shares the exact date as me...then it just kinda slipped my mind...very strange...if our dreams are a window into our subconscious then im stuck in 1982...thats who/what i am n all my dreams regardless of when the dream is set...i dunno what that sez about my shrink-i-ologically...mny mes i spent tht day & perhaps a cpl days on either side in a real downer...i often used that as a good excuse to drink hard...until the time i had a complete meltdown & some f my friends saw it,,,lll stay sober from now on tyvm...ok,,,theres my story...
crappy anniv. ben