anniversaries, of sorts

this isn't funny. it isn't light-hearted. if you want to see some pretty pictures or if you're looking for a breezy Friday read keep on going to my last post.

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two years ago, today, I was on my way to work. I was excited to be able to really work out again after my bathtub incident*. the doc had forbidden various activities including swimming and running until my neck and shoulder were better.

the day before she'd given me the ok to do whatever I wanted. it was the first time in almost 9 months that I had my gym bag in the car and intended to go for a run at lunch on a beautiful spring day.

I sat at a stop light. listening to the radio. all of a sudden, BAM. crashing noises. pain.

ever more concerned about angering other people, to get out of traffic, I pulled into the parking lot right there. the car that had hit me did the same.

I was scared. my laptop was in the trunk. I'd stayed up working late. needed to get a report out that day. and the only place that report existed was on my laptop.

I slowly got out of the car. I was in pain. I was shaking. I didn't know what to do. I looked at the trunk. it was smashed in.

the other driver asked if I was ok. I said I didn't know. I sat back in my car. disoriented. I think he called in the accident. some of the events immediately after the accident still don't make sense. have no order.

a very nice girl was heading to class at the seminary where we'd pulled in. she came up to talk to me. to check if I was ok. she asked where I hurt. after explaining, she went inside. one of her classmates had been an EMT. he came out and insisted that I needed to go to the ER.

I reluctantly agreed. still concerned about the report. when the ambulance got there, they agreed with the seminary student. the only thing I knew was that my laptop needed to go with me. could the cops please bring it to the hospital with them?

at the hospital I was scared. I was on a back board. in a neck brace. I called my dad. my mom, being a teacher, can't always take calls. and although my sister could have been there in minutes, she wasn't speaking to me then. I assured him I was ok. they were just being cautious.

he asked if I was scared. I lied. I didn't want him to worry. to call my mom and worry her. or my sister.

after several hours of waiting and x-rays and such, the docs determined I was bent, but not broken. they gave me some pain meds and told me to go see my doctor within the next few days.

I called work. our receptionist came and got me from the hospital, she insisted she should take me home. I insisted I had to send out the report that day. it was a court deadline. couldn't be missed.

after a few blurry hours at work, she took me back to my car. I insisted I could drive home. as I got into my car the nice girl from that morning stopped by. she asked how I was. gave me her name and number. she'd seen the accident. I should call if I needed anything. or if something happened that I needed her as a witness.

I never did use that number. the police determined he was completely at fault. I always wished I had called and thanked her. told her that her kindness and compassion meant everything to me that morning.

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and I can't believe I've been at this a year as of tomorrow. it's cool and kind of scary at the same time. I started it last year when I was feeling a little glum about how my back had not progressed enough in a year. sadly, that hasn't changed too much. but my outlook is a little brighter. and I'm enjoying writing, again. I think I have posted over a two hundred posts. I can't believe I have that much to say. and I can't believe I have only told a very few of the stories I have swirling around in my memory.


* explanation of the bathtub incident is buried somewhere in this post...