My Motorcycle Injuries

I find it a little odd regarding how much of my thinking process has had to change as a result of the injuries that I received in the motorcycle accident. My daughter let me know earlier today that she is going on a short trip with some family members next week. We usually go on these mini-vacations together, but my wife and I cannot work out the details of life in a way that will allow us to go this time. As I considered going, one of my thoughts involved my physical condition. The thing is that I was always the one that could walk the farthest and last the longest whenever we traveled together. I have really flat feet, yet I would always outlast anyone within a day’s time regardless of the activities involved. I never had to consider the potential physical toil involved in anything that we did together. Today my daughter told me about the upcoming trip and I wondered if I could keep up with others if I was actually able to work out the details needed to go with them. I follow this sa...

Christmas is coming soon. I actually celebrate the holiday twice every year. We spend Christmas Eve with my side of the family and Christmas day with my wife’s side of the family. My side of the family isn’t too much centered on eating, but my wife’s side of the family likes to eat throughout the day. We get together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with assorted snacks in-between. I really don’t eat much at either house anymore, but we do have a nice time together. My diabetes was caused by damage done to my pancreas in the accident. It wasn’t diagnosed for well over two years, but now I am able to manage it well. Still, it has caused me to lose about 50 lbs. to date. I Initially thought that the weight loss would be temporary, but it has lasted for a year and a half now and it doesn’t seem to be affected at all by anything that I eat. I weigh now roughly what I did in high school. It’s been strange wearing clothes that hadn’t fit me properly for years. Although I had to stop wearing...

I just finished installing a new garage door opener. The remote receiver on the old one wasn’t working and as a result we could only use the opener by using the wall switch. Not much help when you’re pulling up in the car. I could have replaced the receiver, but odds are that something else would break within a month. This new one is the third unit that I’ve installed since owning our house (20+ years). They’re supposed to last roughly 10 years and we’re right on the mark so far. The instructions always say that it takes two people to get the job done, but I’ve always done it alone. I often write about changes in my life, but not today. Today I rejoice in something that hasn’t changed in well over 20 years. I first installed a garage door opener a short time after we moved into our house. My wife went to a ladies meeting that night and I stayed home laboring in the garage. Today I got things started in the late afternoon and I was almost finished by the time that she got home from work...

I have always been accustomed to being seen as a fairly fit and capable individual. I’m not an imposing figure in my physical appearance (at all) but I have always been seen as a guy who can work hard and get a job done. I have usually been a go-to guy for help with home repairs, moving days, and any projects that require a little knowledge and elbow grease.  Even beyond family and friends, employers have never accused me of being incapable or unwilling regarding physical work. All in all I can say with honesty that I have been a physically capable person throughout my life. I have never really lacked in energy or strength. One of the big differences after the motorcycle accident and the resulting injuries involves the way in which people see me now. I get the very strong impression that I’m now seen as being weak and fragile. Relatives who have asked me for help with things in the past never ask for help with projects around the home anymore. I know that they’ve needed help with t...

This past weekend I attended a community event centered around the Christmas holiday. It involved music, crafts, the lighting of a tree, and fireworks. They had a bunch of food trucks, but I have a thing about eating out of mobile kitchens. I know that they are very popular these days, but I think that I would rather eat something that is kept warm in the engine compartment of my car. What would be the difference? Anyway, I attended the event and had a very nice time with my wife and daughter. It’s all very much Americana, and I love things like that. It was held at the commons within our township and the weather was perfect. The last time that I attended an event there was a couple of years ago. I remember that walking around just about left me depleted by the time we headed home. A great deal of the ground is covered in grass and I have a more difficult time walking on uneven surfaces. I didn’t last very long back then, and I honestly found a great deal of relief just getting back in...