Princess Di - Post #12

The shattering of my left ankle was a turning point in my life. Very suddenly, I am physically limited in my capacity for the first time. The house was revamped to allow me to work from a home office, in bed, and navigate the upstairs only, by crutch and / or wheel chair. Angel put up with me for about two weeks while I kept the legs elevated, hollered for room service and mostly drove her insane. Until she'd had enough. She then contacted my boss, had him swing by the house daily, pick me and the wheel chair up, and cart the whole gong show off to the office. And I can tell you for certain, there wasn't much in the way of room service going on over there.

But I persevered. And if it's all about perspective, then my view of the world from a wheel chair was an eye opener indeed. The house, being a bungalow was easily navigated and I got self sufficient in no time being able to manage all aspects of my daily life where needed. The finished basement of the house was off limits because with two broken feet, crutch transport was a scary venture, and up and down stairs was just out of the question. I suggested Angel carry me once or twice, and that was usually met with her departing to go out with girl friends, leaving me stranded. She had me trained in no time. Dependency is a very scary concept when it comes into your life. But I was blessed to be surrounded by a myriad of good people, all willing to pitch in and help.

I am forced to slow down what was a previously, a very hectic pace of life. And re prioritize. Six weeks of relying on everyone else, where up until now, everyone had pretty much relied on me, was a humbling experience. And I appreciated everything so much more. Now I made time daily to read a book, play with the kids, and spend quality down time with Angel at the end of each day. A forced eye opener. And while I was to recover, and begin to crank up the pace once again, I could never do so like I once did due to the bum ankle.

I remember so clearly the day that Princess Di had her tragic accident. I had not done a thing, other than to and from work, to get out and start living again, when Angel came to me on that fateful day in August 1997. She tells me we're going to the pub. We load the car and head out to meet a group of friends. I can still remember having the best time in a long time, that night, with friends, quaffin' pints and wheeling around the pub.

Then the news bulletin interrupted the broadcast of the soccer game. That pub immediately transformed to deathly quiet as we all took in the graphic detail provided by the very paparazzi on the scene, who were later blamed (somewhat) for the accident in the first place. My first conscious thought, if you will, of my fate, in comparison to another's, with the inevitable conclusion that I am indeed, so lucky to have made it through the way I did.

I was to get out of that chair after the prescribed six weeks and with the help of crutches begin my first foray into the world of physio therapy. And fortunately, that world, provided me with another angel.