Hey everyone! It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? Truth be told, the last few weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster, and I needed some time to process everything before I could even think about writing about it. Let’s just say I was in a bit of a funk.
First off, the news that my recovery was being extended by *four weeks* hit me hard. I was so ready to ditch this borrowed cot and crawl back into my own bed, so the delay was a major blow. It felt like I was stuck in recovery purgatory!
And then, just a few days later, life decided to throw another curveball. Poor Finnegan, my furry little buddy, had his very first seizure. Dave and Jared rushed him to the emergency vet, who thankfully confirmed his bloodwork was normal. They sent him home with “wait and see” instructions, which is never what you want to hear. Sending him to the vet without me felt so wrong, but with my limited mobility, I would have just slowed things down. It was a stressful situation all around.
Thankfully, a week later, my amazing friend Jenn came to visit for a long weekend, and it was exactly what I needed. It was so great to reconnect with the outside world and catch up with someone who just *gets* me. You know those friends who accept you, flaws and all? Jenn is one of them, and I cherish those kinds of relationships. They’re rare gems!
Now, Jenn’s visit coincided with the 4th of July, which also happened to be the day a massive tree decided to take a nap across the road between my house and Samantha’s. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “A fallen tree? Riveting!” But when you’re housebound, trust me, you find entertainment in the strangest places.
In this case, my entertainment came in the form of watching the absolute *chaos* that ensued as drivers encountered the unexpected blockade. It was like a real-life social experiment! The sheer variety of reactions was astounding. Some people were perfectly reasonable, but others… well, let’s just say their problem-solving skills left something to be desired. Some people just sat there, waiting for someone to tell them what to do. Others backed up the entire length of the road, seemingly oblivious to the potential danger.
But the *pièce de résistance*? Picture this: I’m parked in my wheelchair at the top of the right side of my second driveway entrance, closest to the fallen tree. An older gentleman in a red car approaches the scene, and despite seeing the tree *clearly* blocking the road, he continues on past the first driveway to my second driveway, stops, and looks completely befuddled. A policeman, who was somehow managing both sides of the tree at once, comes over and tells him he needs to turn around since the tree wasn’t going anywhere fast. The gentleman looks at *me*, shrugs, and then proceeds to pull into the driveway *directly next to my wheelchair*.
Seriously?! His missing passenger side bumper was clearly visible from the mere 18 inches separating us when he finally stopped. Yikes, right? I never thought I’d almost get run over in my own driveway, but there we were, literal inches away from that very thing. Other than the near-death experience, it was a fascinating way to pass a few hours until the tree was finally removed. And thankfully, the rest of the weekend was tame by comparison.
Soon after the Great Tree Incident, I finally ventured out on my first outing to a non-medical location. Let me tell you, I quickly learned that the world is not as handicap accessible as you would expect. The Painted Pony restaurant was closed for vacation, so we opted for a local diner-like spot instead. And while we *did* manage to make it inside, it involved navigating two doors, both with inch-high lips, a narrow glass corridor, and the moving of a seated table of people just to get me in the door. You’d think all that would have dampened my spirits, but honestly, I was just so ecstatic to be out in the world again!
So, there you have it – the first installment of my eight-week recap. I hope you enjoyed reading about my adventures (and misadventures!). Stay tuned for parts two and three, where I’ll be sharing even more stories from my time away from the keyboard. Until then, stay safe and try not to get run over in your own driveway!