Jeeez, Mark ... you and Emily certainly didn't need this on top of everything else. I'm glad you're "okay," evidently, but your brain will need time to recover. Be gentle and good to yourself, and keep us posted on your progress.
"But in the still and deepest quiet, I merely say a most hearty thank you and slide over to make a little more room for divine mystery."
Wow, this was a tough one to read, Mark. The opening lines were alarming, knowing how much your family is depending on you at this time. So glad you're okay and yeah, like it or not, you're a tough guy in the very best sense of the phrase.
Thanks Jim - It was likewise a very difficult one to write. Between the brain fog and headaches which have been slowly clearing, to the "what ifs," it's been a rough ride. Your support is very much appreciated.
Kids can ride bikes, have awful accidents and walk away grinning. I’m afraid we lost those superpowers, Mark, a few yew years ago.
I was caretaking for a friend at a wilderness lodge a few years ago and walked into a door casing in the middle of the night. It hurt, but I didn’t think much about it. I had promised my friends I’d stay until they arrived in ten days, but every day, the pain grew worse. The day my friend and I drove home over a rough mountain road, I was only semi aware of where I was. My friend encouraged me to drive his car home and, like you, I can remember nothing about the trip. The next thing I remember was an ambulance crew helping me down our stairs and then I lost about a week of my life. I can’t remember anything that happened after I got in the ambulance.
Interestingly, the neurosurgeon was a former Navy SEAL. I think he is what’s known as an overachiever. We were discussing my two new head openings at my postop checkup and I mentioned that with either of his careers, I would likely end up with two new holes in my head. He grinned with what I thought was an odd look of satisfaction.
We are tougher and more fragile than we realize. Every day is a gift.
I can so relate to and agree with all that you wrote - but especially the first and last paragraphs. Spot on in my book.
I remember back to my ER days. A progressively increasing headache after a whack to the head is an intracranial bleed until proven otherwise. Only a guy who's tough as a $2 steak would ignore what their head was trying to tell them for ten days - when light dawned on Marblehead. I'm glad you made it, to inspire and entertain us all.
So glad you were spared and made it home safe!!! I know you are feeling better but hope you will be 100% soon. You are a great hubby and caretaker to my sister !!!!
How terrifying! I'm really glad you were able to get to safety. They say that much of memory becomes subconscious, a rote formula tattooed into our muscles. (Like the ability to forever ride your bike.) We are never as grateful, or knowledgeable, about our bodies until the rore formula saves us. Even as one part of your brain swelled from injury, the other was able to compensate, without you deciding. There is a deeper life story to tell here, about how who we are is not even who we realize we are, or remember. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Joelle - "Even as one part of your brain swelled from injury, the other was able to compensate, without you deciding. There is a deeper life story to tell here . . ." Lots of truth to chew upon.
I have zero recall of my fall off a bicycle 8 years ago, the LAST time I rode without a helmet. I was in the hospital for a week while they looked inside my head. They didn't find a thing.
Yikes - I don't remember realizing that you didn't have a helmet until recently. And here all along I thought you were much smarter than me. I'm glad you came back as well.
I learned from my years of working in the ER that helmets don't guarantee anything, but they rachet the odds in your favor.
I have had only one safety requirement for my family, and it's that helmets must be worn. I prefer always, but they sometimes sneak them off in the driveway. 🥴 For our 13YO, the rule is always when he's alone, and always if he's going in the neighborhood, even if my husband is with him. I try to with my husband, but he sneaks. I don't go outside, so I'm safe 😂
I remember an incident from thirty years ago. I was suturing a preteen kid's forehead and eyebrow in the ER where I was a PA. He had fallen on his bike in the family driveway. I couldn't resist the temptation when he expressed that he wasn't happy being there - "Do you realize that if you were wearing a helmet an hour ago, you wouldn't be now." He gave me the snarkiest response - YOU DON"T HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET IN YOUR OWN DRIVEWAY! (stupid idiot was clearly implied) My response way something to the effect - "you might want to think about that one"
Gracious. If I remember, you are the legendary guy who fell out of the sky and slammed into an oncoming tree? Please can I add my hope and best wishes for you all!
I'm very grateful that you survived your accident, too!
Perhaps instead of asking "Why am I still sitting here with merely a headache?", you could consider asking, Heavenly Father, what would you like me to do now that I survived this accident? Just a thought....
Thanks Mark - I might be a step ahead of you though my wording would be somewhat different than yours. Most days my prayers include some iteration of - " Please make me an instrument of your peace. . . and help me to be a healing presence with all the hurt that surrounds me from my life partner and family to the mentally ill folk running from bombs in Ukraine and Gaza. I really think I have some idea of what I'm supposed to be working on. My bigger issue is how to make the biggest dent countering the hate, fear, greed and violence that continues to get in the way of us collectively moving forward - and I mean across the planet.
"Jesus" showed us with his life how we should be living. He continuously gave and never took - the ultimate role model as exemplified by his Sermon on the Mount. But what does that look like for a father and grandfather in 2024? Yes, you are right - "Creator God - what would you like me to do this day that I've been gifted"
Jeeez, Mark ... you and Emily certainly didn't need this on top of everything else. I'm glad you're "okay," evidently, but your brain will need time to recover. Be gentle and good to yourself, and keep us posted on your progress.
I appreciate the kindness and advice Jeanne and will try to do my level-headed best (as soon as it levels out)
"But in the still and deepest quiet, I merely say a most hearty thank you and slide over to make a little more room for divine mystery."
Wow, this was a tough one to read, Mark. The opening lines were alarming, knowing how much your family is depending on you at this time. So glad you're okay and yeah, like it or not, you're a tough guy in the very best sense of the phrase.
Thanks Jim - It was likewise a very difficult one to write. Between the brain fog and headaches which have been slowly clearing, to the "what ifs," it's been a rough ride. Your support is very much appreciated.
Kids can ride bikes, have awful accidents and walk away grinning. I’m afraid we lost those superpowers, Mark, a few yew years ago.
I was caretaking for a friend at a wilderness lodge a few years ago and walked into a door casing in the middle of the night. It hurt, but I didn’t think much about it. I had promised my friends I’d stay until they arrived in ten days, but every day, the pain grew worse. The day my friend and I drove home over a rough mountain road, I was only semi aware of where I was. My friend encouraged me to drive his car home and, like you, I can remember nothing about the trip. The next thing I remember was an ambulance crew helping me down our stairs and then I lost about a week of my life. I can’t remember anything that happened after I got in the ambulance.
Interestingly, the neurosurgeon was a former Navy SEAL. I think he is what’s known as an overachiever. We were discussing my two new head openings at my postop checkup and I mentioned that with either of his careers, I would likely end up with two new holes in my head. He grinned with what I thought was an odd look of satisfaction.
We are tougher and more fragile than we realize. Every day is a gift.
I can so relate to and agree with all that you wrote - but especially the first and last paragraphs. Spot on in my book.
I remember back to my ER days. A progressively increasing headache after a whack to the head is an intracranial bleed until proven otherwise. Only a guy who's tough as a $2 steak would ignore what their head was trying to tell them for ten days - when light dawned on Marblehead. I'm glad you made it, to inspire and entertain us all.
Tough as a $2 steak and dumb as an outhouse rat!
There are different kinds of smart, dumb, and tough but I'll save that for another day - or a book sometime.
Tough, dumb, what’s the difference?
So glad you were spared and made it home safe!!! I know you are feeling better but hope you will be 100% soon. You are a great hubby and caretaker to my sister !!!!
Thanks Alyssa - I'm well on my way.
How terrifying! I'm really glad you were able to get to safety. They say that much of memory becomes subconscious, a rote formula tattooed into our muscles. (Like the ability to forever ride your bike.) We are never as grateful, or knowledgeable, about our bodies until the rore formula saves us. Even as one part of your brain swelled from injury, the other was able to compensate, without you deciding. There is a deeper life story to tell here, about how who we are is not even who we realize we are, or remember. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Joelle - "Even as one part of your brain swelled from injury, the other was able to compensate, without you deciding. There is a deeper life story to tell here . . ." Lots of truth to chew upon.
I’ll add my Yeesh and Yikes to the choir here. Glad you got home safely to your family and your hospital exam. Glad you had that helmet.
Thanks Tara - me too.
Yes and yes; and these are just the ones we know about! Appreciate you here in this world, Mark.
Thanks Ron - I'll take that as a "we're on the same page"
I have zero recall of my fall off a bicycle 8 years ago, the LAST time I rode without a helmet. I was in the hospital for a week while they looked inside my head. They didn't find a thing.
Yikes - I don't remember realizing that you didn't have a helmet until recently. And here all along I thought you were much smarter than me. I'm glad you came back as well.
I learned from my years of working in the ER that helmets don't guarantee anything, but they rachet the odds in your favor.
I have had only one safety requirement for my family, and it's that helmets must be worn. I prefer always, but they sometimes sneak them off in the driveway. 🥴 For our 13YO, the rule is always when he's alone, and always if he's going in the neighborhood, even if my husband is with him. I try to with my husband, but he sneaks. I don't go outside, so I'm safe 😂
I remember an incident from thirty years ago. I was suturing a preteen kid's forehead and eyebrow in the ER where I was a PA. He had fallen on his bike in the family driveway. I couldn't resist the temptation when he expressed that he wasn't happy being there - "Do you realize that if you were wearing a helmet an hour ago, you wouldn't be now." He gave me the snarkiest response - YOU DON"T HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET IN YOUR OWN DRIVEWAY! (stupid idiot was clearly implied) My response way something to the effect - "you might want to think about that one"
Gracious. If I remember, you are the legendary guy who fell out of the sky and slammed into an oncoming tree? Please can I add my hope and best wishes for you all!
Thanks Philip and so well put.
Agree with Jeanne above. Take good care of yourself❣️
I'm very grateful that you survived your accident, too!
Perhaps instead of asking "Why am I still sitting here with merely a headache?", you could consider asking, Heavenly Father, what would you like me to do now that I survived this accident? Just a thought....
Thanks Mark - I might be a step ahead of you though my wording would be somewhat different than yours. Most days my prayers include some iteration of - " Please make me an instrument of your peace. . . and help me to be a healing presence with all the hurt that surrounds me from my life partner and family to the mentally ill folk running from bombs in Ukraine and Gaza. I really think I have some idea of what I'm supposed to be working on. My bigger issue is how to make the biggest dent countering the hate, fear, greed and violence that continues to get in the way of us collectively moving forward - and I mean across the planet.
"Jesus" showed us with his life how we should be living. He continuously gave and never took - the ultimate role model as exemplified by his Sermon on the Mount. But what does that look like for a father and grandfather in 2024? Yes, you are right - "Creator God - what would you like me to do this day that I've been gifted"
Oh wow Mark. Glad you weren’t more seriously injured. Take it easy out there.
Greetings Kim and Thanks.