Valentine Day Blog - Part 1

20 yrs today my day was all planned out; cookies to deliver, a job to get too and a boyfriend to see. I dressed in red; I looked fabulous. I delivered cookies to my Grandparents who I adored beyond words. I arrived on time at work hoping to sneak out early. At some point my Mom needed a ride to something and my boyfriend called to say he would be late for dinner so off I went to get my Mom.

During the drive a woman in a big old chevy nova crossed 4 lanes of traffic, she hit me head-on. Yikes, the damage one car can do to another is not something you can even fathom, I didn’t really understand in the moment of impact how truly hurt I was. I do remember a stranger holding my hand while we waited for help (I wish I could remember his name he was an Angel)?

Suddenly I was in an ambulance pissed because the EMT was cutting off my beautiful dress. I remember thinking “I hope this does not take long because I have things to do and date” that was the last thing I remember before I stopped breathing.

I woke up in ICU alone, I could see the clock on the wall, Valentines Day was over, where was everyone. I was panicking inside because I could not move or talk. The Doctor came in to tell me I might never talk again. I was terrified thinking I am in a nightmare but it was real.

Don’t ask me why I just knew I would be ok! I would run, laugh and talk until I could not think of anything else to say. Since that day I have lived my life doing just that! As I write this I am choked up and yet grateful. Every person from that day touched my life and the people who supported me during that time will always be in my heart. The people who I have met in my journey since, I know have been around a better person because of that wreck.

So if you have something you have been meaning to do, someone you owe an apology, someone you need to tell you love or just cookies to deliver, DO IT. Life is short, each day is a gift! Every year for the last 20 years I try to remember I have been given a gift! 20 years does not diminish a life lesson like that.