Watching birds interact and flowers grow is how I spent the majority of summer in 2016. Getting knocked out of my Birkenstocks by an SUV ensured a summer spent in slow motion. My injuries left me thinking, sitting, adjusting, journaling and doing more thinking. Luckily, I was living at my grandma's house, so the walls, stairs, and most importantly, the shower contained grab bars. Thank you, Grandma Josephine.
After she passed away in January of 2016, my mother helped me move from the basement to the main floor of her house. I would be leaving in a few months for my new life in Colorado. I had resigned from my teaching position after a decade, saved money, paid off my car, found an apartment in Littleton, and was hired as a 4th-grade teacher at STEM School and Academy in Highlands Ranch. My life seemed as if everything was falling into place. I had even started to wake up early and exercise BEFORE work! This had been a goal of mine for years and RWJ Wellness center was swiping me in at least 3x a week at 6am. I was feeling fantastic.
That feeling was knocked out of me by a driver not paying attention to where she was going on the evening of June 2nd. I suffered a bunch of firsts: broken bones, torn ligaments, sprains, and a black eye. I had planned to leave NJ for CO on July 19th. My life transitioned from "killin it" to lesson plan writing and physical therapy until the school year ended. Then it was just physical therapy and family and friend visits. When I started to feel a bit better, meaning that it only took me 30 minutes instead of 45 minutes to make breakfast, coffee, and get myself set up for the day on the porch swing in the back yard, I resumed Colorado preparation by paying the security deposit, scanning paperwork, signing forms, and communicating with my 4th-grade team. I would continue to make the move to Colorado as planned and make the necessary, expensive adjustments as needed.
When I found out the pain that wouldn't subside was caused by a tear in the labrum of my left hip, I was devastated. I had learned that if I had a labrum tear it would mean surgery. Surgery would mean another summer spent in slow motion. I wanted to maximize the 24 days that would be my summer break 2017. I decided on camping in Great Sand Dunes National Park and a road trip to San Antonio, Texas to visit my great Aunt Marion whose 100th birthday party I missed last July.
After an unforgettable experience in the Sand Dunes, I took a few days to recover. It was time to prepare for Texas. However, I couldn’t get in touch with Aunt Marion to announce my plan. What could she be doing? She could be volunteering, out with family or friends, or at church. If she is anything like her sister, Josephine (my grandma) she would hate to sit home. She would prefer to be around people. I tried calling again, but she didn't answer her phone. I began thinking maybe I shouldn't drive to visit her. I was being fitted for a hip brace any day now. A CPM machine was going to be dropped off. I was supposed to be waiting for phone calls, exercising, paying attention to my diet. I was torn, but had to decide fast. After a short, but clarifying talk with one of my roommates in the backyard, the answer was clear. I needed to go to Texas.
The next morning, I woke up (later than planned of course) and started driving toward Texas. While passing through New Mexico, I finally reached Aunt Marion's son Anthony by phone (thank you, Aunt Rose Marie) who I had never met (or was too young to remember meeting him). He told me that his mother had fallen down in the kitchen a few days prior and fractured her hip. She was staying in a rehab clinic to help recover from her partial hip replacement. I still wanted to visit her, so he told me to call him when I arrived the next morning. Puggle and I camped out in the Rogue. We fit perfectly side by side. I hung tapestry against the windows and placed my sun visor on the windshield. Puggle was panting a bit, so I worried she was too hot to sleep. I cracked each window and fully opened the panoramic sun roof. The temperature inside the SUV cooled and we both fell asleep among truckers idling at the rest stop.
The next morning, we continued driving 4 more hours to San Antonio. Aunt Marion looked like she was doing well and she was happy to see Puggle and I. We shared stories, laughs, and tears.
Funny quotes from Aunt Marion:
Aunt Marion: You want to know a little secret? I can't remember.
Aunt Marion about my father: "Your dad is a good looking dude!"
"I am 100 years old. Who the hell cares!"
"Do you have a lady? You need to have some dessert!"
"Being alive is not living. You got to live."
"My friends highjacked a truck. I brought home the best meat."
"I look like yesterday's washcloth."
Then the most magical thing happened. Aunt Marion’s granddaughter, Eve, invited me to stay at her house with her family and doggies. I hadn’t met any of these people before. Eve and her husband, Mario made me feel at home and welcomed Puggle. Their oldest daughter, Bella, kindly gave up her bedroom, so I could sleep there. She adored Puggle and Puggle enjoyed the attention. Their Boerne house was beautiful and my favorite part was the doggie door. Genius! Every dog owner should have one.  |
| Bella and I at the River Walk |
I ate the most delicious breakfast tacos at Mague’s Cafe, explored the river walk with Mario and Bella, stopped at The Alamo, fell in love with a 150 year old oak tree, drank a delightfully spicy margarita, sampled wine at a tasting with Anthony and Pam’s friends, attended a father’s day dinner (best rice I’ve had in a long time), connected with cousins I didn’t even know existed, and best of all, spent time with Aunt Marion. She will be celebrating her 101st birthday this month and had the assistants at Sorrento and I cracking up. It is amazing how sharp she is at almost 101 year old.
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| 150 Year old Oak Tree next to The Alamo |
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| Anthony, me, and Pam |
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| Giani, Puggle, Bella, and Juliet |
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| Mario, Giani, Bella, Me, Eve, and Juliet |
