I got my first prosthetic leg on February 26, 2024--173 days after surviving the worst vehicle accident of my life. I am incredibly fortunate that my only injury was to my left leg. I opted to have it amputated rather than attempt to reconstruct my shattered limb, something the surgeon said would be difficult, long,... Continue Reading →
Fiery Fishies
In the summer of 1958 I was five years old and my long-suffering sister Chris was 16. My parents decided this would be a good time for a road trip to Wisconsin. We didn't often travel with my parents; they lacked the required patience for keeping kids occupied on hours-long trips. My mother tried her... Continue Reading →
Same Time, Next Year
Author's note: As I put the finishing touches on this post, hurricane Helene is bearing down on Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, St. George Island and parts east on the Gulf Coast of Florida. It's due to make landfall today, September 26. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the surrounding areas. In 2015 we started driving... Continue Reading →
Lucky 13
September 6, 2023 on a trip to Wisconsin our RV was wrecked. Nine days later my left leg was amputated below the knee. My memory of the early weeks in the hospital is foggy, but I do remember Ben squeezing my hand when he said "happy anniversary, babe," on September 10, our 12th anniversary. It's... Continue Reading →
“We All Heard About You”
March, 2023 was our inaugural trip in our "new-to-us" RV. There's not much difference between buying an old house or an old motor home. It may have been updated and renovated over the years, but there are still things that need correction or repair. After spending a couple weeks in Florida, we headed for Red... Continue Reading →
Saddle Up!
When we made the announcement that we got a new RV lots of people sent congratulatory remarks. There was one phrase that recurred regardless of gender, background or whether or not they even owned a horse: “Good for you, get right back on that horse,” or a more complete thought, “You get right back up... Continue Reading →
Road Signs
March in Ohio had been unusually warm. It was warmer here than our Florida destination. The crash happened September 6. My leg was amputated a few days later on September 15. We pulled out of our driveway on March 15, Six months and 9 days later. He was fine in the RV as long as... Continue Reading →
Many Steps Without a Foot to Stand On
Even though our RV wreck was disastrous, it was a given that Ben and I would hit the road as soon as we were able. Not long after I left the hospital, Ben purchased a new tow car. By Christmas we had another RV. When I was told in January that I should have my... Continue Reading →
How (and why) I Named My Leg
I’ve always thought people who named inanimate things were a little weird. A high school pal who was a good guy if uncreative, named his VW Beetle Herbie. Paula, my college roommate named her classic Ford V8 Crown Vic sedan “Victor.” My neighbor named her aging Toyota “Whitey.” Then I got a prosthetic leg and... Continue Reading →
Leg-o Master
I received my first prosthetic leg on February 26. Moments after taking my first steps, Ben asked Brian, my prosthetist if he thought I’d be able to make it to Florida at the end of March. Brian is a kind man with a dry wit and an inner life he keeps mostly to himself. His... Continue Reading →