All I Want For September...

Jen's new teeth!

Jen's old teeth...

Many moons ago, when I was a young pre-teen girl, I was on vacation with my family in Colorado. We were visiting my mom's sister and her family. One day we were out on a golf course. I had never been golfing before. My stepdad and uncle were showing my cousin and I how to swing the club. Apparently, I missed the part about keeping proper distance from someone armed with, I mean, swinging, a golf club. My cousin made a hole in one...in my two front teeth.

Fortunately, my uncle was a plastic surgeon, and know a dentist who could see me right away. When he finished giving me my new teeth, he warned me that they would only likely last a few years...or until I fell face first into a icy cement sidewalk.

In the last few years, I had more urgent priorities in my recovery. But now, thanks to my husband's insurance policy. I finally have nice new two front teeth!

Sober Scene

I was having a pretty good day today. I woke up next to my amazing husband. It's not even Christmas and my new dentist gave me my new two front teeth--the first two were lost when Shawn P knocked me off the monkey bars, the second two were lost when my cousin and I played golf a little too close to each other, and the last set had finally given out after 20some great years. I started a new aqua aerobics class that kicked my backside...in a good way, and I had done a few things around the house.

I sold a few items online and was off to the PO when I saw the scene. Two motorcycles had been driving along when one driver lost his balance. The accident must have happened only moments before I arrived because there were no police and hardly any rubber neckers. I saw a frantic woman on the phone in the middle of the street before I saw the cyclists. One seemed to be fine and was attending to the other, a nice-looking fellow who appeared to be taking a fully relaxed nap in the middle of the road. In the full ten seconds or so that he was in my line of sight, he didn't stir at all.

There was no blood at the scene. Obviously, just a pretty significant hit. Seeing something like that immediately brings me back to my own accident. I don't know if I lost consciousness. I don't know if anyone saw me. But seeing the bloodness serenity on this man's face reminded me of my own, and the last three years of complete life alteration flashed by...what I can remember of it anyway!

I prayed for the man as I continued on my errand. I prayed for his life. I prayed for his family and friends, that they would be a stable source of encouragement as he recovers, or that they would receive unlimited support if he doesn't. I also prayed grace for him and those who know him, to embrace the person he will become, and to mourn with him the person he is no longer. Head injuries are devastating that way. They may not kill you, but they can steal away the life you know.

As I was waiting in line at the PO, MercyMe's "I Can Only Imagine" played on the radio. Another sober reminder of the fragility of life, and the importance of discovering what's really important during our days on earth.

I drove back the same route after my errand. The man was gone, but his bike remained. The police were pulling up their flares and finishing their report. I don't know what happened to the man. I pray peace tonight for the Head Injury Guild's newest member. It's a long road ahead.