~Life~

 I met a man today
while on a motorcycle ride with my husband at one of the local motorcycle
shops.  He approached my husband’s bike
with the intent to "scope it out".
As he stood there and looked it over, he said nothing.  Now in the "Biker Man World" that
is not normal, so I made my way over to him and asked the redundant question,
Is this weather hot enough for you?
Ridiculous I know since 103 degrees has been the normal temp for the
last 3 weeks, but it was the only ice breaker I knew to use!  His reply was a fast and soft mumble & my
immediate response was to think he was hearing impaired.  After a few minutes of conversation I
realized there was something deeper to his situation.  After taking some time and getting to know
the gentleman, I came to understand that he had been in a horrific motorcycle
accident and managed to live three years in a coma, waking only to find himself
full of scars, unable to speak & no peripheral vision.  So, I took it upon myself to lift my shirt
and show him my 12 inch stomach scar.  We
instantly bonded. He showed me all of his scars and went into description (via
hand signs and his good buddies) of how his wreck happened & how he managed
to fight for his life.  For a seconds
time, I felt immediately bonded to a complete & total stranger.  Never knowing him, I now know exactly how he
felt, what he thought & even what lay in store for him.

  I understood what it
felt like to make no conscious decision & yet still be different from the
world.   He also knew that I understood
exactly what he felt like, a weirdo, freak & a loner to say the least.  I wanted to wrap my arms around him and say
everything would be alright & that what we once thought was important was
no more.  Life is not about speaking
words, new vehicles, Versace, million dollar homes or working for the MAN, it’s
about kind hearts, immeasurable love, blue skies, rain, fishing with your
child, a hand on your shoulder as it shakes because of tears running down your
face, friends that make a difference & that breath of fresh air that comes
just in time.  Looking back now &
seeing the smile on his face as he looked at my husband’s motorcycle, I realize
that he was smiling at a machine that had taken his life as he knew it and had
given him a new life, one to be proud of and grateful for.  There are so many people walking through life,
day in and day out, angry and displaced, those actions and feelings were the
furthest things from his mind. 

I wish to explain to you what a tragedy does for you, your
spouse, children, family & friends.  At
first, it's a powerful killer, stripping you of all that you know, love and
value.  In the end, it's your new lease
on life and all the ideas you will now dream and want for.  The process of grieving & the lesson you
learn from choosing life.