It's been two months and I'm still wearing the brace. I will briefly update you with the going's on and shenanigans.
I am recovering from a motor vehicle accident which occurred on April the fifteenth this year. I spent one month in hospital, then found out through further investigation that I had a broken back. After that discovery I had to wear a custom made back brace. The reason it is custom made is because I have ankylosing spondylitis. It's because of A.S that my spine broke in the first place, due to impact of the car crash. The brace is to stop me from making any inappropriate movements. The fracture is at the bottom of my spine (L5). Yes, I am lucky to be alive. Yes I am lucky not to be para or quadriplegic. Yes I am lucky it is healing. Yes I am lucky I am no longer in pain. Yes I am lucky I can walk.
Yes I am lucky.
When I last visited my orthopedic surgeon he gave me the positive news that my spine was fusing over the fracture. If it hadn't healed the right way then complicated surgery would be required to bolt it into place. Yes, I am lucky.
Now I spend my days in convalescence reading, writing, walking and listening to music. I feel unproductive, useless and frustrated. I try to keep in touch with creativity. I have filled up my Hasselblad camera with film and am taking photographs once again. This, at least, is a worthwhile pursuit. I suppose I will be remembered for a token of output.
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Miss Maude's car got smashed up last Friday night. A Porsche came spinning out of control after navigating the large roundabout/rail crossing in New Street. While parked outside her great aunt's house, the driver (two sails to the wind) collided with Maude's Verada and her uncle's BMW. The latter was destroyed, and Maude's car received moderate front end damage. No cops were called at the time, though later I called them soon as I heard about the accident. The reckless and irresponsible driver was charged with culpable driving. Later that night I had a confrontation with Maude's father and I stormed out of their house. A sure sign I have been spending too much time with the in-laws. I'll know better next time.
I arranged for the smashed car to be towed the following Monday. The tow truck driver laughed:
"I was here Frideee noight, what a right ole' fucken mess that was!"
We are now one vehicle down and running out of cars fast. The driver of the Porsche's insurance company has advised the claim is "under investigation".
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In Church Street I pass a fellow parishioner and I say "hello", though they feign the look of the unrecognized and walk on anxiously. Frank McCourt in his memoir "Tis" writes,
"Families always hand their contributions to their children to drop in the basket and that makes everyone smile, the little one is so proud and the parents are so proud of the little one. Wives smile at each other as if to say, We're all one under the roof of the Catholic Church, though you know once they're outside they know they're very different".
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My Grandfather of ninety two's race is run. In the last three months he has deteriorated rapidly. It does not help that his wife (my step-grandmother)is going blind. Being a very capable woman, depression and stress is now unfortunatly apparent.
I visited him two days ago where he is hospitalised with pneumonia. Lying back on a snow white pillow it is hard to believe he was once a good looking and strapping six foot tall man. Shrunken and hollow-eyed he asked my sister and I to massage his freezing shoulders. They felt bony without an ounce of flesh. The shoulder was large, a reminder of the power that once existed. I left him, saying " close your eyes and fall asleep". He looked very peaceful.
Later that afternoon my mother and her two sisters arrived. The younger sister, Susan, had been estranged from her father for 30 years or more. Katherine(my mother)the eldest sister, called a Catholic priest. This had to be done surreptitiously due to my grand stepmother's dislike of Catholics. The priest arrived, where two "Hail Mary's" and an "Our Father" were said. My grandfather was then reassured he was "now wrapped in the arms of the Holy Mother".
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It is now late August, by mid to late September I will need to acclimatize my mind to the realisation of returning to work. In some ways I will be glad, though terrified none the less. I have put some feelers out already and found the workforce dung heap is piled high with the bodies of burnt out techs.
I'm going to try something radical early next month.
If you see me pushing a broom up Swanston Street, say hello.
reading/read "Ring" Koji suzuki, "Tis" Frank McCourt
Listening to:
CD'S Christmas Concerti: Corelli, Manfredin, Bach, Vivaldi, Locatelli, Handel
The Swoon Collection: Volume 1
Finladia: Sibelius
Nick Cave: B sides and rareities.
Radio: ABC Classic FM
Watching :
T.V: Silent Witness, Spooks, Australian Story, Enough Rope, South Park, The Chappelle Show, The Shield, 24, All Saints.
DVD: The Weight of Water, Dawn of the dead, The Ring 2, Alexander, Bourne Supremacy.