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January 26, 2005
Things I'm grateful for (updated)
- When my little sports coupe started spinning, it collided with the SUV on my passenger side (which was crushed).
- There wasn't a passenger in my car.
- The people in the other vehicle were less injured than I.
- I was able to tell a bystander my name and phone number before I passed out.
- The bystander called 911 and Tom.
- Half the Hamilton EMT and Fire Rescue squad is comprised of Tom's students, and they took care of him when he arrived on the scene. (They even sent him supportive emails afterwards.) A special shout-out to Lindsey, who held my hand, talked to me, and kept me calm while they extracted me from the wreck.
- Regaining consciousness in time to see the groovy means by which a rescue squad cuts a person out of a vehicle.
- The ER doctor who finally took off the stabilizing collar, once they'd ascertained that I didn't have spinal injuries. That collar would've been my cause of death.
- Food. Being allowed nothing by mouth for 30 hours except the revolting liquid that you have to drink for not one but two CT scans is its own special circle of hell. Dante would have included it, if he'd been acquainted with the CT scan. But CT scans are the work of modern, not medieval, devils.
- The staff of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica, New York. The hospital specializes in head trauma, and that's great. But the staff is a remarkable bunch of human beings in this age of mechanized medicine.
- The swelling on my head has already receded, leaving only a sore spot.
- The absence of headache, for the first time since the accident.
- Friends who have called Tom to convey well-wishes.
- Tops Supermarket in Clinton, New York, whose parking lot was the uncomplaining recipient of the liquid dinner that I was required to eat before I could be released from the hospital. (Note to Clinton Tops shoppers: stay away from the snowbank at the far end of the parking lot for a couple of days.)
- The Toyota corporation, which makes the much-safer truck that is likely to replace my beloved sports coupe—which, in the words of a worker at the Hamilton Auto Clinic, is "twice totaled."
- Having set up an online presence for my courses before the semester started. Once my brain is functioning well enough, I'll be able to teach online until my doctor tells me I can drive again. (Thank god the driver of the other car doesn't get to make that judgment!)
- Being able to write this entry. It's my first attempt at mental function since the accident.
- Jack and Tom, for their amazing good judgment and support—one from a distance, one close at hand.
- Being alive.
- Bed. I'm going back to it now, having proven that I can still mentate well enough to blog.
—AND— - Tyra, who cheerfully covered our co-taught class on a last-minute notice!
- Mary Putnam at JJs Salon in Hamilton, New York, for giving me a pedicure that impressed the EMTs when they took my boots & sox off. . . . .
Posted by senioritis at January 26, 2005 12:27 PM
Comments
Very much relieved to know you're okay.
Posted by: Derek at January 26, 2005 06:53 AM
oh, thank god--she's blogging; she's got to be doing okay! this is the happiest, bestest good morning news EVER! i was so worried about you! and i didn't want to call and bug you, b/c i knew if you were home you were probably supposed to BE in bed already...
i'll be at school 'til mid-afternoon and then home all evening if there's planning/arranging to do--and i can & will wing anything you're not up to dealing with yet, ok?
squinting at screens is probably bad for a banged-up head. step away from the blog, get back under the covers, & tell tk i told her to make good on her name & make you a cuppa.
Posted by: tyratae at January 26, 2005 07:29 AM
I was wondering why you hadn't posted anything for a few days. I hope you'll be up and running around soon...
Posted by: Jon Benda at January 26, 2005 07:38 AM
I am glad that you are up and about, and that you are okay. Keep resting, though. And let us know anything we can do to help you.
Posted by: jenwingard at January 26, 2005 07:58 AM
I’m so glad you’re OK!
Posted by: Krista at January 26, 2005 09:36 AM
Thanks, everybody. I'm feeling remarkably human but am taking it very, very easy. As soon as I get a new pair of distance glasses, I'll watch a lot of TV! One more thing I forgot in my list of things to be grateful for:
#21 Mary Putnam at JJs Salon in Hamilton, New York, for giving me a pedicure that impressed the EMTs when they took my boots & sox off. . . . .
Posted by: senioritis at January 26, 2005 09:58 AM
Oh snookumbear, I'm so sorry to hear that you had to go through all this. Glad you're okay.
Posted by: aerobil at January 26, 2005 10:11 AM
I'm posting a link to this from the MyFamily site so we can all see you're feeling better. Getting cut out of the wreck does NOT sound like fun (nor does 30 hours of no food. Bleh!)
Posted by: Kimberly at January 26, 2005 11:50 AM
Wow, this brought back flashbacks. I am so glad it wasn't worse - it so easily could have been!
Do you want some books-on-tape while you wait for
glasses?
One thing - I drove Toyota pickups for 20 years,
and the one thing they're not good on is the
hills of Rte 20 in wet snow. If you go with a
Tacoma, pay extra for the really good winter tires, and weight the back down - pickups fishtail!
I *heart* Toyotas, and my head-on was in a brave little Toyota p/up w/ over 150K miles, but I'm
considering a Subaru Forester/Outback b/c of traction (if I ever can afford a new car again).
clo
Posted by: clo at January 26, 2005 04:30 PM
I am so happy to hear you are okay, and blogging! I am amazed that you would even want to look at a computer screen, much less post something on the blog. You are a trooper! Be Well...
Posted by: Denise at January 26, 2005 05:54 PM
You have been missed... And I am nearly sobbing that you are alive! So grateful!
Posted by: madeline at January 26, 2005 07:14 PM
I tripped upon your blog by accident this morning and was the happier for it... too shy to ask you what happened and your blog explains the mess in some detail. I can't believe you taught class 1/27!!! Please take care and, unless it's too late, I have some contacts in the car world.
Heal!
Posted by: vanessa at February 2, 2005 08:17 AM