When special events are up and coming I'm sure that many of us have a tendency to highly anticipate it. Naturally, we build up the suspense and establish expectations of how it will all play out through the span of the day. Of course, like the saying goes nothing is set in stone and all of our plans can be rewritten in a split second. So is life, we learn to adjust accordingly to the scenarios. It's all a part of being alive, isn't it?
There's not a doubt in my mind that my nineteenth birthday will be a truly unforgettable one. You see, I'm that type of person who doesn't like to showcase many of my affairs, and my birthday is probably no exception--I like to keep it simple. I did set a few plans for that day, but nothing too wild. The way I envisioned it, the day would've went with a quick morning class, then I'd go on a nice 11 mile run just in time to meet my friend for some Vietnamese vermicelli for lunch, one of my favorite meals, probably stop by the mall where she could hook me up with a nice discount, then head home for the afternoon to get some personal reading time in, and finally end the night with some chicken katsu, another favorite, with my parents. A simple and laid-out way to spend a birthday, wouldn't you think?
I wouldn't say the day took a turn for the worst at all, but it certainly didn't play out the way as expected. In a nutshell, on the fourth mile of my run that morning I had to cross the street since there was construction going down on my side of the sidewalk. While jogging through the crosswalk, two cars sped right in front of me unexpectedly causing me to come to a halt, while going the opposite direction another car clipped me from the side going at about 35 mph causing me to slam into the pavement.
Luckily I was able to get up and walk out of the road to the sidewalk. My glasses and one of my shoes were knocked clean off of me. I was able to get help from some people who heard me calling out at the nearby park and the police along with the paramedics were able to arrive to the scene fairly quickly.
It really is a scary thing being in that kind of situation. Time really does seem to slow down, while at the same time multiple things are going on at once all around you. Being in the ambulance was a pretty entertaining thing in all honesty. One of the paramedics treating me was a trainee with his teacher, and through the fears of being barely unable to move and the trauma, I was still able to crack jokes with everybody in the car. Make the best out of any situation, right? The ER was no different, most of the doctors and nurses were pretty accommodating, but having multiple needles shoved into you and being in pain is never fun. After a CT scan and a couple X-rays I was left with just a mild concussion, a couple minor scrapes on my elbows and knees, a major one on the right side of my face along with a small fracture on my right maxillary sinus. I spent a couple more hours in the hospital, but was able to go home that afternoon with my parents, which I hated worrying the most, especially with something coming so out of the blue on my birthday.
Life up that point had been just peachy with little worries, and even after I still see little to complain about. I came out of it alive, didn't I? I've still got all my limbs and can move around on my own. That's the thing, I've always been considering that one has to make the best out of any situation. I was flattered that everybody, from the police to the paramedics to the doctors and nurses in the ER were acknowledging how polite I was being. For some reason I was able to smile through it all, regardless of the pain or trauma. If anything, this experience showed me that you really have to milk the best out of life as much as you can, as cliche as it may sound. Value the relationships you make, show the utmost gratitude with what you have, work hard, soak in other cultures, savor the foods you eat, and be proud of your accomplishments at the end of the day are just a couple minor things to make note of.
Also it just gave me an overall greater appreciation for what running has done for me. All the confidence, strength and health it's provided me, the least I can do is contribute back and return with an even stronger vengeance and ambition after I recover. (And to my fellow runners out there, be careful! You can never be too safe).
A thought stuck with me as I laid in that ambulance... Just a little food for thought.
"Stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You've got two good legs, so get up and use them."
- Edward Elric | Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood
On the bright side, the night before I did a quick stop by Rasputin with my homie Ronnie! Nothing special, just our typical shenanigans and him dealing with my usual indecisiveness.
What I find hilarious is that one of the hardest things for me to do was calling my best friend from the hospital having to cancel our lunch appointment.
Either way I think one of the most meaningful things that anybody has ever done for me is the fact that once she found out she visited me the very same day when I came home.
Thank you so much, Carla Esteves.
Welcome to the family Coltrane! So glad to see the vinyl collection me and my Dad are slowly building up. Maybe once things finally settle down we can get that high end record player we've been meaning to purchase. Plus I'll get a personal one on my own of course.
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