About 4 weeks ago I had an auspicious birthday and rolled up to a new decade, from here I think I have the down hill run to meeting my maker. Not that I’m in a hurry to do so, but it makes me think a good deal about the road I’ve taken to get here and the path I’m on at the current place in my life. Reflecting seems to be a bad habit I have, but I do think there are two kinds of people, those who see life as an opportunity to wear you down over time like a stone or one that allows you to evolve and change as a crystal grows and changes. Hell – even a diamond is created out of great pressure! There’s no mistaking my situation as one that might yield a diamond, but I am very adept at turd polishing!
Recent events have put me in the place I don’t really enjoy inhabiting. So about 3 weeks ago, 10/13, I had a little mishap on my motorcycle which included a 5-10mph low-side in the backcountry of Northern Pennsylvania while riding the Mid Atlantic Back Country Discovery Route (https://ridebdr.com/mabdr/). There I broke my clavicle and cracked my eyebrow open (4 STITCHES – killer Bond Villain Scar) 
which resulted eventually in surgery, but I’ll pick up that story shortly, Thankfully I was riding with a very old friend of mine from college, someone I trust implicitly and who’s known me for a good long time. When I think of this guy, I don’t think, yeah he’s my good friend, he’s been a constant over these many years in and out – but always, along with his lovely bride, a very dear and constant friend.
One would think turning 50 and breaking a bone and requiring surgery to place some titanium in my shoulder would have chilled me out a little bit. It has to some extent, but what it has revealed to me is the goodness of the people around me. I’m not comfortable being handled. I don’t like people having to go out of their way to take care of me. Tying my shoelaces so I can go walk, cutting my meat so I can eat. Walking the dog, blowing the driveway, in Robs case, cutting short our adventure on day 4 because I had a slight get off and could no longer ride. The accident I would say has allowed me to refocus on taking it easy, being cognizant of where I step and to some extent how I interact with people. Even at the grocery store little kindnesses and grace permeates my interactions with people.
These, for lack of a better term, Graceful kindnesses, have laid my emotions bare. Little things, the PA at the doctors office helping me put my shirt back on my bum shoulder/arm. The Anesthesiologist spending copious amounts of time with me before surgery talking me off the ledge. The surgeon who is not only brilliant, but practical. My kids, my neighbors, my friends who demonstrate caring and compassion in helping to care for me and help me get things done. Let me tell you, for me it has been a humbling and utterly revealing experience. These have taken someone who’s usually highly emotional and turn those tears up to 11. I am not sorry for being emotional nor do I see it as weakness – I see it for what it is which is beautiful.
As I spoke with my surgeon this morning, he told me he wasn’t happy with the fixation of a couple of the screws in my clavicle. They’re holding fine, but he had hoped they would have better purchase in the bone – so I guess in the end, the screwee got the upper hand on the screwer! That said, it requires a couple of extra weeks in the sling but I’ll take it. On the other side of this I won’t be the man I was before. I’ll have somehow evolved a little, picked up a couple cool new scars and learned to slow down and let others help me.
So this whole post would be sugary sweet and totally unlike my normal posts. There has to be a reference to something salty… in this case not so much salty as in a reference to Peter, St. Peter that is… About 4 years ago, I was excitedly exposed to the painter Giotto (c. 1267 – 1337) who was an innovator in his time, although, like all good things, was venerated after his death as a master instead of while he was walking this earth. Since that introduction, I’ve been drawn to his work. Specifically – to this Triptych which was commissioned to be an alter-piece for one of the Alters of Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Something about this speaks to me and brings me happiness. So much so – if you’re over to my place – you may well spy it hanging on my wall.
Until next time – stay salty my friends, if you can’t be salty – then be the rock in someone’s world and prop them up. Be available, forgive, give grace, show enduring love, help someone in need and help yourself by being someone’s rock.