Broken Bones and Community
On a seemingly normal, albeit frigid day in January, we arrived at Winter Park Resort. As it goes with accidents, we had no way to know that this day would be different. We made our way over to the terrain park and I cut off like I always do given my lack of interest in big jumps and rails. I waited at the lift but no one came which isn’t completely unusual - maybe they were filming or taking their time. But then my oldest son called to let me know that, “Dad is really hurt”. By the time I rode the lift back up and made my way through the park, ski patrol was there. And in an instant, everything was different. One perfectly wrong moment leads to weeks of chaos and months of challenge. Just. Like. That.
The kids have been in accidents and we’ve dealt with ‘things’ but nothing like this. And yet, it could have been so much worse. In time, he will recover. Fully (albeit with some new bionic hardware). So how lucky are we? Incredibly.
What strikes me throughout the aftermath of the accident is how vulnerable we are in any moment. A stark reminder of impermanence. Life is ever changing - mostly at a slower pace. The kids are getting older; I am getting older. And I mistakenly feel in control when it happens at a slow pace. And then in a flash, everything can shift. We know this intellectually, but can never quite be prepared. After a tragedy we experience or only hear about, our minds have a way of habituating back the everyday. I am holding on to this lesson by trying to find the positives in the heartache. It’s a reminder for the kids and me of what a wonderful husband and father he is. The kids have had an opportunity to step up to take care of themselves, to help more around the house, and to care for a parent.
And then word got around and the community support flowed in. Our family is so grateful for all of it. A meal train, food delivery, cookies, shoveling, visits, calls, texts. All of these things mean LOVE to us. So touching, really. I take community for granted often but in a situation like this, I am reminded of its importance and of how much it truly means when faced with challenges. It really does take a village - from family to good friends to work out buddies to acquaintances. It didn’t matter. So many people pitched in big and small ways. In a time where we are being bombarded with our differences, I am reassured. One on one, we are there for each other. I am focusing my energy here.
