This weekend I mark my 26th year as a para. I've decided to throw a party to celebrate... my life. Initially I was throwing a Solstice party but it's turned into a big "Thank You" party to honor my friends for sticking by me through the past few very difficult and tragic years. Not only was I regaining the use of my hands after a dreadful one year battle with carpal tunnel and arthritis but lost both my father and brother in the midst of it all. In addition I was whisked to the ER for serious blood clots bilaterally and a year later required an emer blood transfusion. Now that things are back on track I do feel like celebrating my good fortune in having the friends that I do and the good health I've enjoyed (take the last couple years .. ahem). Life is a very long road and there are many stops along the way... right now I feel like embracing the good ones.

For any of you who are going through an especially difficult time right now, be it health, family related (etc) ... I hope that you can see a glimmer of hope ahead. I wish you all the best of health and at least an ounce of optimism!

Congrats!?!?!

To tell you the truth I'm not even sure what day I actually had my injury on. I think it was 2/13/77 but it could have been on the 12th or 14th. I was out of it for a couple of weeks afterward and it wasn't important enough for me to ask someone what day it was.

I never remember to celebrate or grieve at that time of year. I always think about it sometime at the end of February/beginning of March and realize another year has gone by. This year makes it 30 years of wheeling instead of walking. I guess it's a milestone but to me it's just one of those things that happen as time passes.

Thanks Bill ! ?!?! LOL

I understand what you mean about not really focusing on it... and honestly I tend to do that as well. However my anniv date happens to be on my parent's wedding anniv and I am reminded of it mostly due to that. I plan a Solstice party every year and the min I check the calendar there's that date staring at me again lol.

My aniversery is just too easy for me to remember. I get a cake with candles. Not for the fall , but cause it's my birthday. Funny how life works!!!

ed

my 24 anni was yesterday for being quad. I didn't really do anything saw knocked up. Just normal day stuff for me..

SpeedyBK

Aside from the time the anniversary meant I had been disabled longer than not and my 1st 1 or 2......I don't really pay all that much attention to it. I know the date.......I just don't think about it all that much. I know what you meant about looking for the lights along the dark road. The road can seem pitch black at times......but there's always someone around whether they be friends/family or just on here to shine a light. Glad things are on the up swing for you.

lune14... pretty much the same here! ;) mostly i celebrate.

so gifts, food, money, booze, weed, ladies, ... you guys are free to send me on 4th july! any other day is cool as well.

Hi all

I just happened to be in the wee village up the mountains in Spain last Mon where i fell off a wall 3 years so my Dutch friends threw me a great party.... very nice and great fun.......

Well, I make 24 years this month so why not celebrate? We have all had to work hard to get to some sort of normality and then to livew from wheelchairs for all this time. Let's celebrate!