brain injury surgery
Crop Circles
I told my hair dresser, Gaye. “I’d like a really really short buzzcut in preparation for the surgeries.” Gaye seemed puzzled. “But why?” “I don’t want the crop circle look.” She nodded. Her son had been through several brain surgeries, and before each one, she shaved his head for him, for the same reasons. She … Read more
Superstition
I am not superstitious–I don’t flinch when a black cat crosses my path, nor do I bother to skirt a leaning ladder instead of ducking under it. Sara, a Jewish friend, gave me a necklace with a three-dimensional Star of David charm. I appreciated the gift, clearly because it was a gift, but also because … Read more
Oh The Times…
A few weeks ago someone asked me how long ago were my surgeries. I had to think. “Is it seven years? Or eight? Perhaps nine? Wait. They were done in 2007, it’s now 2015. So it’s been eight years.” I nodded. “Yes, eight. Actually, more than eight years, close to eight and a half years.” … Read more
Dancing
I started slowly, but as I gained confidence, I sped up, moving to the left, or was it to the right? Dancing the grapevine, crossing my right foot behind my left, then my left behind my right, again and again, across the gym, fully focused on my feet, barely aware of my surrounding. Keith’s grasp … Read more
Story Breaks
My Story is broken. The break lies between my old life, before the brain bleeds, and my new life in the wake of the surgeries. As a teenager I became convinced that at some point I would undergo a life changing experience. As an adult it became a fact in my mind. For no logical … Read more