From what I hear, 15 years ago today I should have died. I was not doing anything capricious or stupid. I had not been drinking or taking anything that could have altered my judgment. It was an accident.
Far more powerful than the fact that it could have killed me is the fact that it gave everyone involved the opportunity to see how powerful love, faith and selflessness can be.
Many people, from the emergency response, to the doctors and friends who helped while I was in the hospital, to the angels who strengthened me as I tried reintegrating to life saved my life starting 15 years ago today. Each one of them was crucial and each one of them extended themselves far beyond what they had to do.
On August 17, 1995, my wonderful friend Tanya had a small going-away party at her home. All of we girlfriends at the party that night had been close for anywhere from six to 18 years.
Between seventh grade when we all started at the same school together and senior year, each of us had become a star in our own way; as athletes, academics, artists and performers. She was going to be the first of us to leave for college.
Within a week or so later, the rest of us would scatter all over the country, but this was to be our last dinner together before shipping off.
Driving home that night, the words, “Now, everything is going to change” starting glaring in my head. Those words seemed so warm and bright, but the blackish-blue around them felt cold and uncertain.
This was not particularly prophetic. It was a fact. We would all spend most of the next four years in Washington, D.C., Houston, Tex., Nashville, Tenn. and a few places between. And then, who knew?
"We will never again all be together at least five days per week,” I thought. That was obvious.
"But we may never again all live within 20 miles of each other. We may never again all meet for dinner.”
I do not remember August 18. I do not remember anything between that drive home from Tanya’s and my release from the hospital in late September. Reportedly early in the morning on August 19, we girls all met at the airport for Tanya’s send-off.
I’m pretty sure we asked the flight attendant to make some silly announcement as the plane took off with love, “from us.” I don’t remember it, but many months later, I asked my high school friend Carolyn if that’s what we did. That is something we would have done.
She affirmed that yes, true to precedent, that’s exactly what we did. Then we all returned to our cars to drive to our different neighborhoods in the city.
(To be continued next week...)
I remember where I was on August 19th Paige! Will never forget!
Posted by: adriana | Oct 05, 2010 at 06:53 PM