In August of 2025 I fell down and fractured my spine. I spent about 2 weeks in hospital where I was treated and then transferred to a Transition care Unit for therapy. The unit I was sent to had two sections, one for Long Term care, LTC and the other for Transition Care TCU. All residents had private rooms. My room was situated adjoining the LTC. In between my physical and occupational therapy session I spent a lot of time on my back in bed. It was a difficult position for holding a book and reading. But I did come across a lightweight paperback of quotations. But let me digress for a moment. I had plenty of opportunities to observe the LTC residents coming and going to therapy as they passed by my room. Strangely, although there were at least 40 LTC residents, it was the same 4 or 5 who went to therapy each day. I asked why that was. The response I got was surprising: “Oh most of them have given up”. Which brings me back to the book of quotations. One by John Henry Thoreau jumped out at me. It goes as follows: There are none so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. I for one was anxious to get discharged as soon as possible. For those who had given up I thought how sad.
I do realize that some people had conditions far worse than mine, but I have always lived with another quotation in mind, that the Lord helps those who help themselves. And here I am just five months after my injury walking (albeit with a cane) again.
I have reached the regrettable realization that I may have squandered my life. I did a quick count recently and figured that I have visited about 66 countries, and lived for more than 3 years in 3 of them. During this time I completed 14 corporate moves (relocations) and have changed my address more than 23 times. I should have settled on a profession that would have kept me in one place with no packing and unpacking.
When I think of the time I have spent bundling my life into and out of boxes. Ah well, it's all water under the bridge. But I am grateful for the experience. At the end of the day I will be able to say with a certain authority, "been there, done that".
A note about this site’s Header Image The Header image for this site is of the Smith Avenue High Bridge. The bridge was built in 1889 and carries Minnesota State Highway 149 across its span of 2770 feet, 160 feet above the mighty Mississippi River. The picture was taken from the river looking to the north-east and downtown Saint Paul. The bridge is about 1040 miles from New Orleans.
One of the reasons I like this view is that I come from a city which has a spectacular bridge. It’s the Clifton Suspension Bridge http://www.ikbrunel.org.uk/clifton-suspension-bridge which spans the Avon Gorge and the River Avon in Bristol, U.K. It’s about 1350 feet long and stands 245 feet above the river below. Sadly it has claimed the lives of more than 400 people who have committed suicide by jumping from the bridge. As a side note, not all attempts were successful. two small girls thrown off the bridge by their deranged father survived the fall when they were fished from the river by the crew of a passing pilot boat.
The bridge was opened in 1864 and was designed by the 24 year old architect, Isambard Kingdom brunel. It took 35 years to complete.
Fa - the Green Dragon 