What I missed most this spring while I was in the hospital and rehab:
- Grocery shopping. Walking up and down the aisles, considering trying new items at Trader Joe's, poking around the produce department (which I prefer to actually eating produce), looking at nutrition labels, all that stuff. I tell you, spend one summer with no money for groceries, your tastes change.
- Smoking weed. I did brownies a few times, and it was great. But what I would have given for the opportunity to sit outside and smoke a bowl.
- Being outside. Feeling the wind blow. Rain. Sun. Cold. Heat. You know, all that stuff.
- Good coffee. Which, to be honest, I did get a number of times because I would finagle someone to bring me some when they visited.
- Good Mexican food. Even though the homemade chili at the first rehab place was absolutely amazing.
- My iPod, which were in the pocket of pair of old blue jeans that I wore before the accident occurred.
- Control of many, many things. Mostly my legs and my dignity.
- Did I mention weed?
you can try to stop me
you could move on to somebody else
you can try to stop me
but I'll be here in sickness and in health
and I'm gonna love you
until you can learn to love yourself
you can try to outrun me
but it ain't gonna do no good
plead your case to me, honey
you'll only be misunderstood
'cause I'm gonna love you
like a person who believes in you would
you have no idea
the strength you're made of
until you do
I'm giving you
all of my love
you can try to ignore me
treat me like I'm made of dirt
but I know your life story
so ignoring me ain't gonna work
I'm gonna love you
till I can love away all of the hurt
you can try to stop me
you could move on to somebody else
you can try to stop me
but I'll be here in sickness and in health
and I'm gonna love you
until you can learn to love yourself
if I knew how to sing the blues
tonight I'd sing them all for you
'cause now you're gone
and all we have are memories
ah, but the memories of you
are strong enough to
last our whole lives through
oh my brother
but it's still hard to believe
last night I was thinking
about you and me
driving up 101
we were just nineteen
in our flannel shirts
and worn out jeans
and a bottle of tequila
we didn't do
what we were told
we thought that we
would never grow old
but old we grew
me and you
we would play guitars
the whole night through
hold me close
just a little bit longer
let me memorize your touch
So I just got back. I walked two blocks all by myself and went to the rehab facility I lived in for two months. I went to see Chase, the occupational therapist who helped me out so much. I went to take him a CD and a card and to tell him thanks in person for being my friend when I was in rehab.
Isn't he still your friend, farmboy?
Yes. I asked him if it's okay to keep in touch and he said "absolutely." I hope that means we're friends. He's a great guy. I would like to consider him a friend.
Which you can do, you know. You're in charge of that.
I think he was glad to see me. He hugged me when I left, so I guess he likes me.
He likes you, farmboy. He's one of many. You have friends. You usually close yourself off from people. Chase is someone who broke through your barriers. It's a good thing, farmboy. It's good to know people, to have friends who care about you
I hope you stay in touch with him, farmboy.
I hope so too.
hose undone
sprinkler on
water falling
front yard lawn
children laughing
soaking wet
school year has not
started yet
watermelon
nectarines
working in
your farmer jeans
lemonade cool
when weather's hot
cold iced coffee
hits the spot
air-conditioned
picture show
surf songs
on the radio
mornings staying
late in bed
big sun roasting
overhead
one day soon
it's gonna end
and it's gonna get cold
and cloudy again
but memories
don't disappear
they're living proof
that summer was here
draw me a map
of new zealand
east of australia
in a big blue sea
that is where
I wish to be and
that's where my love
waits for me
draw me the mountains
of new zealand
place a big sign
that says "you are here"
guild me safely
through the thieves and demons
tell me my love
won't disappear
