Celebrating Life, Luck and Chance

calicokat wrote in post #2201405
Well, it did not start that way

Very true Cat...your original thread was honorable....it's just your Posse (I think that's what Petkal calls those of us that found the Pub so amusing...degenerates that we are) that corrupted it....

Permagrin wrote in post #2201421
Very true Cat...your original thread was honorable....it's just your Posse (I think that's what Petkal calls those of us that found the Pub so amusing...degenerates that we are) that corrupted it....

Thats the problem, the posse was taken over by some negative ones

Well, my New philosophy on web interaction is to ingnore those that are provoking or those who make me uncomfortable. (Though I've only pushed "the button" once ). We'll see how it works...anyway, I still miss the Pub (but I don't want to distract from this thread by talking about it ...because this really has a good message that shouldn't be corrupted):

by Calicokat:If you are still reading, thank you. I will leave you with this, don't take life for granted, or the ability to enjoy life for that matter. In my time as an officer, I have seen many people who were not as lucky as I was, accidents take people lives everyday. Be thankful and grateful for today and everyday for that matter, I know I am

I think we all take life for granted sometimes and something like happening to someone makes you stop and think about your own life.
Glad everything worked out OK in the end.

I've recently started to 'enjoy life' a bit more after my wife fell seriously ill a couple of years ago (she's now fine), You just don't know what's around the corner...

Inspiring story. Thanks for sharing.

One of my own. In 1965 my Dad was working with his brother on an industrial complex in Manchester. There was an explosion and he and his brother where thrown off the roof of a building. His brother, my Uncle Ted, was killed. My dad was 'lucky' and landed in a vat or boiling tar. He suffered burns to 60% of his body, multiple arm and leg fractures, broken sternum, broken shoulder blades, fractured skull. He spent 18 months in hospital. Had numerous surgeries (so many in fact that the anaestetic stopped working on him) was in traction for over a year, had many skin grafts (skin donated by another uncle) and surgery to give him back working toes and fingers - they had 'melted' together.

He was never able to work again and has spent the rest of his life (he is now 76) in pain and at home with his family (7 kids). Not long ago I was chatting to him over a single malt and said 'that must rate as about the worst thing that can happen to anybody'. His reply "well it meant I got to be with you all every day you were growing up". I choke up just thinking about that attitude.

calicokat wrote in post #2200851
Ten years ago tonight at 6:15 PM, I had a life altering experience. I was coming home from a fishing trip when I fell asleep at the wheel of my pickup. I hit a tree at an estimated speed of 65mph head on. I was fortunate and lucky in so many ways.

There was a man following me that saw what happened(thank you Tim), I was lucky that he had a cell phone being 1996 and all before everyone had them. Doctors say he saved me from bleeding to death. I had a compact fracture of my right femur along with a dislocated hip, broken right arm, broken collarbone, and a smashed up right eye from hitting the steering wheel. The compact fracture missed the femural artery by centimeters Doctors would later tell me.

Firefighters and CHP arrived on the scene (thanks to them as well for me being alive today). They had to cut the top of the truck off and use the jaws of life to un-pin the dash board that was pinning my right leg which had caused the compact fracture and hip dislocation.

From there I was air lifted to a hospital. I required three different surgeries and a month long hospital stay to get put back together. A metal rod was placed in the right femur. I was told it would be permanent, but it came out three years later when everything had healed faster than expected.

The recovery was very painful and long, but I made a full recovery. Today there are zero signs that the accident ever happened. I am so grateful for the ability to be alive, be able to walk, be able to live a complete life as if nothing ever happened. I was even able to complete the police academy two years after the accident.

If you are still reading, thank you. I will leave you with this, don't take life for granted, or the ability to enjoy life for that matter. In my time as an officer, I have seen many people who were not as lucky as I was, accidents take people lives everyday. Be thankful and grateful for today and everyday for that matter, I know I am

Wow, you are lucky, and indirectly, so are all of us whom you've helped further down the line with your second chance.

I too am lucky to be alive, I will skip the whole long story. But I can definitely tell you, that while this world is far from heaven on earth (at times it seems more like hell on earth), angels do walk amongst us, unseen until they are called to duty.

In2Photos wrote in post #2201407
Congrats on the new, ten year old outlook on life. My uncle fell asleep at the wheel many years ago. He is paralyzed from the waist down. I don't know all the details of the accident but I am glad it wasn't worse. I hope you do something fun tonight to celebrate.

Thanks for the comments, my celebration tonight is to hang out and relax with the wife, thats all I need

Pete wrote in post #2201415
Wow, what a story. You're so fortunate for still being with us. And we're so fortunate for have you still with us too...

Thank you, much appreciated

kevin_c wrote in post #2201518
I think we all take life for granted sometimes and something like happening to someone makes you stop and think about your own life.
Glad everything worked out OK in the end.

I've recently started to 'enjoy life' a bit more after my wife fell seriously ill a couple of years ago (she's now fine), You just don't know what's around the corner...

Glad to hear your wife is doing good now. We lost a family friend to Leukemia earlier this year, he was 22. It can all change so fast, enjoy today

Lightstream wrote in post #2202619
Wow, you are lucky, and indirectly, so are all of us whom you've helped further down the line with your second chance.

I too am lucky to be alive, I will skip the whole long story. But I can definitely tell you, that while this world is far from heaven on earth (at times it seems more like hell on earth), angels do walk amongst us, unseen until they are called to duty.

I would like to hear the story sometime. I do believe that there is a plan for us all, when its your time, its your time. Mine was not meant to be the accident

dewmuw wrote in post #2202224
Inspiring story. Thanks for sharing.

One of my own. In 1965 my Dad was working with his brother on an industrial complex in Manchester. There was an explosion and he and his brother where thrown off the roof of a building. His brother, my Uncle Ted, was killed. My dad was 'lucky' and landed in a vat or boiling tar. He suffered burns to 60% of his body, multiple arm and leg fractures, broken sternum, broken shoulder blades, fractured skull. He spent 18 months in hospital. Had numerous surgeries (so many in fact that the anaestetic stopped working on him) was in traction for over a year, had many skin grafts (skin donated by another uncle) and surgery to give him back working toes and fingers - they had 'melted' together.

He was never able to work again and has spent the rest of his life (he is now 76) in pain and at home with his family (7 kids). Not long ago I was chatting to him over a single malt and said 'that must rate as about the worst thing that can happen to anybody'. His reply "well it meant I got to be with you all every day you were growing up". I choke up just thinking about that attitude.

Thanks for sharing, its wonferful that your father took this tragedy and turned it around in his mind into a positive by seeing his kids everyday, sounds like a great man

you are lucky person. good luck to your future and career

I had one of those! Glad to hear it was not your time to go. I would think about a law suit regarding the facial reconstruction cuz you one ugly fellow!!

It all really makes you realize how precious life is and how fragile out time on earth can be. God Bless Calico!!

Dante King wrote in post #2203929
I had one of those! Glad to hear it was not your time to go. I would think about a law suit regarding the facial reconstruction cuz you one ugly fellow!!

It all really makes you realize how precious life is and how fragile out time on earth can be. God Bless Calico!!

This forum is a laugh a minute tonight!
Dante you really know how to KILL the moment don't you!!

Happy "anniversary" of sorts. It's a blessing that you're still around to remind us all of the fragility of life. I've come to understand that all too well this past year with the passing of my long term companion last January and with my mother's very recent diagnosis of ductal carcinoma. I've learned to embrace life as a result of experiences such as these and live each day to its fullest.

Glad you're still around and hope you celebrate many more of these anniversaries.

how very lucky, glad you are here on the forum with us! thanks for sharing.

ultranet wrote in post #2203920
you are lucky person. good luck to your future and career

Thank you for the kind words