So, yesterday was a snow day and I did NOT have to report to work. SCORE!!! It was my birthday so it was a GREAT birthday present to sit and read all morning. Which I did! Then I had to get ready to go to Barwis. It was “Walking Wednesday” and 8 months to the day that I started working there. I was nervous given how I have been feeling because of this weather. Monday and Tuesday were TERRIBLE!!! This “March Meltdown 2014” as I refer to it was just nuts! But then it snowed yesterday and it’s FREEZING and the “Meltdown” has to start all over again. But, I wasn’t feeling as badly because there wasn’t so much moisture in the air. I got a little reprieve because it was my birthday. But the roads were really bad. Or maybe it was just the drivers. There was a huge accident on I-96 headed to Barwis and further down, almost at my exit, there was a car backing up on the freeway. I thought that was really strange until I saw the front of their car COMPLETELY smashed. They must have hit the center divide. So I get to Barwis a woman named Shawna pushed me into Barwis because I was having difficulty maneuvering through the snow.
Phil wished me “Happy Birthday” as I came in and I had to wipe my wheels off. He stretched me at the Keiser machine and asked how I was feeling. I explained how the “Meltdown” has been terrible and it stinks that it has to start all over again. I stood up which was a bit difficult. I told myself that,”First is the worst, second it the best,” and stood again. It was markedly easier this time and my right foot even decided to join the party! Phil pulled my chair closer under me and told me to do a squat and to stand up as fast as I could. I did 6 squats in a really quick succession. Then Phil went to get my crutches.
I get situated on the turf and Phil stretches me out some more and then I get my arms into my crutches and tell Lindsay and Phil “Let’s do this thing!” I stood and Phil told me how I should take my steps and how I should engage my body. All I needed was 5 yards to get my selfie with Phil. As he stretched me at the Keiser machine earlier, he told me that he was going to “kick my crutch out from under me at 4 yards.” Then we both laughed. (He was just joking). I got those 5 yards and kept going. At 5 I said, “there’s the selfie” and then I got 10 yards and told them to “move those chains.” But I STILL kept going! Phil was reminding me how to take my steps and encouraging me to continue. Lindsay too! And I still kept going at 15 yards. I got 20 yards on that 1st drive! That was the MOST yardage I have ever gotten on a single drive EVER! But I knew I had it in me to keep going.
The wall was 15 yards away and I have been saying that I will touch that wall since we began “Walking Wednesdays.” I stood and only got about 2 more yards and then I had to sit and regroup. I told Phil that I was SO tired and my butt hurt. He told me to push through the “tired” and the “pain” and when I stood up for a 3rd time I evoked my Dad. I said, “Okay Daddy, I’m grabbing my guts!” Phil is encouraging me the whole time and as I got closer to the wall, it was easier to push through the “tired” and the “pain.” Phil said, “C’mon. 2 more steps.” And I took those two steps and touched the wall!!!
I was SO excited! I was TOTALLY “Jessie Spano” excited and SO tired but SO happy! Lindsay brings my chair over and I sit and give my crutches to Phil and rest. Phil hands me back my crutches and pushed me to get my coat. I pretended that my crutches were oars and I rowed. Chris (the camera guy) asked if I I go faster when I do that and I said yeah and Phil started running and we all laughed. I was SO happy!!! I got 35 yards yesterday which is the most yardage I have gotten for all the “Walking Wednesdays”!!!
TOTAL YARDAGE = 230 AND 2 STEPS!!!
I wouldn’t stop smiling, that silly, giddy smile as I was getting my coat on Phil came over and I asked about our selfie. How can you refuse a birthday girl who has a stupid smile on their face?! Really?!
You can’t.
Here it is: #DaisyandPhil
Phil got me into the car because there was so much snow and we fist bump. I grabbed his fist and he told me that it was because it was my birthday that he let me and it will never happen again. We fist bump again, he wishes me a happy birthday and shut my door.
I was STILL shaking with excitement! I called my Mom (Sean was there) and I screamed that I walked 35 yards and touched the wall! I asked to talk to Sean and screamed the same thing to him! I felt a little more calmed down to drive and I put my WALKING song on repeat and my radio in full “jam mode.” “Jam mode” is when the radio is so loud that you can feel the beat in your chest as if you are at a concert (I LOVE LIVE MUSIC!). As I am driving home, I still had SO much adrenaline in me that I screamed at the top of my lungs. Four times. I still had trouble falling asleep last night. Even as I write this, my hands are beginning to shake because it is SO exciting to me!!! This morning as I got in my car and turned the car on, the radio still was playing my Sara Bareilles CD and my WALKING song was still in “jam mode.” As I pull out of my driveway, tears begin rolling down my cheeks. Apparently, I still had emotion trapped inside of me and I am NOT a morning person so screaming was out of the question. They were “strong, silent” tears but there were a lot of them so I guess I kind of AM a “sissy, cry-face” baby about this but I’m okay with that.