4.13.19 - Recovery and Excerpts

“We must respect space, it is a savage place.  Carry on, and take the legacy of those lost with you.  Share their stories, as someone will one day share yours.”

A month and a day ago I blew out my knee.
Today, I went to the gym for the first time, since.
I am grateful, to be this far, to have help along the way,
yet, reminded of how far I have, still, to go.

“Purpose, that’s what I’m searching for.  Maybe I’ll find it amongst the stars.

The 5th draft has been uneven, since 25 staples.
But there’s been constant progress. Always, forward.
Not just in the book but in life. Constant, changing, progress.
In reflective quiet, remember the positives, first, and last.

“A starship is made for connecting distant lights.  Each point represents choices, changes, and new direction.  Every time I ferry this trip , I am reminded of that. You all will make choices.  Some good, some poor.  No matter what choices you make, own them.”

4.6.19 - Excerpts

“Drill Sergeant Black leaned against the hatch. Her cap hung low over her nose, muscular arms rippled with tattoos. “This isn’t the place for vendettas, Recruit,” she said in a flattened tone.

“Yes ma’am. Sergeant Blue’s orders were to knock my opponent out. Took me longer to get it done. Won’t happen again.” Crash kept his gaze fixed.

Her chin slightly lifted, revealing a hint at a smirk. “See that it doesn’t,” she ordered. “You showed leadership there,” Black added.

“I didn’t lead, ma’am. None of them are responsible for what happened, just me.”

The lip of Black’s cap rose, revealing sharp honey-brown eyes. “Leadership is keeping soldiers out of a fight they can’t win and shouldn’t be in.”
”
“Crash chuckled and instantly regretted it. He winced.

“Probably a rib fracture, concussion. Is it true Earthborn take months to heal from bone breaks?”

He nodded, the blurs became clearer. “Without medical attention, yeah. Meds drop it to a few days.”

“That’s barbaric.”

“How long do you take to heal?”

Starnes gauged his balance. “Nowhere near as long,” he grinned. “Catch you later, Crash.”
”
“Wendy adjusted her trajectory to where the Skyrunner would be with one second before the ship broke the light barrier. With two seconds left, she cut the engines. Her fighter again spun 180 degrees, sliding sideways into the open hangar bay. “NOW!” She kicked open the landing gear and full thrust, neutralizing momentum right as the carrier reached slip-stream entry. ”

4.3.19 - Excerpts, progress, words play

I think I’m going to start including excerpts to start these. Maybe do progress at the bottom? Publish these from time to time while I work through GRv4.

“The first humans killed with their hands. The last will, too.”
“War is two things: Winning and dying. The second is easy, the former, not.”

Every day of recovery
there’s a new insight,
a new limitation to test,
a nerve
newly waking up like
kindling over chilled
but ready firewood
healing pangs

42
is the answer to
life
the universe
everything
thank you,
Mr. Adams

42
is the number of
days
I hold you in
my arms again
thank you,
Universe

4.1.19 - Recovery Day 4 & Excerpts

“He could sit here all night, pay his tab, and only the bartender and bouncer would speak to him. Neither would swear knowing Glitch, if pressed. His mind drifted between watching the band and nursing his drink. With two pungent tokes, his heart rate slowed as vape clouds mingled into dive bar haze. He wrapped himself in a comforting blanket of anonymity and bourbon. ”

Days one through three were rough. Managing pain, resting, and recovering mobility is a bit of work. Thankfully, I have a great support group. I am grateful and lucky.

Don’t know how I’ll ever repay them, but I hope to find a way.

Count the staples

Recovery means feeling like glass
Trembling at the fear of breaking
From every falling drop of rain
Fresh with the painful truths
Of how brittle we feel
When it’s time to heal

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_b34.jpg

Recover

This’ll be the first in a series of progress pictures over the next few years.