Lucky Number 7

Right around this time every year I get nostalgic. Yesterday, August 1, 2016 was the 7 year anniversary of the skydiving accident. That also means I’ve been a quadriplegic for 7 years. Time to step back for a moment and evaluate things. Which things? All things.

Even doing the right thing has unwanted consequences. Sometimes other people, innocent people, have to suffer those consequences. I never did, and never will have any regrets for doing what I consider the right thing on that August 1st. You can put me in the same situation 100 times and I’d make the same choices. I’m not happy that others have had to pay physically, emotionally, and financially for it. Even so, it was the right choice.

I’ve always been sorry that I missed the end of Skydive Houston in Waller and Eagle Lake. Neither was a celebration. Saying goodbye to SDH in Waller would have been sad. The place had a full rich history behind it, and should have had a great future. Unfortunately, the end of an era. But it would have been nice to be on the last load, sit around at the last bonfire, and stayed up all night listening to the stories.

I was never a part of the Eagle Lake experience. The final nail in the coffin for Skydive Houston was ugly. I can’t defend what happened and how it happened. I’d like to think that if I had been there, maybe things would have turned out differently for SDH and for TB. Maybe part of that is guilt for not having been there enough for my friend.

While I’m bearing my soul to the world, there’s one more thing I need to get off my chest. I’m sorry for stealing Kevin Harvey’s Snickers bar in the 4th grade. You know, on second thought, I’m not sorry. That’s what you get for putting all those stupid Barbie stickers on my Speed Racer lunch box! Jerk!

Right now I have a million things to do. The question is how to fit everything into the 7 days a week time limitation. What to leave in, and what to leave out? Not to mention the physical limitations my body randomly decides to surprise me with. Although that’s OK. What my body doesn’t know is that I’m planning to leave it to medical science after I’m gone. Who’s got the last laugh now!

Let’s face it, no one has ever gone down the road of life without hazards and danger lurking around every corner. The road that I’m on looks pretty bleak to allot of people. The donations can’t last forever, and when the money runs out, so does my time. Yes, that sounds pretty bleak. But it's not. Do you wanna know why? That was a rhetorical question, so keep reading.

I was lucky enough to have outstanding parents. They instilled upon me a strong foundation of beliefs. Over the years I’ve incorporated my personal beliefs that are not bound by the dogma of religions, philosophy, or science. Instead, I’ve come away from that salad bar of knowledge with a set of solid quotations and beliefs. Here are my top 10.

1 Reality is not reality. Perception is reality.
2 The heart sees what is hidden to the mind and the heart knows things the mind can never understand.
3 Control is an illusion. But you are still responsible for everything that happens to you, and more importantly, you are responsible for how it affects others.
4 Doing the right thing always has consequences and is rarely the path of least resistance.
5 Taking no action, is an action.
6 Chivalry, loyalty, courtesy, honor, and respect are not old fashion values. They are a personal responsibility and privilege to extend to others.
7 Courage is not, not being afraid. Courage is being afraid, and trying anyway.
8 Regardless of your personal belief in a God or The God, we’re all going to find ourselves in either one of two places at the end.
9 Love, Hope, Faith, Family and Friendship are the strongest bonds and should never be underestimated or forsaken.
10 Keep that since of humor, it’s critical.

Of course I have many more and I know other people have similar favorite quotes and expressions. My point is… Well, you get the point.

God bless & blue skies, David