Bill Cosby, meet a native South Carolinian

Ha!  Just an amusing 6:39 clip: http://www.casttv.com/video/72dkchn/bill-cosby-understanding-southern-video  And I'll be doggoned, those are two real towns-- see?  Oh, I get prouder and prouder every day of this state.

TODAY WAS A GOOD, NAY, A *GREAT* DAY

     So, months ago, I randomly made it a goal to get into running form.  (I keep wanting to say "back into running form", then I realize it has been over a decade since I ran anywhere, except to the restroom)  True, I haven't run since high school cross country and track & field days, but hey, I don't want to just "get better"-- it's my goal to raise the "disabled" standards, to push myself to see what I'm capable of.  Sure, I could have had this goal before the wreck, nothing was stopping me, but I didn't care enough to even make it a goal; now, I'm going to show the world what is possible.


     Back in August, I got hooked up through my gym with Dr. Moss at Furman University, to talk about getting back into running form-- I mean into running form, see what I mean about this "back into" funny business?  (back in August, I was like "Dr. Moss?  Dr. Ray Moss?"  I musta had him for health and exercise science 101 in '97-- I'm just tickled pink I remembered that one insignificant detail)  He videotaped me on a treadmill, closely analyzed my gait, and said I should work with my gym more and come back and see him when they feel I'm more ready.  And by "they", I really mean one personal trainer, Ginnie Conley, who was in school for EIGHT YEAR to get this job, and it shows-- I've been working with her two days a week for many months almost purely on my gait and that clearly shows: I hyper-extend my right knee much less, and I have less dorsi-flexion going on with my right toes-- you follow? <snicker, snicker, I'm just repeating words that I think I overheard>

     So the day that Ginne felt we should revisit Dr. Ray Moss was today.  Ginnie got leave from work to meet me & my folks at Furman this afternoon, where we met with Dr. Ray Moss again.  He had me do some warm-up stretches, then just lightly jog about 30 yards and back several times to observe where I'm at now.  HOLY COW.  Dr. Ray Moss said he'd never expected me to do some of the things I can do now, and some things he did think I'd be able to do, but he just thought it would take much longer.  And the best news was that everything I have left to work on, he says is definitely correctable.

     He was very impressed with what we've accomplished thus far, and he works with world-class athletes!  Remember, I don't want to just "get better"...

Oh this is gonna be such the right career, working with kids

This afternoon was my first day volunteering at the Frazee Center-- man was that wild.  At some point I found myself helping one child.  First we read a book together, each of us taking one page.  Then it was time for his math homework.  I gotta admit-- I was struggling at first.  I would look at the problem, and just know the answer, but have no clue how I got there, or how to explain it.
Me: "Um... uhh... no that's not right..."
Him: "Don't you know math?  Did you flunk out of high school?"
Me: "I didn't-- three years ago, I took a brain injury.  I really thought I could do this stuff, I just aced a college course in elementary math."  (yeah, I can do it, just didn't have to explain how to do it)  Then after mulling the problem over for awhile, it suddenly clicked.  And we cruised through the rest of that problem.  The next one, he turned and asked the volunteer sitting on his other side a question.
Me: "I can do this, I got this now."
Him: "Yeah, I was just giving you a break."

HA!  Fair, thanks.  And honest.  I am so gonna love working with kids-- sorry, "young adults."  And then, as I walked home (after a stop at the bus station), I walked into the local gelato store to ask a question, and immediately heard "Hi Jeff!"  (from a child)  "Um, hi, sorry, do I know you?"  "Yeah, you just helped me with my math homework."  "OH, hi K.J.!"  (he wasn't the only child I'd been talking to at Frazee, and my brain was still talking to the transit authority)  But it's just cool to see your pupils elsewhere!  Yeah, I'm gonna enjoy a career with children.

man this is so cool-- people can be GOOD

So I joined the Kiwanis Club 4 days ago (the local young professionals group-- don't tell 'em I'm not a professional anything), and through them I learned about the Frazee Dream Center.  I met with the Frazee folks 2 days ago to see how our schedules can mesh together-- I need to make a few changes in my weekly schedule to be available after school hours, and I'm working on that.  It's appearing that the Frazee Center is run mostly by volunteers and may run mostly off donations.  It's "free preschool, after school & summer program for under resourced children."  Cool!  And they have a monthly workday to help clean the facilities that I just went to.  MAN WAS THAT GOOD FOR ME.  I learned so much about how other folks can be good.  I was sweeping the corners of the gymnasium, and a fellow came over and asked if he could help.  Yes, thanks much!  So we got to talking while sweeping, and as is often the case, I don't steer the conversation that way, but just naturally as a part of getting to know me, the "hit by a drunk driver" story comes out, as it explains so many other things about me.  And after hearing it, and how hard I work to "rise above" the TBI/coma thing, he said "You're an inspiration."  Alright, cool, thanks!  Not trying to step on anyone's religious toes here, but I am trying to be Jesus 2, only this time minus the "dying" bit, we can do without any of that.

Also on the subject of people surprisingly being good, let's go back the Kiwanis Club folks.  So the first meeting I went to, I got a ride home from the vice-pres. Emily, and she dropped me off at the end of the alley behind my apartment. This alley is maybe 75 feet long, and once I cross it, there's my elevator.  She watched me walk those 75 feet, saying "I'm just making sure you make it OK."  I was so wowed by that, I went over the top ga-ga over her for a few days-- I either asked her out or proposed marriage.  (I forget which-- I have a problem with both, memory and flingin' marriage proposals)  And then I got a ride home last night (from a dance they held at Frazee) from the Kiwanis young professionals chapter pres. Meghan, and she took it a step further.  I was again surprised when she also waited until I'd walked those 75 feet!  It's not far, believe me, sheesh!  And she asked "Do you need any help with the stairs or the elevator?"  It was the elevator that caught me-- I would hope it's kinda obvious that neither stairs and especially not the elevator is a sweat, but that really just shows how much concern these folks have for the well-being of other folks.  I mean, yes, if all you knew about me was my background story, I can see there would be some general concern-- if you're a good, caring person.  (yeah, I checked quickly, both of these kind female souls have boyfriends, so The NeverEnding Story continues...)

This is somewhat new, to meet other kind-hearted folks, and it feels great to start meeting good, caring people!  Here and I thought my folks & I were the last pocket of sanity around here-- turns out I just wasn't hanging with the right crowd!  I'm liking me some Kiwanis Club action!

I'm liking smallish towns (like this one) more & more

So it's been brewing in the back of mind for a long time now to maybe just cut my losses and move to a bigger town. When we were in Hotlanta for summer break this year, I learned that it's possible for public transportation not to suck-- ooh, alright, let's look more into Atlanta... and I found they don't have anywhere near the same level of "green things" as Greenville.  (can't believe I didn't figure that one out)  It's a concrete jungle-- yech.


But today I got many reminders one right after the other about why I live in a "small" town. (population ~62K)  


It started when I boarded the bus after being at my gym this afternoon.  Saydet (the Haitian bus driver) didn't start the bus going forward until I was seated, which I was very appreciative of, especially since I was moving somewhat slow and sat in the back row.  (can you tell I'm in the new habit of constantly introducing myself to strangers?)  I was writing a note to myself to talk to the transit authority about the fact that not all of their drivers do this-- some start the bus rolling before you sit down, which is "hold on to whatever you can find quickly"-- grrr.  As I was writing my note to myself to recommend Saydet to his bosses as a good driver, someone else boarded the bus and Saydet started the bus rolling forward before this last passenger could sit down.  Huh, OK, never mind about this note saying that it's good that Saydet always waits-- apparently, he only does it for me.  So when we ended up downtown, I went up front and asked Saydet, and that's correct, he does just wait for me, as when it was just me & him on a bus a few months ago, I told him my background, as I'm wont to do as a "don't drink & drive" warning.  And that's why he waits to start the bus moving until I sit down.  Alright, cool!  And it's actually useful that I'm going around preaching my tale of almost-sorrow.


Then, walking home from the bus station, I passed Sushi Murasaki and saw Natalie through the window.  Jeff 1.0 knew Natalie somewhat well when she used to work at Barley's Pizzeria and I would spend more than a little time there.  I stopped in to say hi, and a guy at the counter said "Hi Jeff".  I was like "I either know you or have met your doppelgänger, as you look familiar, but..."  Turned out I do know him, it was Wes, manager of the Sticky Fingers downstairs, who I've nicknamed Smith & Wes. (think guns)  I asked if it'd be OK to take a decaf drink from the coffee shop next-door into his restaurant across the street-- "Yes?  OK, great, thanks.  I really want to avoid caffeine, I don't drink sugar, and I just don't want water right now."


I walk into the coffee shop, Liquid Highway, and Julia, a barista I know fairly well, says "Hi Jeff.  I think this is your hat you must have left here before."  YES IT IS, thanks, been looking for that.  So then I take my decaf sugar-free sweetness to dinner at Sticky Fingers.
The guy who brings my food out is Gary, who used to work at Barley's and knew Jeff 1.0 very well.  So we chat for a bit.

Then I had just finished my dinner when a man pops around the corner and says "Hi Jeff."  Turned out to Fred, a local pastor I know from the coffee shop, and we've had a few spirituality discussions.  And as I walked back through the coffee shop after dinner on my way home, I stopped to have a chat with Fred.


So a small town may not ever get really good public transportation, but in Atlanta would I run into SIX people I know decently, in the space of a few hours?  Greenville wins.

one-liners

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/weekinreview/07laugh.html?_r=1

WE ALL PASSED!!!

Riley is now an official therapy dog, and we are all certified as her handlers!  YAY!!!