Here it is 10 days into my retirement and all I have done is have more fun than a person should be allowed to have. I have made a trip to the valley (home), had lunch with friends, and spent a lot of time with the youngest of my grand children. Looking forward to July because Brook and JP will be home from Germany for a spell and, hopefully, we will all be able to spend some time with them. There is nothing in the world greater than family, unless it is friends that have become like family.
Tomorrow is Claudette's birthday, and it seems like just yesterday that I was sitting there watching a Sunday night movie about Saint Bernadette, when my mother convinced me to go to the hospital---just in case. A beautiful, precious gift from God was born. Happy birthday Baby Girl!
Billy Flores
I first met Billy Flores in November of 2010. I had stopped by the gym to do some walking and weights in preparation for my trip to Utah. (After all, I had skiing on my mind!) I was using one of the machines when this truly buffed young man walks up to me and said, "Let me show you a better way to do that." He told me to move my hands in toward the middle of the bar before pulling it down. I did and, of course, it was much easier. I asked him why the hand grips were so far out and he said, "watch." He put his hands on the grips and pulled the weighted bar down with ease. "Do you see the length of my arms compared to yours?" I laughed! We started talking and I discovered a remarkable young man beneath the muscles.
Billy had been in an accident several years ago that nearly took his life. He broke the odontoid and C1 and C2 of his neck, and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Once he was able to recognize people and understand what was being said, he was told he would never be able to lift weights again. He said he determined to get better and back to his weights. We talked at length about the similarity between his broken neck and my son, David's. The determination both had, coupled with prayer is amazing. I mentioned that he needed to write his story and share it with others. He smiled and said that he has trouble focusing for long periods, so how in the world was he going to sit long enough to write anything, let alone remember the way to write. That is where I come in, I smiled.
I didn't see Billy again until the end of May 2011. I needed a trainer to whip this old body into shape so that the girl inside this old shell would at least feel like there was some hope. lol I called to see if he were at the gym and, if I could talk to him, and he said to come on over. And, that is how it began. I am so sore today; I feel as if I have jumped from a perfectly good airplane and landed hard... and, my last session was Saturday! I have another session tomorrow, and I cringe, a little, thinking of what may transpire.
Talking with him as we train has given me some insight into what makes him tick. He is a former Airborne Ranger, and as Jason has told me, "Mom, he really knows how to hurt a person." LOL But, with the discipline that comes from special forces and his determination to come back from a near fatal accident, I am convinced he is the one God has put in my path for such a time as this. Hopefully, two things will come from this partnership: 1. I will be in better physical condition than I have been in years, and 2. I will be able to write his story.
So, here's to Billy Flores--- a young man who has suffered tremendously and come out on top because God has a plan for his life.
Tomorrow---- Boogerisms. :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment