In my years as a mother, I have had a few calls that started like this: “Mrs. Rosen? This is constable so-and-so calling. I am here with your daughter ….”
What comes next can take any number of shapes.
This time, it was a bicycle accident. My youngest. Very nearby – she had been on her way home from school, took a corner too tight, and hit the curb with her pedal, which sent her flying. I was there in minutes. She was still on the ground, the paramedics trying to peel her off the street and get her into the ambulance and off to the hospital. There is nothing like hearing your own child scream in pain.
Many hours, examinations, personnel, and medications later, we found out that -thankfully, and against the expectations of paramedics and initial trauma team- she was relatively fine. Very banged up, for sure, and a broken finger, but basically fine. None of the parts we thought to be broken (her upper arm, rib, and left hip) were actually broken. There were no internal injuries. The biggest relief: the shadow in her neck on the x-ray proofed to me nothing of importance. Yikes. A spinal injury had been my worst nightmare.
We rarely remember how fragile life is. We are busy busy busy. So many things to get done, so little time. Even the potentially virtuous activities such as visits to the gym, eating well, and even daily meditation practice, can end up being stressful in my pursuit of them. I want to balance my life: work hard – which I actually love – , run an uplifted household, and then all the other stuff, which I don’t do nearly enough off: nurturing my friendships, my body, my mind. And remember to be grateful.
“Death comes without Warning. This body will be a corpse. This Precious Human Life is but a Bubble. Seize the day. Rejoice and be of benefit!”
