The Littlest Things

So not like it's real news or anything but in my life it's a pretty big deal. Since I got a driving clearance Dad took me out and about the other day. It was a strange feeling to not have other people driving Miss Daisy. lol On the same hand though it was amazing to be behind the wheel again and feel like I'm getting my life back on step at a time. Dad even told me to drive down Ridge Road right where I had my accident. I only had one minute where I was like...inhale....wierd being on this road and behind a wheel again. Dad made the situation so awesome. He looked at me and said "Jess. It's just a road, and it's just a corn field." I swear that man is a gift from God. Both my parents have been. I've always had a great relationship with my parents but the tie between my Dad and I is now like titanium. He's been amazing about talking to me about everything lately. Anything I want to ask him is out in the open. No holds bar. A very personal emotional conversation about his past even came up on that drive the other day. Meg Fenton put it great and told Phil this. "Jess has the kind of relationship with her Dad that every girl is jealous of." Not a day goes by now that I don't recognize my parents strength, and compassion for me and other people.

My best friend...who I call Beaner. lol Her real name is Jenny, but that just sounds weird. Looked at me when we took a trip to Ithaca the other day, that it's the littlest things that make my day anymore. It totally is. Appreciation and perspective man. Something to be said for it. The little things will continue to move me. Yesterday writing a thank you to everyone from EMT, police, first responders and more made me cry. Mom said it was cathartic. It made my accident less like a bad dream and more real everyday.

On a lighter note. All my thank you cards are done! Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who helped us out with the JR fundraiser at Fox Run and more got their official thank yous. Penn Yan Ambulance, Yates County Sheriff, Geneva General, and Mercy Flight all got their thank yous too. I should put out a thank you on here to everyone who listened, supoorted, and sent love my way and my family's way during that entire process. It meant a lot.

Now the mission for the time being with all that thank you card writing not hanging over my head, is to get a full time marketing job and a car. Preferably the job first then the car so I can get a decent loan for a car. lol Until then I'll just keep looking at the inside of my house like I have been doing for weeks and maybe go to Fox Run Vineyards winter tasting tonight at 7:30. Maybe include sips of that delicious vino. Especially (hopefully) some of those killer 2007 reds.

Cheers to the little things!

Pay It Forward

So this week has been a huge week for me. If you would have told me 2 months ago that I would have gone all through this and been where I am today I would have told you I thought you were joking. Guess what? Joke's on me. I had a meeting with my vascular doctor and my attending at St. Mary's both in Rochester this week. Beautiful moment. Mom asked the vascular doctor since I work at wineries if it was ok to have a glass of wine at the end of the day. He looked at her and goes.."You've gotta live your life." Sounds like a yes to me. Not that it's a big thing on my mind at all lately.. and trust me. It'll still be 6 months before I'm getting back to normal in that department just for safety purposes.

The even more amazing thing was that I got a work clearance and a driving clearance from my attending, Dr. LiVecchi @ St. Mary's. Not gonna lie...that made me cry. I'm finally getting my life back. One step at a time. I looked into cars with Mom this morning. Did I think I would drive again so soon after some serious serious injuries...no way. God's been great to me. Between God, my Grandfather on my mom's side and my Grandmother on my dad's side, I've had some guardian angels the whole way along this process. For Christmas my Dad gave me a poster of his favorite poem "Footprints." It hits home every time occasionally making me cry. You want to read a great poem? Look it up. We've all been through those moments. Not that I was very religious before the accident. Don't get me wrong.. I had my own ideas about spirituality, but not a day goes by that doesn't make me thank God that I'm here and doing so incredibly well. Life defining moments. Pretty deep stuff Sharon. lol

Great line in the movie "Pay It Forward." "I guess it's hard for people who are so used to things the way they are - even if they're bad - to change. 'Cause they kind of give up. And when they do, everybody kind of loses." I can completely relate to that but not just from the accident. More so from life experiences. Between that and something along the lines of "The bad stuff is always easier to believe" from Pretty Woman. My goal in life...as is my family's after this experience.. is to just pay it forward like crazy. Change lives and give out as much good as possible.

My man still continues to amaze me. Dinner with his parents again last night. Let's face it.. I'm just being honest... but my biggest goal would be to wayyyy better than the past ex track record. Even with the fam. Phil put it a great way the other day. "You're unreal." Unreal in every way for the both of us apparently. I still don't know how I got so lucky to meet someone so real and just click so early. Just feels so right. Ok..enough cheese ball for everyone involved. lol

So gotta send out a shout out to Matt Volmer...that's right... you! I'm gonna dedicate this blog to the new amazing nickname "mush-pot." Gave me a lot of rope to run with dude... thanks! lol Gonna get serious milage out of that one.

Cheers to being able to savor small bits of FLX Vino I adore!

"Secret Smile" -- Semisonic

Yesterday I dubbed Valentine's Day singles awareness day. Trust me there have been Valentine's Day's where it's felt like singles awareness day like whoa. My man and I had a quality day celebrating the night before the actual day. I kid you not.. the best Valentine's Day to date. I'm not normally one who makes a big deal about this holiday especially. This year I wanted to make it a big deal for the man who treats me so incredibly well, gets me excited to be with him, and is so open with me. Everything is on the table with him. We're just ourselves and real. I've never been this open or never needed to hide one single thing before. He appreciates me for the woman I am and makes sure to remind me frequently. Hearing that you're the best and an incredible woman, not to mention how easy it is to be with him and share things with him; after a life altering event is something that you don't take lightly. I've never felt this way so early on. I would do anything for that man if he needed it..

"Love the people who treat you right, forget the ones who don't." I mean not being a big Valentine's Day girl...roses, chocolates, and candles made me melt. Typical chick statement I know. lol I made him dinner, baked him a pie, and got him beer. I am kind of an amazing girlfriend right? What man doesn't want beer and some quality time to show them you care?

How I got so lucky with him I have no clue. He met me before the accident. Stuck by my side and brought me flowers in the hospital. Made the time and effort to remember me and visit me when we were just acquaintances at that point. Took me out for a couple dates in public sporting the brace and didn't think twice about being even close to being ashamed of me. "You're the kind of girl you can dress up and be a very attractive girl or the girl who can look good in jeans and a hoodie," he told me. That's right girls. I'll let you be jealous, but just remember he's all mine. lol

I think I should leave this Valentine's Day message with all of you.. Treat the ones who treat you well like gold. Never forget you deserve nothing but the absolute best and don't accept anything less. If you find a good one hold onto them very tight. Kosmic karma applies here too. Whatever is put out will be given back 10 fold.

Cheers! Here's to great significant others!

Find Out Who Your Friends Are

So here I am. Almost a week from my meeting with the spine Dr. and I'm up to 7 hours a day brace free! Woot! Hopefully getting a work clearance this week with my attending at St. Mary's. Everything keeps falling into place one day at a time. So thankful every day that I'm healing so quickly and am getting my life back on track. No need to rush anything. Thank God this happened when I was only 22. 23rd birthday in January couldn't have been more of a moving and heartfelt birthday. Something that will always stick with me.

I listened to the Tracy Bird country song, "Find Out Who Your Friends Are." Wow that hit home. "This is where the truth don't lie, and the cream is gonna rise." That's one of the lyrics from the song. Pretty intense considering the people I thought would get in touch with me after everything still haven't. Yet the ones that cared about me the most made the effort to be there. They're the ones who made the difference. A friend explained to the me the other night... that's what happens when things get rough in any situation. Very well put J Walk. It's cruddy that those types of things have to happen to make you realize but it's for the better.

I had my new boyfriend (yet another great relationship that came out of the accident)...who I met pre-accident, ask me the other night if I regretted anything about the accident. It was a very poignant question. Are there days I wish it didn't happen? Sure. Regrets? None. It made me the person I am today and when the spine Dr looked at me and told me I have the perspective and appreciation at 50 that he still needs to remind himself of every day. That was a big moment for me. Who at 23 has been through a life changing experience? Sharon Winslow at Fox Run looked at me and said..."Now we've both had life defining moments." I like that a lot. Very true.

I've had a couple people tell me lately that I should write a book for the aforementioned reasons. One couple I didn't even know told me thank you for sharing my story and that I changed their outlook. I think that's why I'm really debating coming up with something. At least a draft. I've been told people just naturally gravitate to me. Why not share my story, potentially change people's outlooks, and then help them find new appreciation for their life. Not to mention stop ignorant stares when I'm wearing the back brace, and teach people about tolerance, and not ignorance. A simple question goes a long way. Who knows. Since no full time jobs have presented themselves lately I figured it couldn't hurt.

I just wanna throw out an official thank you as well to everyone who ever said a prayer, or anything good on my behalf when I was in the hospital. It means the world and I totally believe in cosmic karma now. Whatever you put out will be received and given back 10 fold.

I think that's long enough for today...even though I could keep going for sure.

Cheers! And have 2 drinks for me today on top of whatever you want! lol Can't wait for summer to drink again! All this great local wine and brew is so enticing.

Till next time! Cheers again! =)