My current life is as happy and rewarding as my childhood and teenage years ever were. I work as a computer systems administrator, which basically means I make sure the computers where I work keep working. Usually it's an easy job but every so often something or someone decides to make it hard. But luckily that isn't too often. Besides I am also involved with two support groups. One support group is for amputees young and old to talk about whatever concerns they may have. The other group is for disabled women and likewise is a place to share ideas, concerns and words of encouragement. I've been involved with the amputee group ever since I started volunteering when I was 16.
I started volunteering at first mainly so I'd have something to do to get me out of the house on Saturdays. For me it was and still is a great way to make friends and a never-ending source of pride and joy. But over the years my reasons for going have changed. It's still something for me to do on Saturdays but it's not an escape any more. Now I look forward to going and being able to help people out. Sometimes helping out just means being a set of ears, sometimes it means being a shoulder to cry and sometimes it means being a repository of information on everything from physical therapy to prosthetics to socializing to working. Mostly though I just lend my ears to whoever may need them and offer some words of encouragement.
Besides my volunteering my other major source of fun is hanging out with my friends. I see at least friend a day every day whether it be for lunch, dinner or just a cup of coffee. To me there is nothing important than spending time with friends especially those very close to you. On Friday and Saturday nights I usually go out with a bunch of friends. Some nights there will be ten of us going to dinner then out to dance then going somewhere else. Some nights I sleep over at a friend's house other nights I have a friend or two stay at my place. Then in the morning when we get up we head out to breakfast and usually stay together for lunch. I've spending my weekends like this ever since I got my own place right after graduating from college. Only time I don't go out with a big group of friends is when I have a date. Other than that I'm always out with my friends on the weekends.
My big source of leisure time fun during the week is working out, whether it be aerobics, lifting weights, swimming or playing tennis. I started doing aerobics back in college because it gave me a chance to move to music, something from dear to me from my years of dance classes. I never really have gone for the fitness benefits but rather just so I could move my body. As for weightlifting I started that mainly just for fun a few years back. I found it was a great way to let off steam. First I just did it to tone my muscles but this year I've been hard at work building up a bit. So far in nine months of really working out I've added 15 pounds. I'm planning on adding about 5 or so more then just keeping it all there. As for swimming I've been swimming since I was about 3 or 4. My parents pretty much just through me in the water and had me swim. I haven't stopped since although my style has changed. Having only one arm I have to use my legs more to keep myself going straight and m stroke tends to waddle. And as for tennis I started playing when I was 11 years old, my father just took me to the local courts put a racket in my hand and had me swinging. At first it was a bit tricky since I didn't have quite enough strength in m arm for backhands and holding on with my artificial arm wasn't an option since the turning of my shoulders would open it up and have it bending the wrong way. After a while though I got the strength up in my arm and really started to get good at tennis. I've been playing every chance I get for the last 13 years.
Besides working out, tennis and swimming I also enjoy biking and skiing. Lots of people are surprised when I tell them that I still ride a bike and started riding as soon as I could after my accident. I just tell people that I liked it too much to let loosing my arm stop me even it was an accident on my bike that cost me my arm. Now when I ride I hardly ever think of my accident. Only difference before and after the accident is that I have just one hand to steer with, my artificial arm just lets me hold on for some stability but all the turning is done by my hand. Skiing I started when I was 15 and saw an ad for a disabled ski school. Even though it meant a trip to Colorado my parents were only too happy to have me go. I took to it right away and was hooked. I make it a point now to take at least two ski trips each winter. In college I used to ditch classes for a week just so I could go ski. Luckily where I work I can just take a week of unpaid leave if I want to and go ski.
Back to the main page