(Standard disclaimer apply, and remember folks, this is based on a true
story. Thanks to all who have been reading and reviewing!)
Dec 24th
After taking my place next to Admiral Chegwidden, I could hear him going on about the adversities I overcame while going through physical therapy, but I could feel the eyes of all my friends looking at me. I stood there a minute doubting if what I did, by not telling them was a good idea or not.
"So I think it's time we give we pin the wings back on our aviator. Colonel Mackenzie, front and center," he said holding out the blue case for her.
She stood in front of me, her eyes wet with tears. I mentally kicked myself, for not telling her.
"Gently marine," I mutter, bring a small smile to her lips.
As the audience cheered, and everyone came over to congratulate me, I saw Sturgis out of the corner of my eye walking off of the stage. I guess the Admiral must have seen it to, because he nodded to me.
I excused myself from the group, and headed for my car. It was time to put plan B into action.
I grabbed my duffle bag out of my car, and quickly changed into a pair of sweats in the men's room, and then headed after Sturgis. I had a pretty good idea where I could find him.
The drive down to the indoor courts was a short one, and I easily spotted Sturgis's car. I grabbed the basket ball from the back seat and quickly made my way inside. Damn it was cold out.
He was sitting on the bleachers with his head in his hands. I started bouncing the ball, shaking him out of his reverie.
"You know Sturgis, you still owe me a game," I said casually passing him the ball.
"Harm, I-" he started to say, but shook his head, and dropped the ball.
Hmm. This was going to be harder then I thought.
"Talk to me man," I said sitting down next to him.
"I don't know what to say Harm," he said quietly. He sprang up off of the bench, and threw the fallen ball against the far wall.
"I mean, one minute we are kidding around after work, the next minute I shove you into the pole, and you can't walk, and now you are parading around the ball like you never even left! Tell me Harm! Tell me how in the hell that happened! I heard what the doctors said; they said you would never walk again!"
"I don't know what happened to me Sturgis," I say getting up to stand next to him. "One minute, like you said, I couldn't walk, but by some damn miracle now I can."
Knowing that he wasn't paying attention, I grabbed him by the neck bring his face closer to mine, and spoke quietly but firmly.
"It wasn't your fault Sturgis, I was just an accident. Accidents happen."
"But damn it Harm, you wouldn't have gotten hurt if it wasn't for me!" He said and started to shake.
I drew him closer to me, and we stood like that for awhile, while he sobbed on my shoulder. It was awkward, I'll admit, but for him it was long overdue.
Once he finished, he gave a small chuckle and wiped at his face.
"Are you ready to play man, or are you just going to chicken out again?" I said throwing him the ball.
"New game?"
"You bet, I'm gonna whip your six this time."
He laughed, and checked the ball.
Looking over my shoulder I noticed we had a small crowd coming in. The Admiral, Mac, Bud, Harriet, Tiner, and Coates had come in and sit on the bleachers still in their dress uniforms. Sturgis had taken his jacket off, and put it over on the bench. Now we were ready to play.
Jan 1st-
It's funny how your life can change in a instant, one minute I was in a wheelchair, the next I was back to working at JAG. For a little welcome back present, the Admiral pulled a few strings and got me an afternoon in an F-14. I couldn't have been happier. I started off slow getting back into the office, not quite ready yet to get back in the swing of things.
Looking back, it's been quite a year. I'm now a firm believer that there are some things that happen that you just can't control, so you just got to roll with the punches I guess.
And it has made me see that chances get lost when you put them off for to long, so that is my new year's resolution for this year, to not put things off any more. And just be grateful for what I have, including Mac.
I set my battered journal down, roll over and stroke Mac's face. She smiles in her sleep, and snuggles closer to me. In a way I kind of owe Sturgis. If it hadn't had been for that accident, I might not be at this point in my life.
It's funny what Miracles and Hardships life can bring.
END
(Please review!)
Dec 24th
After taking my place next to Admiral Chegwidden, I could hear him going on about the adversities I overcame while going through physical therapy, but I could feel the eyes of all my friends looking at me. I stood there a minute doubting if what I did, by not telling them was a good idea or not.
"So I think it's time we give we pin the wings back on our aviator. Colonel Mackenzie, front and center," he said holding out the blue case for her.
She stood in front of me, her eyes wet with tears. I mentally kicked myself, for not telling her.
"Gently marine," I mutter, bring a small smile to her lips.
As the audience cheered, and everyone came over to congratulate me, I saw Sturgis out of the corner of my eye walking off of the stage. I guess the Admiral must have seen it to, because he nodded to me.
I excused myself from the group, and headed for my car. It was time to put plan B into action.
I grabbed my duffle bag out of my car, and quickly changed into a pair of sweats in the men's room, and then headed after Sturgis. I had a pretty good idea where I could find him.
The drive down to the indoor courts was a short one, and I easily spotted Sturgis's car. I grabbed the basket ball from the back seat and quickly made my way inside. Damn it was cold out.
He was sitting on the bleachers with his head in his hands. I started bouncing the ball, shaking him out of his reverie.
"You know Sturgis, you still owe me a game," I said casually passing him the ball.
"Harm, I-" he started to say, but shook his head, and dropped the ball.
Hmm. This was going to be harder then I thought.
"Talk to me man," I said sitting down next to him.
"I don't know what to say Harm," he said quietly. He sprang up off of the bench, and threw the fallen ball against the far wall.
"I mean, one minute we are kidding around after work, the next minute I shove you into the pole, and you can't walk, and now you are parading around the ball like you never even left! Tell me Harm! Tell me how in the hell that happened! I heard what the doctors said; they said you would never walk again!"
"I don't know what happened to me Sturgis," I say getting up to stand next to him. "One minute, like you said, I couldn't walk, but by some damn miracle now I can."
Knowing that he wasn't paying attention, I grabbed him by the neck bring his face closer to mine, and spoke quietly but firmly.
"It wasn't your fault Sturgis, I was just an accident. Accidents happen."
"But damn it Harm, you wouldn't have gotten hurt if it wasn't for me!" He said and started to shake.
I drew him closer to me, and we stood like that for awhile, while he sobbed on my shoulder. It was awkward, I'll admit, but for him it was long overdue.
Once he finished, he gave a small chuckle and wiped at his face.
"Are you ready to play man, or are you just going to chicken out again?" I said throwing him the ball.
"New game?"
"You bet, I'm gonna whip your six this time."
He laughed, and checked the ball.
Looking over my shoulder I noticed we had a small crowd coming in. The Admiral, Mac, Bud, Harriet, Tiner, and Coates had come in and sit on the bleachers still in their dress uniforms. Sturgis had taken his jacket off, and put it over on the bench. Now we were ready to play.
Jan 1st-
It's funny how your life can change in a instant, one minute I was in a wheelchair, the next I was back to working at JAG. For a little welcome back present, the Admiral pulled a few strings and got me an afternoon in an F-14. I couldn't have been happier. I started off slow getting back into the office, not quite ready yet to get back in the swing of things.
Looking back, it's been quite a year. I'm now a firm believer that there are some things that happen that you just can't control, so you just got to roll with the punches I guess.
And it has made me see that chances get lost when you put them off for to long, so that is my new year's resolution for this year, to not put things off any more. And just be grateful for what I have, including Mac.
I set my battered journal down, roll over and stroke Mac's face. She smiles in her sleep, and snuggles closer to me. In a way I kind of owe Sturgis. If it hadn't had been for that accident, I might not be at this point in my life.
It's funny what Miracles and Hardships life can bring.
END
(Please review!)