The morning of Hurricane Helene was not like any other. I woke up early around 7:00 AM, sat down in my recliner by the large dining room window, and watched the storm unfold. The wind was howling, the rain slashing against the window, and the occasional loud pop—probably power lines touching—kept me in a strange half-sleep. I hadn’t gotten the best rest the night before, and the storm outside gave me plenty to reflect on as I dozed in and out.
Once the power went out, I wasn’t too concerned. It rarely goes out here and usually comes back on quickly. Little did I know, this time would be different—just across the street, five power poles were down, taken out by a huge fallen tree. Still, I knew I was safe, and rather than stress, I took it as a sign to dive deeper into study, reading, and self-reflection. It wasn’t like I could be outside playing with crutches anyway! In moments like this, I had to stay in my lane and focus on recovery.
A Long-Awaited Bath—Almost
Since my surgery, I hadn’t been able to take a real bath, but today was finally the day! My incision had healed enough to let me soak in epsom salts. I was so excited. But of course, the storm had other plans. I thought, “Let’s get this bath in before the water heater cools down,” and filled the tub.
But life, as always, had a different plan. I ended up walking outside, talking to the neighbor, then I jumped in my car for a short drive to get gas and check to see if I had power at work, which I did! I may have to relocate my food to the work fridge, I don’t know how on crutches, but I’ll find a way. By the time I finally got into the bath, the water was lukewarm. So much for that beautiful idea! Still, it was a moment to pause, to sit with myself, and to appreciate how far I’ve come in this healing journey. I’ll take that as a win.
Exploring the Devastation with Jennifer
Later in the afternoon, Jennifer and I decided to go for a drive to check out the damage from the hurricane. There was significant destruction on almost every corner—trees down, roads blocked, flooding everywhere. It was something else to see firsthand. We saw the Broad River rushing, Mountain Creek swollen into a lake, and the Green River completely flooded over its bridge. It was both humbling and awe-inspiring.
Reflection on Healing
As the day ended, I reflected on everything—my hip seemed to be stagnating. It felt like my progress had plateaued over the last 10 days, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was pushing too hard. Healing can feel like an internal storm of its own—ebbing and flowing, sometimes moving slowly, other times not at all.
But the adventure with Jennifer reminded me of something important: play is medicine for the soul. Even amidst pain and limitations, it’s vital to find moments of lightness and joy. I wasn’t afraid of what was coming next, but I knew it would take time.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you made it to the end, I would love to hear from you! 😍
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu – May All Beings Be Happy and Free 🙏