Meme post two

[blamebrampton]

elanna9 tagged me for the seven quirky facts meme. I am desperate to procrastinate, and therefore very grateful.

1. I am an excellent swimmer. This never ceases to amaze Australians.
2. I was raised by hippie lawyers and lesbians. In terms of reading and arguing, this was the childhood from heaven. In terms of grooming and girliness, it was akin to being raised by wolves.
3. I have broken lots of bones, mostly thanks to cars, which are attracted to me.
4. I do not drive. Given 3, I see no reason to tempt fate. Also, I like walking a great deal, and usually have an interesting time on public transport. For this reason, I tend to live in cities with decent public transport. (And my next move will be to a city with good cycleways!)
5. I have very little memory of 1994 and the first half of 1995 due to my most exciting car/body interaction. I am also very vague on a lot of other events and some nouns for the same reason. It's all still in my head, it's just hideously disordered. I make jokes about being forgetful, but the truth is I will either remember something very well, or not at all.
6. I have never, ever wanted to be married. When the other little girls were playing Bride, I was playing War or Astronaut, and encouraging them to join in. That said, my current relationship is coming up on its 13th anniversary and I think I'll keep him.
7. When I was five, I read King Lear, saw it played on stage, and saw Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera at the cinema. During this period I remember staying awake at night horrified at the realisation that there was nothing. NOTHING.  That I would die and be gone and that the world was wholly unfair, and that even if Gonerils died, so did Cordelias and nothing I did could change that. To allow me to get to sleep, I would lie there and chant "Fairies! Think of the fairies!!" This went on until I was about ... oh ... 22 or so.

Comments

Part three

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

There are several morals to this story. Firstly, never underestimate the stupidity of drivers, it surpasses anything you can imagine.

Secondly, if you wish to escape hospital early, live with a house full of medical students and nurses. They will use you as an example in their classes, but they will also be very kind and not fuss if you need a hand with bathing.

Thirdly, never cycle in Sydney, you will die.

Fourthly, disaster can be good. I met J two months later and decided that he was The One, a decision I would never have made if I was still in flightly "right, had enough, back to Blighty" mode. I was right, he was. Being ugly also taught me to care less about looks and pay more attention to people themselves. Although I was only temporarily ugly, I remember the looking away of many, and the kindness of a little girl at the pet shop who picked up a rabbit from the petting pen and held it up for me, saying "Would you like to pat the bunny? It always makes me feel better when I am sad." She's a bit of a personal hero of mine.

Fifthly, it's not all nothing. It's the people we meet and relate to and how we can all be there for each other, and remembering to be thankful when others are there for us.

Oh, and if you must go to a party the day after escaping hospital, don't wear high heels. I ached for weeks after that.

Re: Part three

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

BB, thanks so much for your lengthy and extremely comprehensive comment! That accident sounds truly harrowing, and I am so glad you survived in one piece. It must have taken a really long time to fully heal.

It is true that people will treat you differently based on appearance, and I only notice that more as I age. In college, my husband spent several months in a wheelchair after surgery, and he said people were very condescending and treated him like a child because he was "handicapped."

Fifthly, it's not all nothing. It's the people we meet and relate to and how we can all be there for each other, and remembering to be thankful when others are there for us.

I agree wholeheartedly.