My best friend and I created many great memories through 40 plus years knowing each other. I miss her. How we always wished we had more time to share together despite the long distance between Arizona and New York! If she were alive, I would have phoned her today and shared info about my recent van leak, the beauty of horses in Kentucky, my latest fall resulting in concussion #2 in my lifetime, and an estimated arrival date to visit her as I travel from west to east. But no, she is not here and it continues to make me sad; life for the rest of us must go on.

Instead I am recalling my first concussion and one she knew about. She was in her second year of law school. We lived in apartments near each other. I had been swimming at a local gym. When lap lanes were busy we were to “circle swim” within the lanes. I was swimming solo in the lane, but swam to the right in case someone or two joined the lane. Unfortunately, and in lane 1 directly below the lifeguard’s feet, another swimmer swam right into the top of my head! I got myself out of the pool, reported the accident on my way out and discovered no one else saw anything. Unreal!

I went to my best friend’s apartment concerned about my head, the incompetence of the lifeguard and the fact the guy who was easily twice my size never stopped! She got ice for my head and we read about first aid for concussions. With her encouragement, I called my boss saying I would probably be late to work the next morning due to a stop at a medical facility while on my way to my school, an hour away. I stayed at my friend’s apartment for a few hours. Despite being welcomed to stay overnight there, I thought it best to get myself organized at my own apartment.

This post is not really about my first concussion. It’s about the memory of my best friend caring about me that evening. That’s the person she always was. So many great memories of this caring person. Fortunately she was in my life for many years. I have missed her so much! This has been a tough year!