A fresh start
It’s been 18 months since my fall and resulting brain injury. I’m now past the period of time that my neurologist advised me not to make any big life changes. I took the time I needed to process what happened. I’m finally feeling like myself again. And I’m ready to let go of the heaviness of the experience and move on.
A change of scenery
During my Surprise Sabbatical, my medical leave of absence from work, I spent a lot of time at home unable to do much physically or cognitively. This limitation gave me a chance to consider what I liked about my life and what I wanted to be different. Moving was at the top of my list!
I had lived in the same apartment for five years. The building had dozens of water leaks, including an unexpected water feature in my bedroom closet that forced me to move out for a couple months last fall. My unit didn’t get much direct sunlight. The dimness was a relief when the concussion gave me terrible sensitivity to light, but after a while, I began to feel like I was trapped inside a dark, damp cave.
With my lease expiration date approaching, I finally made the call to move. It took only three days from when I made this decision to when I found and was approved for my new apartment. I guess after being unable to do so much for so long, I was in full-on GSD (get shiitake done) mode.
Moving turned out to be more of an adventure than I had anticipated. The end of my lease coincided with a major construction project on the arterial right outside my building. The street was completely torn-up with a huge ditch separating the roadway and my building. The pups were skeptical about the logistics, but I knew we’d figure it out.
Getting in and out of my old building took extra time and coordination. But thanks to accommodating construction workers and the help of some friends, I made it into my new place. And in the process, I discovered I can maneuver a U-Haul moving truck like a pro! (That was actually a total surprise since I started out completely afraid of operating even a modest-sized car as a teenager.)
A new beginning
The pups and I are more or less settled into our new apartment now. I’m enjoying the process of unpacking and setting up our home, carving out a place for each item. In doing so, I’m creating a new space for myself and the next chapter of my life.
I’m relieved that Peanut (pictured here) and Pinto Bean love our new place as much as I do!