Enough serious stuff. I want to write something light and fun. So here it goes...
Having a brain injury comes with many challenges for the survivor and the people around them. I've decided no matter how bad a situation may appear, I will laugh instead of cry. Or cry first then laugh about it. Maybe some readers may not think this article is funny but my brain-injured peers will be able to relate.
Shortly after I was injured, I attempted to go grocery shopping. I was on sensory overload with the lights and noise in the grocery store. I started feeling nauseous and started heaving. Loudly.
I thought I was going to throw up in the aisle. I was draped over my shopping cart like I was drunk and slowly made my way over to customer service. I gave them my shopping list and mumbled "I can't do this, I'm going to puke."
An earth angel did my shopping and had my groceries delivered.
One day, I went to the Brain Injured Group (BIG) to talk with my case manager. After my appointment, I left the office and realized I couldn't remember where I parked my truck. I thought I parked it on George Street... or was it Fourth Avenue? Third?
So there I was running around downtown like a chicken with my head cut off. I ran back to BIG and made this huge loud announcement in the reception area "I can't find my truck! I think it's been stolen!"
I was panicking so bad I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I left BIG and ran down George Street, Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue again and sputtering to people I knew walking by "Oh my God, I can't find my truck!"
I must have presented like a crazed lunatic.
I was running down the alley behind BIG ready to give up and report my truck missing to the RCMP. And there it was!
My truck was parked in one of BIG's member parking stalls. I went screaming into the office: "I found my truck! I found my truck!"
When people found out where it was, everyone started laughing. Then I started laughing. Good thing I didn't call the RCMP!
In my frenzied state, they might have thought I was on drugs or needed to go the hospital to get my head checked. I went home and told my husband what had happened. Bob didn't think it was funny at all.
For about a three-month period, I would wake up in the morning to find delicious food cooking in the crock pot. I didn't remember preparing food the night before. Bob started joking around that we had a kitchen fairy come to help us out. I would almost be afraid to walk into the kitchen in the mornings because not remembering scared the wits out of me.
If it was me or a kitchen fairy, the meals were outstanding. The stove and oven were never used, thank goodness. I woke up one morning to the best seafood chowder I've ever had. Too bad the kitchen fairy didn't leave me a recipe. We haven't had a visit from the kitchen fairy in months and we miss her.
There have been so many times that Bob and I have been frustrated with each other because of my poor short-term memory. According to him, we have made plans to do certain tasks, purchase an item or two for the house, go for dinner with friends (pre-pandemic lockdown) and then I have no clue what Bob is talking about.
"You never told me about this!" I would say and he would say "Yes I did!" and back and forth we carry on. This unfortunately is a daily occurrence.
But at the same time, it's hilarious.
I've told Bob "You're lying to me. Making stuff up so I think I'm going crazy!"
Bob would reply: "You are crazy!"
And on and on it goes. I think our life should be portrayed on a reality TV show. It would be a hit!
I've come to the place of acceptance that I will not have the normal life I had before. Not that I was all that normal prior to brain injury. I didn't have much of a filter then and now I have none.
Some people think I'm funny, others regard me as rude.
I can't help my new normal.
I am who I am!
