By Janice Tindle
I’ve always been a person who likes to have her ducks in
a row. And just like a good mother duck, I was constantly
checking, going back when I needed to, keeping all my little
ducks in line. It was an exhausting job, really; but at the
end of the day, I slept soundly knowing all was well. On
those occasions when things weren’t well, I would always
have a plan on how to make my line straight again. And I
always got my ducks back in a row.
When I suffered a brain injury, it was like someone threw a
giant boulder into my pond. All my ducks scattered. Some
were tossed high up into the sky and some were thrown onto
dry land. Others were slammed against the shoreline and
others still remain unaccounted for.
For the first year, I was frantic—trying desperately to
collect all my ducks, honking and squawking, searching, and
grabbing onto any duck I could find. I couldn’t keep the
ones I found together and some were too far off in the
distance to be reached safely. I hoped they would find their
way back to me on their own and I held onto the three I had.
They were and remain the three closest to me at all
times—Faith, Family and Friend. Faith is a healthy, loving
duck that helps me out when I am low by moving out in front
and taking the lead; and I am only too glad to follow. The
other two, Family and Friend, are scruffy runts, but never
have any trouble keeping up with Faith.
I’m still in the same pond, hoping to one day soon be
reunited with my lost ones. I know when I do, they won’t be
the same as how they would have been had I been taking care
of them the whole time. Oh, they probably won’t look as good
or be able to stay in line as well; but still, they’re mine
and I’ll be glad to have them back. A few, I fear, are gone
for good, and it’s sad to think I’ll never see them again.
But the first three, the ones who are always with me, make
me feel truly safe and warm at night. When I look behind me,
my reflection is still murky; but I can see three is all you
really need.
Janice Tindle, 51, was the passenger sustaining spine and
traumatic brain injury when hit by an underinsured driver in
2010. She is currently in the process of connecting with
Helphopelive.org to create a fundraiser for her ongoing
rehab treatment. Formerly, Janice was an artist, vocalist
and writer.
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