I had a complete meltdown tonight.

[Muenkel 0]

There's a man down the road from me who does not know how to read. Whenever he buys a new VCR he has always called me to help him install it, because he doesn't know how. He bought a new one today and he tried to install and program it himself with no success. I went down to his home to install it for him. This was always a task that would take me at most 10 minutes to do. Tonight, I couldn't do it due to my brain injury. I worked on it for close to an hour and could not figure out the cables at all. I was completely confused. When I looked at the owner's manual, everything I read made no sense. He does know of my injury. After an hour, he was kind enough to tell me that it was enough for the night. Tomorrow, he is going to call the 800 number for assistance. When I arrived home, I balled my eyes out...I know, I'm a wuss.

It is so frustrating to know that what used to be a simple task for me is now a huge struggle.

I felt horrible leaving his house with the VCR not hooked up.

I can't believe I was a person who had 580 employees reporting to me at one time.

I guess my point is, never take for granted the skills and talents you have. They can be gone in a moment.

As of right now, I'm fine. I just needed to get it out of my system.

Thanks for listening.

Blue skies peeps,

_________________________________________
Chris

[lifewithoutanet 0]

Hey, man. Sorry to hear about all that. But think about this... You are aware of your condition, though...and you set out to take on the task anyway. That's an admirable fighting spirit, man. Hold onto it.
Blue skies to you, as well.
-C.

[hooked 0]

How totally frustrating for you Chris. Just know that if you have to vent, this is a good place to do it or you know you can send me a PM to vent, I'm a good listener. Things will get better.....with all the vibes here, how can they not get better?
Hugs,
Jan

--------------------------------------
Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings.

[freeflir29 0]

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never take for granted the skills and talents you have. They can be gone in a moment.

Saturday night reminded me of all that is precious in life. Hey.........you're still here to make new memories. It ain't all bad.

[Tonto 1]

Hey Chris,

If it makes you feel any better - I've never been able to hook up a VCR! The manuals have NEVER made sense. You've just had a dose of kryptonite - and are feeling human like the rest of us!

Stay cool,

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

You are aware of your condition, though...and you set out to take on the task anyway.

From my past experience with a severe concussion and post-concussion sybdrome, the worst feeling int he world is knowing that your brain doesn't work right.

Chris, I spent months dealing with it, and failed out of school following the concussion. Slurry speech, blurry reading, lack of coordination, imbalance, the works. It took a while.

Nothing is ever as bad as knowing your brain doesn't work right - knowing you cannot trust yourself. Slowly, very slowly, your trust can be rebuilt. Your abilities can be regained. You may never be what you once were, but you may find talents that you never knew you had before.

In ten years, you will look to this time as the time when you found out who you were. It's been 12 years for me, and I think you've got far more mettle than I.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[peregrinerose 0]

Chris, that does suck, but you are also not alone with it. I was thrown from a horse and trampled several years ago (the day after princess Diana died). I can't do dates any more, always catching myself writing the wrong month, I can't remember time periods as well, like what year my brain injury was. 1998 or 99? I used to be able to bump off a 350+ page novel in an hour and a half and retain it, now I can barely read. As a doctor, it takes forever and a half to get through the journals and keep everything in my head, but I have to do it to be on top of my game. I never could learn by auditory means, so that's out too. Ever since then I've had seizures, controlled by meds now, but I hate taking meds. I have a lot of trouble keeping names straight, often have a hell of a time with my husband's name, every time I want to call him, on the tip of my tongue is my ex's name. Not that I give a damn about my ex or even think of him any more, it was just who I was with at the time of the head injury.

Over time, I've learned tricks to compensate for my crappy memory. I'm the queen of post-its, I have a notebook for the express purpose of reminding myself of everything I know I'll forget, and for the most part it works. It scares me how I feel so different now, my whole thinking is different. I can't really put my finger on how, it's just off a little bit.

But good came out of it, I look at life completely differently now, and really enjoy every moment. I'm far happier because I appreciate all that I do have much more. Hell, it even made me try skydiving because I don't want to get old and say 'I wish...' on all the things I'd dreamed of doing.

Hang in there, it does get better, the brain's an amazing organ. If you ever need to chat with someone feel free to contact me. I'm not scary. Much.

Jen

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[Sebazz1 2]

You know Chris the problem here is that people should be buying DVD players and not VCR's... sheesh get with the times Hey buddy just kiddin... trying to cheer you up
Keep you head up high and just keep plowing along.

[freeflir29 0]

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I was thrown from a horse and trampled several years ago

My parents have been raising horses since before I was born. 10 or 12 years ago my Mom had one rear and flip over on her. Basically crushed her. About 2 years ago my brother was laid up for 2 weeks after falling off on a cross country course. I keep telling those people they should take up something SAFE like skydiving.

[peregrinerose 0]

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My parents have been raising horses since before I was born. 10 or 12 years ago my Mom had one rear and flip over on her. Basically crushed her. About 2 years ago my brother was laid up for 2 weeks after falling off on a cross country course. I keep telling those people they should take up something SAFE like skydiving.

This is really true, horses are far less predictable and less safe than skydiving. That's why when my husband was jumping (before I started much more recently), I was only a little concerned knowing that my habits were riskier than his. No way I'd ever quit riding though!

Jen

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[freeflir29 0]

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This is really true, horses are far less predictable and less safe than skydiving.

My mom was TOTALLY against me getting a motorcycle when I was a kid. I couldn't see the logic though. A motorcycle goes where I tell it to when I tell it to. When riding a horse you must come to an agreement with an animal that outweighs you buy more than 1000lbs. I can still remember flying head first into a tree because we failed to come to an agreement once. Horses are dangerous!!!!

[Jayruss 0]

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I balled my eyes out...I know, I'm a wuss.

Chris you're no wuss, we all cry every once in a while, no real guy on here can't argue with that.

The issue isn't crying, its learning to get over it. When I've got that figured out I'll let you know first.

Jason

__________________________________________________
"Beware how you take away hope from another human being."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

[CrazyIvan 0]

Dude, don't feel bad, and let me tell you a little story.

I used to work for Sony as tech-support/customer service, and one of the rules was "finish the call in about 10-15 minutes", so, if you didn't get the job done TELL THE CUSTOMER TO CALL BACK, and in situations like the one you described, the solution would be: "Contact someone local or call a relative/friend to help you out and follow the instructions on the manual" . (I quit that job after 2 months)

If you want to feel better, ask the man what they told him to do, I'll bet you is the "solution" I just mentioned

VIBES VIBES VIBES AND MORE VIBES BROTHER!!!!

__________________________________________
Blue Skies and May the Force be with you.

[Muenkel 0]

Actually, he never had to call the 800 number because my brother-in-law took care of it for him.
Thanks peeps.

_________________________________________
Chris