Caleb is gaining ground and is experiencing some freedom. Today is his second time out with just the boys and no mom running around watching him like a hawk. Where does one go on Cape Cod on a blistery cold day to have fun? The bowling alley! He loves it and I love it for him. He not only bowls a pretty consistent 72 average, but he is in charge of the score card and does his math with precision. Watching from behind as he and Max walk out the door.... well it looks as natural as could be.
In my heart I know he is going to be just fine...my mind plays tricks on me, but my heart stays the course.
I have never been the kind of woman who cries easily...I can easily count the times over the past few years that tears were shed- but last night the dam broke free and the deluge of hurt was let loose. I no longer love innocently but instead with a fierce arc of desire that circles around all of my children. This torrent of tears was a sign of letting go and I knew immediately that I was finally beginning to trust that Caleb is fine. The even better news is that I think I lost three pounds from that!
I am so proud of my family-as I observe I see that each of us has decided in our own way that we will not let Caleb's accident define who we are or who we will be. We bravely put smiles on our faces and go about our day , and take pleasure from the little ordinary things we do. Life does not stop for us while we are grieving and so we must not stop for it .
I have been openly observing my demonds as well and I want to take the time to suggest to you that simply by wishing to forgive with sincerity; the process begins. I have been aware that my thinking has begun to shift and I am beginning to see that all those years that I was left alone to raise three boys has served me well and has given me the necessary strength that I need to survive this situation. I am beginning to see that Jan must have felt that I was so capable, and in doing so he has brought it about. I am beginning to thank instead of blame.
I have a long way to go and so many more musty skeletons still reside, but I am determined to see things more clearly in this lifetime and not wait around to see if I can re-do in the next. Caleb could not have been more instramental in bringing about the change that he has, and I bless him for that.
I also thank my lucky stars that each time I sign off from this computer I choose , just like Caleb did, to hit the sleep button instead of the quit!
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On the fourth of July, 2007 Caleb Potter was involved in a skateboarding accident.
He suffered serious injuries and continues to need all of our positive thoughts and prayers.
This blog is to serve as a space for updates on Caleb's journey of recovery.
He suffered serious injuries and continues to need all of our positive thoughts and prayers.
This blog is to serve as a space for updates on Caleb's journey of recovery.
Adding Comments
Please feel free to add your comments to the blog. All you have to do is click on the number of comments at the bottom of one of the postings. Then write your comment in the box provided on the right side of the screen. Thank you to all of you who have been commenting so far; we're creating quite the community on here! Be well...
A BIG Thank You
In this season of giving thanks and celebrating family togetherness, I wish to extend a warm thank you to everyone who has been involved in a myriad of ways with my son, Caleb Potter, and his recovery. On July 4, he was involved in a skateboarding accident in our little hometown of Wellfleet on Cape Cod, that caused him serious injuries. He came home from Spaulding Rehab in Boston just before Thanksgiving. Through the blog we started:
http://calebpotter.blogspot.com/
the Wellfleet community of support stretched far and wide across the country, and in fact, throughout parts of the world, with many people offering prayers and words of wisdom. We could not have come so far without this legion of support from all of you, in Wellfleet and beyond. We are sincerely grateful.
Sharyn L. Lindsay and family
http://calebpotter.blogspot
the Wellfleet community of support stretched far and wide across the country, and in fact, throughout parts of the world, with many people offering prayers and words of wisdom. We could not have come so far without this legion of support from all of you, in Wellfleet and beyond. We are sincerely grateful.
Sharyn L. Lindsay and family
DONATIONS
THE CALEB POTTER
BENEFIT FUND
Donations may be made in person at any branch of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank or mailed to the bank at P.O. Box 697, Wellfleet, MA 02667.
Thank you SO MUCH
for your contributions.
With love,
from all of Caleb's friends and family
BENEFIT FUND
Donations may be made in person at any branch of Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank or mailed to the bank at P.O. Box 697, Wellfleet, MA 02667.
Thank you SO MUCH
for your contributions.
With love,
from all of Caleb's friends and family
Official Information
If you have questions about calebpotter.blogspot.com,
email Sky at:
novembersky.freysscole@gmail.com
email Sky at:
novembersky.freysscole@gmail.com
For Sending Cards etc.
Caleb Potter
c/o Sharyn Lindsay
45 Sapokonish Way
Wellfleet, MA
02667
(please be respectful)
c/o Sharyn Lindsay
45 Sapokonish Way
Wellfleet, MA
02667
(please be respectful)
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25 comments:
You are a wonder and a blessing and I am so very thrilled that you and your family have touched my life, and the lives of my children.
Words fail me - "Thank you" will have to suffice.
With salty tears and wishful thinking and fervent hope for all things wondrous..
And the Most Love,
Susan
it is said....
"everything in life is either a blessing, or a blessing in disguise."
I may have posted it before but it bears repeating..
love, Maryann Stow
and.....sri sri ravi shankar passed this one on...."we humans...are incapable of being grateful and grumbling in the same moment....and so ....we have "choices to make"..... each and every moment....!(I know THAT"S no news...but/and we can let our breath be the reminder....)
******************************
twas great to see 'the boys' ..."out and about" on Saturday....morning....!!!"truckin'"
Wellfleet seems more normal for all of it!!!! Thank you, sharyn....stay warm....light!ly....ch/dad
Sharyn--how emotionally human and healthy you sound....giving yourself and Caleb freedom to bawl or to go on a regular outing, you have both felt a new independence. I did not personally "grow up" till my own personal marital nightmare...never even drove when married more than 20 miles by myself and never paid attention to directions. Once on my own with my children, I went in the best direction in many ways and pretty soon I was driving more than 2 thousand miles by myself...Sometimes, total angst and despair leads to the most uplifting and freeing experience ever, but not without heartwrenching pain...My children were the catalysts for my growth and I think that you are witnessing the same thing. You are maybe finding the Sharyn that was always there...it just needed to discovery part....
what a pefect blog sharyn..love it.
....i was able to spend some quiet time with caleb today and it was so precious. he is so special to so many people and to me as well, but there is nothing better then lying down next to him and watching him sleep or just staring into his big blue eye!! He whispers in my ear like he used to, and it almost brings tears to my eyes...but instead, it just brings this huge smile. Shayrn is soo right, our caleb is coming back more and more and it is so beautiful to watch. Thank u for all the prayers everyone!! love u all
-jennie
Please write a book!
Sharyn,
I can feel the steam coming out of the tea pot in your words...Better out than in is the often used phrase. You have been to Hell and back...You continue to amaze me as long and as well as I know you! Yesterday is gone, today is here and tommorow never comes...Live for today and don't ever quit!
Kevin
"...my mind plays tricks on me, but my heart stays the course."
So true, so beautiful...Thank you Sharyn for the wisdom you share!
thank you again sharyn, for your words of wisdom and sharing what you are going thru with all of us.
so glad to hear that caleb is well enough to get out 'alone' and enjoy some fun like he used to.
i am glad for your healing that you are going thru in this experience. it has helped so many of us to heal as well.
prayers to you and yours today, as always
amy in ct
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a GREAT post and heart warming vision! Maybe you can start on the book we are all waiting to read???????
As steady as the tides, as consistent as the waves, shifting like the dunes, moving, realigning, changing perspective, allowing to be changed but never really surrendering.
The deepness of your journey moves me. Not defined by this accident but rather defining the accident and placing it in perspective and using a life full of lessons to do so. I hear this in your words Sharyn, in the descriptions of Caleb and Max and Kai, I hear them in Jennie's comments. I can only think that the great spirit is warmly smiling and thinking, ah ha.....
Thank you again for sharing your journey, for illuminating this path.
Sending thoughts of warmth to you all and wishes for more stikes and spares for Caleb.
Sharyn-Writing a book would be a great idea, but have you ever thought about television? You could be the next Oprah! Live from The Flying Fish Cafe!
Letting go must be so difficult; but you are doing it, with each success one builds more confidence, such a good life lesson. That is the value in this journey we are all on; to stop and appreciate what we have, and to sit back and reflect on our experiences, and to be able to identify the lessons and internalize the learning. If one is lucky it can be done the first time, but being human, sometimes we need to be presented with a lesson over and over again.
Caleb's progress is so encouraging, we all probably did not know what to expect, which is good as it means the sky is the limit.
this accident will define Caleb or your family, you will always be the beautiful, funny lady with the yellow hair(!) and they will always be the Potter Boys! The way you have handled this whole situation has helped "define" your character. It has brought out the true you, the guru of Sharyn, who is touching so many out there in cyberspace.
Be well, peace, love,
Claus
You freekin rock Mumsie!
I think it is really rewarding for all of you to let Caleb have some freedom, it's like trying to cage a hummingbird keeping him in, but you were good to be so watchful, and concerned.. he is your boy after all!
You have been just what you are, an awesome mother.. one to nurture, assist, & guard/guide your little one when he has been in a delicate state. I smile BIG knowing he is out and about, and there is a bit of normalcy embracing your lives once again!!
Take special care, and know we all luv ya!
xoxo.. big luv always.. Clance
Sharyn, I truly admire your courage. I admit that I am terrible at letting go. I dreaded the day my girls learned to drive a car, and I am still happy that they both live in cities where they don't need cars. I can only begin to imagine your fear and anxiety watching Caleb go out alone or bowling or the like. Good for you that you are wise enough and strong enough to let him go. I truly wish I had that strength.
Amy from western MA
Sharyn....I second the motion for you to write a book. Please.
Peggy from Western Ma
Freedom,tears,smiles, pride, appreciation, courage, love, strength,forgiveness,grace, forgiven, gratitude, enlightenment....freedom.
As always with hope,
peg from PA
Sharyn,
What a literary poet you are!! I can't wait for our journey to arrive at this point that you have with Caleb! Court is doing very well but far from an outing alone. That time will surely come and I am thrilled that Caleb is enjoying his re-found "freedom" so to speak. I cannot imagine that feeling and anxiously await it! Take care my friend, you are always in my thoughts and prayers!
Julie/Court's Mom
Hi Sharyn,
Lucky stars and counting blessings ...I'm feeling so happy for you and your family and how well Caleb is healing. Gratitude is the healthiest attitude, as people have said here before. You've helped me to feel a part of something bigger than my own small circle. You've inspired me to try being friendlier to visitors, and it's much more fun than being grumpy. And your musings on forgiveness have really hit a chord here. Although I've chosen forgiveness, I have wondered whether I'm setting a good example for our kids....hopefully forgiveness and being true to oneself aren't mutually exclusive.
If you can do it, I can try. Thanks
for the reminders of what blessings our families are.
In peace and gratitude,
Janet
QUOTE "I truly wish I had that strength."
You do....it is just waiting to be released.
God Bless you Sharyn Potter - what an outlook you have. I'm so proud of you!!! You really are a uniquely strong and deep-minded (is that a word?) person and we can all learn much from you. I have to believe that all those tears were most definitely cathartic is some manner. You and your boys sound to be doing just what you're meant to be - keep it up - it's working and you (along with Caleb, God knows) are most instrumental in that!
All love, Mom in CT
Sharyn,
Great news....what a sense of pride this must give to Caleb and you. Becoming independent again has to be such a beautiful feeling for Caleb.Baby steps is what it takes, and He will get there !!!!
What an amazing journey you have been on. Thank you so much for letting all of us be a part of it. As always we will all be standing right beside your family in thoughts and prayer.
forgiveness....ahhh...there's that word again, over and over. seems like we all need lessons in that. what an amazingly deep journey you are on...one that you never signed up for, and one that you are compelled to share, because it brings us all so close together. you are a gift.
What a moving wonderful post! It strikes me that you are reliving the letting go you have to learn to do when your children are so little. Letting them get on that bus for school the first time, letting them ride their bikes down the street alone for the first time, going to a friend's house without you, going out in the car alone, on a date, off to college (although mine are much too young to have experienced anything but the first few yet!). It seems that so much of parenting is preparing them to move away from us and we need to trust that we have equipt them to do this with safety and kindness and love. I think you are doing this all over again with Caleb and it seems quite clear you have equipt him very well indeed!
Laura in CT
AMEN Sharyn, your words fill my heart and soul, and bring further healing to the work I have done regarding my "differently configured" family, as oppose to "dismantled" family....you see, the thought process does shift. THANK GOD!
I am so grateful for you, Caleb your Dear Family,your honesty, that somehow allows us to take a deeper look at ourselves, without fear. Thank you my Dear....
We are with you every step of the way....whichever "way" goes.
Caleb, you charmer, you. Letting your brothers win! That's just like you....endearing big brother that you are.
Be well,
In Love and Gratitude,
Melinda
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