Caleb has never allowed a dull moment in all of my life with him............and so it continues.
He has short term memory loss but not long term --so when he wakes at 3 am and goes off to the bathroom he will suddenly remember, as he walks back out, that he should be headed home instead of staying at moms -- ---
so he saunters out the back door with me a half asleep pace behind. Instead of arguing (which I have now found does not work) I instead choose conjole him into thinking that we should gaze at the stars for awhile before he goes.........and as a consequence......
I am the receiver of such a lovely gift.
Standing barefoot in the middle of the yard in my night slip - it is cold - so cold, but beautiful- so beautiful...
I fight against the urge to drag him back, but now I too am compelled..... and we are star gazing at a time when I would never conceive of doing such a thing. The stars are briliant and blue ...... we are standing inches apart marveling at the wonders of the world when most otheres slumber, and I feel priveledged to be there with him.
We are cold yet happy and alive.. so alive!
It is a moment of clarity and Grace.
We are rounding a corner.. a bit more relaxed, a bit less cautious, a bit more convinced...
We are moving in the direction that we all wish to be headed.... the pilgrimage to mecca ......full of promise.
My friend Timmy told me a story last night which I feel deserves to be repeated.....a local woman who was in awe over all the people who showed up for Caleb this summer .. over and over, night after night at the town center in all kinds of weather, under all kinds of busy circumstances. ... was commenting that if anything should ever happen to her - she was certain only her brother and Timmy would show up in the dark of the night with lighters flickering to light her way.
Tim replied at first - yeah that's true --knowing that most of us feel this way......
and then with further thought he added
oh --------- but Caleb would be there too--- and I know this to be true!.
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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
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c/o Sharyn Lindsay
45 Sapokonish Way
Wellfleet, MA
02667
(please be respectful)
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21 comments:
Sharyn,
Great story! I was outside a friend's house last weekend leaving to go home and hadn't seen such a clear night of stars in the sky! They are so brilliant here with the absence of city lights...May the stars keep shining on you all...
Truer words can't be said by Timmy...
Kevin
These are the days.
A great song sung by Sugarland
About a boy and a girl... Ms. Sharyn and Caleb maybe.
Some of the words:
"We can't forget
these are the days,
don't be afraid,
we can't forget
these are the days."
Enjoy those moments with each other, remember them, treasure them. You're so blessed!
What a great story, Sharyn. Touching and inspirational. It also gives a better sense of how Caleb is healing.
We are headed down to the Cape tomorrow for a one night stay. We just need to see the ocean, breathe the air, maybe even get up at 3 am and watch the stars.
Amy from western MA
sharyn
thank you so much for your story.... i hope the midnight-bathroom-switcharoo does not happen too often for both of your sakes... but what a way to spend a few moments doing something alot of us will never do.
your stories always make me long for the cape, i will be there in just over a month and i just cant wait to smell the air and feel the breeze and see the stars.
the blue sky against the pale sand and blue water and the green scrub oak and pine... what a picture in my mind!
timmy, that is a great story, i hope to meet all of you someday.
although i feel as though i already have :)
thanks so much for sharing EVERYTHING with us.
prayers and peace to you all from
amy in ct
NO OTHER WORD BUT AWESOME
The next time I'm looking at the stars I'll be thinking of you two.
Sharyn,
It's stories like that that have made me take stock of my life over the past year and relish in the fact that I am a mother and I have a beautiful son who wil some day grow up to have the courage and strength that Caleb has. When I was reading about your "Star Gazing" with Caleb...it made me think of all the times that I catch myself just watching Noah sleep, or when he is in his own little world and he dosn't know that I am watching in amazement and just how proud I am to be his mother, a mother. I have been blessed in the fact that I can place myself in someone else's thoughts and see what is being or what has been felt at that time, and thinking of you and Caleb in the yard looking up at the same sky that I do some how comforted me. I guess that's why I love to read so much...I like to be in soft moments as much as I can...even if it is someone elses. Thanks for giving me that...now I know my day will be good!
Love ya,
Christa
Wilmington, NC
Nice story, thanks for sharing……..It is amazing for us who live outside the city lights the intensity and enormity of the night skies. I also find myself sometimes just staring in absolute awe.
Billions of flickering candles in the night. The light of the present of family and friends; the light of the past of our ancestors and family gone; the light that will continue for our children to come, all in silent support and in peace.
Tears in my eyes just like this past Summer. . .you three are blessed with the gift of having each other. Of course included are all the other fab characters in these chapters too!!
xoxox,settie
A gift, your post and your son. I am humbled. Ali manchester Uk
A gift, your post and your son. I am humbled. Ali manchester Uk
Sharyn-
What a wonderful thing...the night, the stars, the cold crisp air. Ever since I was a little girl when we sat at my families dune shack and watched the sky I've always wondered who else was looking at the stars along with me. The sky is such an amazing thing, crazy in it's own way just as the sea is.
P-town Girl
Dear Sharyn:
You are truly blessed with being able to see the wonder that has come from all that you have been through...the other day I was driving and "Let it Be" came on the radio...McCartney and Lennon really have a way with words..."When I find myself in trouble times mother mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, Let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
You are one of the fortunate ones who was been given this gift and being able to experience the wonderful moments of star gazing with your adult son and appreciating life the way it is now and "Letting it Be"....and it is GOOD!!!
Thanks for the great story this morning and a smile goes out to you on this sunny warm(?) friday here in Annapolis.
Lisa :)
I was dreaming of you and caleb standing outside your back door last nite just about the same time that you actually were. I got goosebumps when i read the blog. In my dream i was bringing you a bunch of bannanas, but when i arrived you already had a bunch of bannanas in your hand and caleb stood beside you peeling into his. Funny but true. And also it was nighttime in the dream. Well i'm obviously thinking of you all always. You know you're from cape cod when you're pscyced about it being 50 degrees! Love it! xoxo
Hi Sharyn,
Your post reminded me of this oldy but goody song of Greg's-
Stars
On the road,
Lights of the city behind,
All jagged edges
And moments of fierce design.
Here I go,
Driving from out of a cloud,
Finding a place
Where the silence is not so loud.
Oh,oh, no matter how hard it tries,
Lonely cannot survive,
A night
Full of stars.
It's not right,
Feeling so heartless and cold,
Leaving behind me a past
I could not control.
Still I am,
Lost in a chaos of stars,
Quietly saying it was what it was no more.
Oh,oh, no matter how hard it tries,
Lonely cannot survive,
A night
Full of Stars.
Everyone's always changing
their minds, their minds.
Everyone's always saying
goodbye, goodbye.
Here I go,
Seeking the biggest hello,
Feeling the light of a stranger
I already know.
Oh,oh, no matter how hard it tries,
Lonely cannot survive,
A night
Full of Stars.
Peace-
Audrey
PS- Tomorrw night is the Clothesline Concert, and I will be thinking of Caleb doing his "jiggy" dance from 9 years ago at our very first one. I am hoping that we can bring he and his crew back next year for a 10 year reunion on the stage. How awesome would that be???
Oh Sharyn,
What a beautiful story--the picture of you and Caleb gazing at the night sky brought tears to my eyes. Your love and strength move me deeply, as always.
Pam in VT
Thats sweet, only Caleb would be able to get you outta your Queen like bed to gaze at the beauty of the sacred night.
It will be nice when he is back to snugglin Jennie tho..as she will care for him just as well!
Love you guys.. have a good weekend! Besos! ~Clance
So true... my daughter, a couple of years behind Caleb, said to me when this whole horrible scene happened..: "If this happened to me, there would be noone there for me." Now, I think Caleb would be there.. At the very least, in spirit. Sometimes life's lesson's learned are at the very least, difficult. Life ain't easy..any way we slice it. Just keep holding on to the beauty. Let go of the rest.
What a poignant and lovely post, Sharyn. I will never again gaze at the stars without thinking of you and Caleb.
NY/Wellfleet Mom
I envision that night and hear Caleb's cold breath...the sound of life. What a beautiful moment you shared. What an example of the patience you have. There's something extremely peaceful about star gazing.
I am at peace hearing your story...thank you.
Barbara
Stoneham,MA
Hello Sharyn,
I love this story, too. The sky full of bright stars is one of the nicest things about living way out here. Even nicer when shared with your Caleb, I'm sure. On this nature theme... have you followed the blog connection to Jeff-in the Berkshire's blog? He has beautiful pictures, and more great insights into nature, writing, life, and the spirit of the Berkshires. I highly recommend it.
blessings to all,
janet
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