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.

Monday, March 3, 2008

To watch him sleeping, is like catching a glimpse of creation.
It is pure perfection.



My friend Morgan came by to help me with the ever increasing pile of bills that get tossed into the dark recesses of the file cabinet and come back out to glare at me in the middle of the night.
Morgan graduated with Caleb and she was one of the many people who pulled together a very successful fund-raising event this past summer. As I said---these young women just knock me out.

On graduation day Morgan gave Caleb this Dr. Seuss wild looking stuffed creature that had a motion sensor in it. The sound when lightly touched was a fairly loud boing - oing oing oing. Caleb kept the animal for a few days and then gutted it to get to the "boinger" as we called it, knowing that it would be far more useful to him outside rather than in.

I was walking with him one summers day down the busy street of Fleet when a pretty girl approached. When she was almost at Caleb's side , he lightly touched the pocket in his jeans and the boinger went off with Caleb glancing innocently at the girl with that "s--t" eating grin of his face...... She turned bright red with laughter as did we. That is Caleb in a nut shell. He lives to make people laugh.

He is beginning to get that sence of humor back again and can crack up at our jokes- he is silently holding his back for awhile.....just awhile.

All of you were correct---spring is in the air... my flyers went out for my landscaping business which Kai will run this year, the birds are actively searching for nesting materials, the daffodil's little heads are crowning, my fish are thawing in the pond and are swimming about.
Life feels better at a warmer temperature.

As I mentioned..one of Caleb's goals is to walk in the parade this 4th. There will be the usual Yellowbeard accomanied by red beard and grey beard flanking his sides. I am considering a big pot luck on the 6th at the Lindsay/Potter residence so that perhaps some of the cyber family can meet their Fleetian family. ---can anyone make it at that time?
We promise to break out the boinger!

Love, mumsie

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

thank you sharyn
love to hear from you.
not sure if i will be able to be up there in july this year.... and i will miss meeting you all so very much.
will be there in april and hope to see you on the streets of fleet.
take care ... and my prayers to all of you this sunny march day.
thank god for spring!
amy in ct

Anonymous said...

Shary,

I can make any pot luck dinner at your house! ;-))
I'll bring the wine and laughter......

Kevin

Anonymous said...

Is it Shary or Sharyn?????

;-))

Kevin

becky said...

Not sure if you are really serious - but I would LOVE to come with my kids....but, we rented a house in Nagshead that week. BUT, I would LOVE to send something pot luck through my girlfriend Michelle who goes to Wellfleet every summer to visit her family (OOPS - hope that is ok Michelle)..................Becky

Sky said...

Count me in!
BOOOIIIINNGGG!*!*!*!*
love you guys...

Anonymous said...

Ah, Sharyn, it's great to hear your voice, and thanks for sharing that wonderful Caleb story.

If the pot luck is a go, I'll be there!

NY/Wellfleet Mom

Anonymous said...

Sharyn you sound wonderful. It is amazing what the sun can do for us.
It was cold yesterday but my husband and I still sat outside for a little bit to soak up the sun. It made the day more special and our moods a lot brighter.
Thanks for staying with us, you are an inspiration to all.

J

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh spring is definitely in the air here in western NY! My snowdrops are popping their heads up and warm temps today (50's). Thank you all for your inspiring words. Sending along prayers and warm breezes - Judith/mom of 3 sons/Rochester

Anonymous said...

Will be there with bells on (alas I have no boinger) Is clothing optional? Will bring a pie. Love, Susanna

blackbird said...

I'll be in town that day...and I'd be happy to bring something.

Anonymous said...

Hello Sharyn,

It is amazing what a little sunshine can do for the human spirit not to mention new delicate growth pushing and poking thru the soil to feel the sun as well. The load appears to be lightening a wee bit. That is a wonderful thing and making plans for the summer can't be anything less than positive! I send hearty hugs to you all.

My summer vacation plans haven't "gelled" yet however if I am in Fleet the first part of July I shall surly be at the pot luck with bells on. If not in July perhaps in September.We can always have a pot luck!!! And Kevin will always have wine in stock!

Happy Spring!

Penny on St.John

Anonymous said...

I will do anything to be there. Truly.

Anonymous said...

Amazing to hear your voice and sense you are feeling a better.
From the stories on the site, I can imagine Caleb and sense what a wonderful person he was, is and is going to be.
Thinking of you

Ali Manchester UK

Jeff- in the Berkshires said...

Great to hear a spring brightless in your words.

Must say I am a little jealous about seeing daffodil heads. Spring always comes much later in these hills. It is clearly winter but at least the spring spirit is in the air. (he says as he hauls in more pellets for the stove)

We were just talking about the 4th yesterday and beginning to plan around the young'ns schedules. Will try to make it.

Anonymous said...

Just working on summer plans now...if we are up that way during that time period we would love to be included in your "cyber invites"....enjoy the warmth and hint of spring it really does make one smile ah!!!


Lisa in Annapolis

Anonymous said...

I'm gonna be in Bocas del Toro returning on the 6th!! I wanted to see the parade so much. Bummer, I'd REALLY like to meet you and everyone. But maybe when we are in Brewster in August. How kind of you to open up your heart and your home to this cyber crowd. You really are such a big hearted woman, Sharyn!! (you've got me looking for one of those boingers!)

ss Mom

Anonymous said...

Sharyn,
I/we would love to come however, my Dad just passed away last week and the week of the fourth of July is the slated week for the memorial service in Michigan. If for some reason this doesn't happen that week I'll let you know,as I would love to come see you all again. I'll keep you posted.
Much love,
Julie/Court's mom

Anonymous said...

Sharyn,

As I said here in an earlier post - I will be thinking of Caleb marching in the parade on the 4th with tears in my eyes and warmth in my heart. We can't be in Wellfleet until August 9th - but Sharyn,meeting you, for a drink or a quick wave is high on my list of things to do for our 2 weeks in heaven....do you think we can take a raincheck and meet up then? I'll bring the drinks!!
Oh - meeting your boy might be on that list too! (YA THINK???)

Feel good Sharyn.....the gloom is lifting.

Nancy in NY

Anonymous said...

Sharyn, So glad to hear that life is renewing itself in Wellfleet. I am just aching to get down there, though it looks like late April is when we will open our cottage.

We plan on being in Wellfleet for July, so we sure hope to come by and meet you all.

Amy from western MA

Anonymous said...

Good to hear Caleb is up to his regular boinging ways.. what a healthy perv that lad is.. missing you all more and more each day!
Xo..Miss Clance

Anonymous said...

Hi Sharyn!

I was so excited when I read that Caleb wants to walk in the 4th of July parade! I'm going to try to see if I can have off that day so I can come watch! Just catching up on the postings and shedding a tear or two. I hope you are continuing the healing process and the coming Spring is putting a "spring" in your step (pun intended). You are such a beautiful person, inside and out. From my limited experience, I've found that lovely people such as yourself have a hard time realizing just how wonderful they are!!! Thinking of you, Caleb, and the gang. Love reading the updates from everyone!

love
Christine (from Spaulding)

Anonymous said...

O sweet spontaneous
earth how often have
the
doting

fingers of
prurient philosophers pinched
and
poked

thee
,has the naughty thumb
of science prodded
thy

beauty how
often have religions taken
thee upon their scraggy knees
squeezing and

buffeting thee that thou mightest concieve gods
(but
true

to the incomparable
couch of death thy
rhythmic
lover

thou answerest


them only with

spring)



-E.E. CUMMINGS-

Anonymous said...

Sharyn, what great, upbeat, hopeful news! We will do our best to be with you and Caleb and the rest of the tribe on the 4th!!!

Jerry G (and all the G's)

Anonymous said...

I would be there!

aaaaaaaaaand...

I would bring fudge. :)

love,
Mia

Anonymous said...

Sharyn.....I am not sure if we will be there the weekend of the 6th or the week after. If we miss the big celebration hopefully we will be able to meet Caleb as we drive around town.

Peggy from Western MA

Anonymous said...

Sharyn,
What an invite!!...Do you prefer Red or White?? Hope to meet you and the gang that weekend.

Happy Spring! (knock on wood)

Take Care,
Barbara Stoneham,MA

Anonymous said...

Sharyn-
Sounds like sping in the air and peaking out of ground and I can sure hear it in your voice! It was warm here in CT today and I could feel it start to warm my cold winter bones! I don't know if we can come up over the 4th- we are renting for a week in AUg but if we can come I would love to pot luck and meet you all. If not I will have to hope for a chance meeting in Aug and live vicariously through the pictures I'm sure will be posted here!

Laura in CT

Anonymous said...

I'm always anxiously awaiting an update on here and it's always so comforting to hear your words, Sharyn! :) I cannot wait for a potluck this summer and to be back on the Cape. Glad to hear that Caleb is getting his spunk and "boing" back! :)

Sending much joy and love back home to fleet,

ariana*

Mommato2 said...

Happy for you that spring is in the air....send some of that weather up to us in Canada would you?

How amazing will that be for Caleb to walk in the parade?!

susan in portsmouth said...

We may have to choose between seein' all them 'beards marching in the parade and the pot-luck, as houses rent from Saturday to Saturday...but we'll put on our thinking caps, step outside the box for a bit, and see what we can come up with. Please know that there is absolutely nowhere we would rather be on EITHER day!!!

Big Spring-y Boooiiinnnngg-y Love,

Susan and 'unit'

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't miss it for the world..Mari and I will be there with Bells ON...Would you like some authentic Mexican fare?????? Just say the word.

By the way, you can send some of that terrific warmer weather W MA way....lot's of the white stuff to melt, hopefully. I'm sure those 'lil posies are down there somewhere...I will trust you and believe you that they WILL APPEAR.

Much Love this night,

Melinda

Melinda
Looking forward to July....

Anonymous said...

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!

What a warm and welcoming family you are!

Anonymous said...

Sharyn,

Wow. I was away for over a week with no computer or internet access... I also did not read a newspaper as I like to do each morning. I thought to myself, I wonder if anything "important" happened while I was away... I am on CA. time, staying up late, and decided to check in on the blogsite. I scrolled down to where I was last updated, and saw your "Adios" message. Then, I read all of the 87 and counting responses... and the subsequent entries...

What a journey... I do not know how you feel, I try to. I look at my kids and wonder what it would be like... it's difficult...I long for my Dad to speak pre-stroke, my tears well up as I write these words,... but we all have to face losing our parents, but it is another thing when it is your child. Caleb is here, it could be better, but it could also be so much worse. But, you do not need me to tell you this. you know this, you are the one who helps teach other people these lessons.

As many others have added; do what is best for you and your family. To blog, or not to blog? Only you will know. Thanks for all of the sharing. You have touched so many lives, and made so many people examine their own lives.

Caleb sounds like he is doing so well; bowling, dating, multiple therapies - it all sounds good and like it is moving in the right direction.

Warm greetings from snowy Quebec, where we hope the spring flowers will be up by Yellow Beard Parade Day!

Love, Claus, Kirsten, Sophia and Sacha

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you might have quite a houseful. I'm not great around alot of people, so I'll be there in spirit. Looking forward to watching Caleb in the parade, however. My little house is on the route & my front yard will be cheering him on.
Have a great time.
Melinda

Anna Palmer said...

Do you think Kai would come to North Truro to landscape? It would be a great gift to my mother to get her some help this season...
rosenblumpalmer@gmail.com

OH- and thank you for your words...we were at the parade and have been reading here since. I am so glad you stayed on.

Anonymous said...

count me in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sharyn,
The last post was so nice you have a heart of gold. I just wrote you a post in" adios mi amores" instead of this one by mistake because i was going back and forth.

Anonymous said...

As long as the 6th is not a weekday, im in!

Zana

Anonymous said...

Love 2 drop something by and have a drink (there will be booze, right??) Count me in.

Gail said...

Yeah, Sharyn's back. Yeah, Caleb is moving forward. Yeah, spring is here. All is well. Gail

Anonymous said...

Giggling and smiling to myself...the jiggy can't be too far off. We spring ahead this weekend (I think), earlier than most years and boy am I grateful for that.

Keep on keepin' on...

Peace to all tonight-
Audrey

Anonymous said...

The parade isn't over until we see yellowbeard and I'm looking forward to cheering you all on. Attitude is everything and you folks keep showing us how true that is. Thanks- and yes a pot luck would be fun. ann m- let me know if i can be of help- in any way.

rosie said...

Hello all you all... I was in a deep shivasana today and could not stop thinking about Caleb so I mustered up all the energy in the room and for a sold 15 min. sent it his way. I think about him every time a go there. I hear things are going good. I love you all. Still in Costa won't be home till April. Wish I could come to the pot lock.. I hope there are a lot ore of them after april and what are we doing for our birthdays! 26.. wow we are getting old. if you feel like dropping a email my email address is rosie.hatch@gmail.com.. lot's of love ans sunshine! Rosie

Anonymous said...

Hi sharyn, i can make it on the 6th! Or any other time you or caleb would like. I was and still am so touched that caleb reached out for me the other day. I can't even express it in words. I would love to see him everyday, however, i do realize that i am not in the plan of caleb's healing. I will be there in spirit always cause i think of him all the time. Please let me know if he'd like me to visit again soon. I don't want to be too involved for his own good. I love you dearly. Love grace

haley.jane said...

Hi Sharyn.

I am glad to hear you have daffodils sprouting, we had an ice storm this morning, though it melted by noon :) Winter is still holding on a little but it won't be long...

I am hoping to request time off for the 4th of July week. I really hope my boss is compliant... If not I'll just cry at my desk all week wishing I was on Cape Cod... and who really wants to see that anyway???

Hope to see you soon. Love. Haley xo xo xo

Anonymous said...

Sharyn,
I love to hear your joys & sorrows and everything in between. I can relate to you in so many ways .To know some one is or has felt some of the feelings i've been feeling for years, feels like a a hug with words. When i was 8 my mom was an ER nurse and had to work on New Years day on her way to work she hit black ice and hit a telephone pole on rt 6 in Eastham. She was in a comma for the next year. She came out of the comma but has been brain damaged ever since. My mom will always be my inspiration to keep on pushing. I'm now 24, and take everyday as it comes. Some days are hard while other fly by with smiles.So i just wanted to say thank you for all of your beautiful words they really are a pleasure to read and they have helped me tons. It is so nice to here Caleb's stories and progress. He is so amazing.
Shannon

Anonymous said...

to Shannon-

I used to do pet therapy visits with my dogs. One of the places we went to was the Greenery. I believe your mom was there. It used to break my heart, knowing all the family and friends that were so devastated by these head injuries. I often think of your mom when the roads are icy.
I wish there was something more I could say to be of comfort to you. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you.
Cortney

Anonymous said...

sharyn and shannon, they say that
there is only six degrees, a backyard, a beach or a bottle of wine between family and friends on cape cod. this blog is life, family, friends and love out loud.
xoxox kolleen
shannon anytime you want to e-mail i am kolleenk23@msn.com, hint, i am a great babysitter.

Anonymous said...

wahooooooooo!!
parades & potlucks!!!
wouldn't miss either!

Anonymous said...

Undoubtedly the best 4th of July parade ever! Make sure we tuck plenty of kleenex in the pockets. And wouldn't miss the potluck.

Anonymous said...

Weeeeeeee!!! spring!! I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be quite a few more pirates staggering in the parade with us on the fourth. This, of course, is how we always wanted it, an unruly gang of cut-throats so large that all would part to let us through!!! I cannot wait for that glorious day. Yarrrrrrrr!! And if Miss Penny can be here for that, I'd love it....wanna be a pirate mom???
Looking forward to seeing you all this weekend.....love, amy stj

P.S. Kevin better never run out of wine! Imagine the rioting in the streets of fleet....