Our home-based pottery business was officially opened on May 10th, 2024. We knew nothing about website design or management, and admittedly, our first stab at our website was about as ugly as the first set of mugs I pulled from my brand-new kiln a few weeks prior. Too many mugs in that first batch contained minor cracks in their bases and I didn't know why.
Fast forward a month. Summer arrived, school was out, and I found plenty of time to research and correct my errors. I learned my mugs were cracking due to uneven drying, which could be remedied by turning them upside-down once they were firm enough. This fixed everything and I was excited to dedicate the next kiln-load to mugs and mugs only. But, first, a short vacation over the fourth of July.
It was time to travel to meet my niece, Summer, for the first time. We decided on a water park in Alabama called Point Mallard. This was a place our grandparents used to take us in the late 1990s. I held Summer's hand as we entered the park. I was elated, my belly preparing for butterflies, looking at all of the thrills awaiting us. Thinking of my own childhood, I asked Summer if she knew which cartoon character's catchline was "Let's get dangerous". She did not, nor did my Brother, Shad, which I found disappointing. As we approached a wave pool that resembled a page out of a "Where's Waldo" book, I looked at Sum Sum and uttered, "Let's...get...dangerous".
Summer was just six years old, but after watching her for just twenty minutes, I assessed her swimming age to be closer to about 29. Nothing was too much for her; three and seven-foot diving boards, a twenty-foot platform, and slides many adults gave zero consideration. The day was passing, and we were approaching our originally agreed-upon time to return to our hotels. A game of paper, rock, scissors would decide who would tell the six-year-old "It's time to go, Sum Sum".
We told her, and she was so understanding. But, there were so few people on the diving boards on our way out that we all lined up and cycled through the 3-foot diving board, again and again and again. Unfortunately, I found myself playing the part of Darkwing Duck and I "got dangerous". On my last dive, I felt my leg slip from under me. I instantly felt what I could only assume was the board smack my leg with immense power. The fact that the force was so strong and the pain so minimal alerted me to the idea that something was very, very wrong; before even hitting the water I was confident my leg was broken, and it was, along with my ankle.
I tip my hat to the adrenaline system. My adrenaline worked so well that I can't say I ever felt the effect of the fentanyl administered to me before getting in the ambulance. The adrenaline kept the pain low enough that I could think with positivity as onlookers seemed both panicked and motionless with golfball-sized eyes. As I lay awaiting the ambulance, with a leg both dangling and resembling a left-handed pitching wedge, I found myself grateful. I was grateful the injury was sustained after my niece and I spent a full day in the park. I was grateful to be conscious and alert enough to recognize the injury and pull myself out of the pool. I was grateful a trauma-capable hospital was just eight minutes away. I was grateful for improved roads, and a ride free of bumps.
Having deployed to combat twice, I had seen, heard of, and been intimately aware of so many more significantly worse injuries. US Army Sergeant Dan Powers immediately came to mind. His unforgettable story of survival is truly incredible and has always fascinated me; discretion is advised should you choose to research it. I could not justifiably compare our injuries and I kept thinking to myself, "I have nothing to complain about".
To bring this full circle. I am simply a bit disappointed that I now find myself lounging around on the couch, learning how to manage the website instead of filling the kiln full of those now-perfected mugs. But, I knew I would eventually need to be able to manage more of the website on my own. I also knew that my wife, who has been working so incredibly hard for so long at both work and in her masters degree, deserved more support in managing the website. So, while I impatiently wait to get back on the wheel, I will work on the website.
Custom orders have to be paused, probably until August, doctor's orders.
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