I just passed a milestone that has generated some pondering and reflection. It was 10 years ago on the Fourth of July that I had the plane crash that could very easily have claimed my life. Fortunately, I ended up with a broken back and a laundry list of other lesser injuries, none of which linger today. The photo above was taken of the wreckage an hour or so after the accident, while I was still busy amusing the emergency room personnel at U-M Hospital.
The NTSB cleared me of any blame in the incident and so the FAA took no disciplinary action, but I'm still persuaded that the crash was essentially my fault. Perhaps that's a subject for another day.
When I reappeared at the airport after some recovery and rehabilitation, Eberhard Geyer, who flew FW 190s in the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front said, "This is your Extra Birthday." I discounted his words at the time, but I must now admit I'm not the same person I was before that brush with the grim reaper.
Initially I insisted that I hadn't changed a bit, but the accumulating evidence said otherwise. Within five years after the crash EVERYTHING in my life had changed. I now concede that the accident was a turning point.
Perhaps the single biggest change was perspective. There's no doubt that you view life -- the time we have on the planet -- differently after a brush with death. Things that were more important lose some urgency and things that were neglected move to front and center.
The sad part of this metamorphosis was that parts of my life that I had treasured ended or were left behind. The happy part is that new doors seemed to open and new challenges appeared.
My personality changed, too. I listen better now. My monumental ego is kept in a stronger cage. It's less important to me now to be "right" or to "win." And I'd like to believe I'm more sensitive, in the good sense of that word rather than the phony, "New Age" meaning.
When the ledger is examined, I hope there are more things on the positive side and I think I can make that case.
So Happy 10th Birthday to me!
