We spent a whole day and a half out in the desert over Thanksgiving weekend. You know what’s cool about that?
Everything!
I can chalk it up to a totally crucial WIN for Fener. He used to be a desert rat, spending holidays and every other weekend either in Glamis, Barstow, or Ocotillo for years. That is, until skydiving burst into his life. But even then, he (we) went to the desert all the time. He even bought me my own quad to ride back in 2006.
This weekend, we rolled into a camp full of friends and blended right in. There was very little talk of, or focus on Nick’s injuries. We didn’t speak much of his accident or therapy, or catheters, or pain, or prostheses. Well, maybe a little. But come on, that’s part of our “new normal.” What I’m saying is we got to have a blast despite all that. And there was never any waiting for Fener. He never held up the program. Never the weakest link. He held his own.
We slept in a tent, sat by a fire, rode in a buggy and ate lunch in a shady crevice in the middle of a vast desert. We laughed with friends, lit fireworks, roasted marshmallows (me, not Nick), and came home content with being caked with dirt from head to (prosthetic) toe.
The only modification we made was the toileting situation. Nick had to use a friends trailer, no longer able to “rough it” like me or you. Other than that, we were good to go. It was just more work for me than it ever used to be, loading and unloading everything. But I’m totally fine with it. May as well get used to it. That’s our “new normal.”
Ridin’ in Dave’s buggy. Nick sat on his wheelchair cushion and it made all the difference in the world.
Some seriously awesome people. Me, Theresa, Dave, Mike, Fener, Jason, and Todd. We had such a great time. Thank you so much everyone for the help and hospitality.
Gratuitous sleeping shot. Couldn’t help myself. He was sound asleep, twitching away, snug as can be in the tent. What a relief that he can be comfy on an air mattress. Who’ddathunk?
I included this one of Nick in the buggy because I think it shows Nick’s handsomeness… even though his Blue Steel needs a little work.
Nick Fener 