Well everybody has one. Why not me? And since I've had to tell the story about a million times only over the past 25 years, I figure posting it may end up saving me some time.

"What happened?" I wonder how many times I've fielded this question? In line at the grocery store, hanging out with friends at the mall, in a crowded room full of people I just met, well, you get the picture. And what a simple little question too. One that I really don't mind at all sharing with people. A word of advice though, please wait for the right moment before you casually ask me to relive the most tragic event of my life.

On paper it looks pretty simple to me now, in '86 I dove into a pool, hit the bottom and broke my neck right around C-6/7. I knew right away what had happened and I knew right away what it meant, so it was never difficult for me to accept.

I was more shocked that it had happened to me when I was 17 and 10 feet tall and invincible.

I also knew right off that I wasn't ready for my life to be over just yet. Lucky for me, I had a lot of family and friends that felt the same way. And for a while all I had to hold onto was the hope that it wouldn't be.

There were just some things that I wasn't going to give up no matter what got in the way. I'll give you one guess as to what that something might be. (Hint: look right!)

That sure sounds inspirational huh? Well... I don't know about any of that.

What I do know is that anyone who has lived any length of time with a spinal cord injury can tell you there's a lot more to it than just the 'no walking'. So much so that there's no way you could explain it to anyone who hasn't walked it (so to speak). So don't expect the long version. It's no trip through the park. Never was since the second I was taken to the hospital, isn't today and won't be until I die or they finally figure out how to fix this thing. But it's not the end of the world either.

"What happened?" I used to say that to myself a lot when I first got hurt. Actually, it was more like "I can't believe it really happened." Especially during that first year. That's the worst one to live through because you're still thinking like an able-bodied person and living in a disabled body. "How long does it take to adjust?" you might ask... well I'll have to get back to you on that one.

What I could do now, and quite easily I might add, is be able to write an advice column on 'How to live through sci - 10 easy steps' (no pun intended) The best piece of advice I can give to anyone new to sci is to get out and go. Go do stuff! It doesn't matter what, doesn't matter where, just get your butt out and back into the world. If you are a friend or family member of someone who is recently disabled, help them do this.

Secondly, you should figure out what it is that's really important to you and figure out how to do it. When I got hurt, I knew full well that I would have to give up some of the things I used to do. That comes with the territory. But not the ones that were at the top of my list. And by the grace of God, there were things out there that I hadn't even thought of doing until years later.

Keep an open mind. Victor Frankl said that the last freedom that anyone has is to choose their attitude in any given situation. Sure, I've come across a few obstacles since that hot afternoon in July of '86, but I've also found out that there are many different ways to get around them. It doesn't matter what other people say, doctors, parents, friends, idiots on the street, there's always a better way of doing something. Find it.

"What happened?" Well quite frankly, a lot has happened. If you are new to sci, then you'll see. If I could give you one thing, it would be to know that there is life afterwards. More than you can ever imagine right now. And when life gets to be like "if it ain't one thing, it's another," then hold on to that belief like grim death. If that doesn't work, then hey, lighten up. It only feels like an eternity. "When a person is made to suffer then he knows that he is alone in the world in his suffering" - Victor Frankl again.

Like I said before, this trip isn't easy, and it's not for the faint of heart. Some won't make it, some will exist only because they have to and some will succeed. If you're looking for some kind of good reason why this has happened to you, then good luck. I honestly don't think it exists in this world. All I need is to believe that there is one. I don't think we are supposed to know what it is.

As for me. How will my story end? Well who knows? Let's just say that I really hate to lose. I know it will be good though. I'll see to that!

"There are 2 wolves battling each other at the core of my soul. One is angry and bitter. The other is happy and optimistic. Which one will win?

- whichever one I feed."