Seattle to Argentina on a KLR650

[Rogue 1]

Originally Posted by Honey

Use: Teamweaver@aol.com

(That's Clayton's mom's email and linked PayPal email address.)

Thanks Honey... just finished with Paypal, no problems...

[Lobby]

I've read this thread from start to end now twice. Each time I'm so shocked and saddened by what happened to you.

But I'm uplifted by your strength and spirit.

I wish you peace and happiness.


Leo

[DrDakar]

OZ, I learnt about your accident and this topic from a Turkish website and came here to read your post. I hope you recover soon. Dont forget motorcyclist buddies all around the world are thinking and praying for you.

[Uzay]

I'm really sorry to hear that but my prayers are with you, keep your faith , i'm sure you'll be fine oneday.

[SNOBDOC]

After I learnt your accident by chance while I had been searching some topics in this site, my all family accepted you as our real brother, please feel our prayers and best wishes.

[OZYMANDIAS]

Dear Friends-
I know I’ve been out of touch for too long- forgive me. I started a new thread with this post but it got buried pretty quickly, so I'll post it here too. I ended up spending about four weeks in rehab in Houston. Next was my parents’ place in Connecticut for about ten days, where I stayed mostly in a hotel. I then visited Grandma and the rest of the family in NC, and headed to Nashville, where I am now. My apartment is about two blocks from the law school and pretty nice. I’m here!
Today is the third day I’ve lived completely on my own. The first day I was here was with my dad, and it was for some reason one of the hardest days I’ve had yet. I thought of the joy I would have been feeling if all was well. How I would have taken a jog and gotten the lay of the land. How I would have done so many things I can’t do now.
The next day I went to the law school for the first time. Somehow, I was all smiles when I met the people in the admissions office, and they were all so welcoming and supportive of me. I felt good that day.
My dad left three days ago, and since then I have been flying solo. Two weeks ago I came to the end of eight straight weeks of staring at the ceilings of hospital rooms, and now I’m alone in a new city- sink or swim!
I can’t say I’m exactly ecstatic with life yet, but I’m still alive. Today I decided I needed to get the hell out of my apartment and do some exploring. I saw a guy wearing an “I Love NY” t-shirt, and I asked if he was from NY. We got to talking and he invited me to Starbucks to meet his friend for coffee. It turns out he has narcolepsy, his friend has Tourette’s, and of course I’m a gimp, so a grand time was had by all. One of them had experienced having an arm and a leg paralyzed, but eventually recovered function. They are both in the music business, so we met up with some other people for dinner, and had a lot of laughs. Later we came back to my place and took turns driving an electric wheelchair someone donated to me around the courtyard. I suggested we try to jump it off of something, but there was nowhere to do it. Since they know so many people and my apartment is big and has a nice balcony, I said we should have a party here, so maybe I’ll be tearing it up with all the hotties at my place this weekend. I guess the moral is that I need to be getting out there in the world if I want to make friends.
Yesterday I read a book called “No Excuses” about a guy who became an accomplished wrestler despite severe birth defects. He talked about how he had to take it upon himself to break through the trepidation others might feel when meeting him, and that people’s behavior toward him would be a reflection of how he felt about himself. I find that, to my surprise, and despite my generally troubled state, I have been able to be quite personable, and that when I talk to others my unhappiness does not come through. I don’t understand this, but it is a plus because being around others strengthens me.
Orientation in three days! People ask me if I’m excited, and I don’t think it’s the right word. I guess it seems kind of surreal to me, as if it can’t really be happening. Part of this feeling comes, perhaps, from the fact that I really have no idea how I will react to the fact of being enrolled full-time in such a demanding program of study. Before, I would have been cocksure, overflowing with friendliness, and ready to kick some ass. People often say I will eventually do "all the same things I did before”, but it’s simply not true. Accordingly, the realization of just how incredibly disabled I am makes it difficult to say with full confidence how I will handle school. Before I could get up, shower, shave, and dress in about twenty minutes. Now it takes me, at the very least, two hours to get out the door. But this is starting to sound like complaining, which is discreditable.
In short, I’m doing what I have to, but a lot is still uncertain. One thing I’m sure of is that the money you have all given me has helped me tremendously. I had enough in the bank to finish the trip, get home, rent a room for a month, and maybe buy some “Hot Pockets”. The rest was going to come from loans. Now just my wheelchair alone cost $5600, and without everyone’s generosity, I might be paddling myself around cross-legged on a skateboard. Truly, you have all helped me a great deal, and I guess the way to repay you is to succeed and do well in law school and in life, so I’ll try.
On the trip I began writing the book I was planning to put together. I don’t think I will have enough now, but I will complete what I took notes for, and post it up here soon. It may still be of some use to someone, and it’s about half done anyway.
Once again, I’m sorry I haven’t written in so long. Oh, and if anyone lives in Nashville and would like to stop by, please let me know. We can have some dinner and talk like we’re hot shit. Some of you have already told me to get in touch when I got here, and I will. My friends, you are all wonderful. Onward and upward! Clayton

[freeflow]

Originally Posted by OZYMANDIAS

Onward and upward! Clayton

bravo Clayton...thank you for the update.

keep on

[tengai]

Originally Posted by FREEFLOW

bravo Clayton...thank you for the update.

keep on

Yes, bravo and good luck with the studies.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by OZYMANDIAS

Truly, you have all helped me a great deal, and I guess the way to repay you is to succeed and do well in law school and in life, so I’ll try.
My friends, you are all wonderful. Onward and upward! Clayton

that's the spirit!!

it's good to hear from you.

[Freddie Rides]

Originally Posted by OZYMANDIAS

But this is starting to sound like complaining, which is discreditable.

I don't think anyone would think you discreditable if you complained -- at least a little bit. You're just keeping it real.

I'm glad to hear you're hanging in there. Your attitude is an inspiration for the rest of us. Keep on keepin' on, brother.

[Uzay]

Clayton,

It's nice to hear good news from you, we're with you bro.

[Lobby]

You're teaching me that life is merely going to be different, not over, and that the journey is the important thing.

Thank you!

[AGIRABI]

You keep your faith and we keep praying. I believe you will come back !

[Flaco]

Hey Oz,

I was thinking about you this morning and was pleased to find a report on your new life in Nashville.

It sounds like you are doing ok, if not great. I hope you enjoy your classes that probably just started.

I'm glad you made your goal of being in law school this fall. If I am ever in Nashville, you can bet I'll look you up.

Flaco

[SNOBDOC]

Dear Clayton, I summarized and translated all your story into Turkish and published it http://www.superevariders.com/html/m...ewtopic&t=2521. I hope you dont mind, I beleive that your experinces and your feelings should be well known by all motorcycle riders in world to prevent new accidents. I am proud of you to share all your story with us and I am sure we will be able to lessen motorcycle accidents by your experinces. Thank you so much, God bless you