It actually 44 years since I hitch-hiked home to get there early to pack my bags to go and spend Christmas with future OH and his family in Surrey. And since my friend, who had picked me up- decided to overtake a lorry on slushy icy snow and lost control. The car spun and wrapped itself around a large ash tree, with my leg and head in the middle. Double skull fracture and femur smashed to smithereens- 4.5 months in traction and a postponed wedding- Fell and rebroke leg day before the new wedding date- got married 2 days later in hospital- and OH and family returned to London without me. Followed in wheelchair 3 months later. Two years to learn to walk again properly...
Recovered, and so did the tree- I wave at it each time I pass bye. New knee will be required soon- but hey ho, could have been disabled all my life, so perspective required...
Not boring, innit?
Joyeux Noël to you too.