I’ve just realised it’s December 22nd. When I was 17, I was skiing at Tahoe. I caught an edge of a ski on an icy area near the bottom of the run, and basically twisted my leg around. Spiral tear of my anterior cruciate ligament, and then it ripped off the bone. Unknown to me at the time, there was also nerve damage. It’s gotten better over the decades, but I still can’t lift my right great toe.
Exactly one year later, on December 22nd, I was coming home from my job asa store magician at Magic Mountain. I was going home the back way, through Lake Hughes on winding roads. I was in a head-on collision with a guy who came into my lane. My right femur at the knee, and my left patella were broken. Lost about a third of the patella. Worse, after I was home fro the hospital the wrap-around knee brace buckled and I tore off the tendon. Doctors never did say anything about it. Too late to fix it now. But I’ve gotten pretty good at rolling when I fall.
Nothing bad has happened on December 22nd since then. But mishaps on that date in two consecutive years make me wary of it even now.
(I would drive to Seattle today, but I’m going in tomorrow instead, for the Christmas party.)
