Chapter 1: The Accident

Jimmy Gaylord is a silver-haired 84 year old that stands over six feet tall and is a poster-boy of good health, even at his advanced age. Other than the regular doctor visits – twice a year to the dentist, and a yearly trip to his general practitioner and optometrist – Jimmy has never spent any time in a hospital or under medical care.

Betty, Jimmy’s wife of over fifty years, shared his remarkable run of good health until she passed away in her sleep about two years ago. Jimmy hoped he would be so lucky to have a good run with an abrupt ending that didn’t force him through months, or even years, of slow deterioration.

Jimmy met Betty almost fifty-five years ago. They were a little older than their friends when they met and eventually married, and then they never had children. But that doesn’t mean they lacked for anything. They were immensely happy as they lived in the same town for their whole lives. The only change was a move from the suburbs on the east side of town to the then newly-developing suburbs on the west side of town. The move to the west side of town to a mostly empty area at the time meant they were able to buy a great deal of house for little money. It also means that the house is now worth over ten times what they paid for it thirty years ago.

A few months after Betty died Jimmy started to volunteer at a local food bank. A woman named Judith, with severe troll-like features, ran the volunteer program. She had the appearance of a real battle ax, but shortly after meeting her everyone realized she had the sweetest personality. On Jimmy’s first day she saw him walking onto the loading dock and ran to catch up.

“Jimmy? Where are you going?” she barked. “I thought you could help at the check-in counter.”

Jimmy had already picked up a box full of canned goods, by bending at the knees as his dad taught him so many years ago. Without a trace of effort Jimmy replied, “Let one of the old folks do that job. You’re short of help on the loading dock.”

It didn’t take long before Judith realized Jimmy wasn’t joking. He outworked the other volunteers that were half his age. At the end of the day Judith saw Jimmy heading to his car as she was pulling out of the lot.

“Jimmy,” she says as she rolls down her car window, “we really appreciate your help today and would love to see you again. But don’t feel like you have anything to prove. All the jobs here are important and we don’t want you do overdo it.”

Jimmy nodded and said, “Yes, ma’am. Knowing your limits is a key to long life. I know mine and am sure to stay within them – when working at home or anywhere else.”

“I’m sure you do,” replies Judith. “Have a good weekend and we hope to see you next week.”

Jimmy waves as Judith maneuvers her car out of the parking lot.

It only took that one day for Jimmy to feel a connection with the food bank. He loved feeling like he was making a direct impact on the lives of those in need in his community. He also felt connected to the other volunteers and enjoyed their company. His routine started to develop where he would volunteer once or twice a week with a four to six hour shift. His routine also included stopping at one of his guilty pleasures – a nearby restaurant, Cajun Cracks, that specializes in Cajun food – on his way home.

After a particularly long day, Jimmy leaves the center and points his car toward Cajun Cracks.

“Here you go,” says Ernie. He is the son of the founder of the restaurant. He passes Jimmy a bag of steamed shrimp and clams, with a handful of potatoes and a few ears of corn in the mix.

“How’s your dad doing, Ernie?” asks Jimmy. Ernie’s dad, Ernie Sr., ran the place for years until he suffered a stroke a year ago. He was now in a nursing home and he hated every minute of his life. Jimmy tried to visit at least once a month.

“Spunky as ever,” says Ernie as he shakes his head. “If he’d just work with the staff to learn how to compensate for some of the skills the stroke robbed him of they would probably clear him for a more independent room.”

“Yeah,” replies Jimmy, “I saw that when I visited a few weeks ago. He could be making much more progress if he wasn’t so stubborn.”

Ernie just finished bagging another order when the door opens with a chime as another customer enters.

“Tell your dad I said ‘hi,’ and I’ll try and go see him in a few days.”

“I’m sure he’ll love the company,” says Ernie as he turns to the new arrival. “How can I help you this evening?”

Jimmy goes to his car and drops in behind the wheel, once again giving thanks that he isn’t in a nursing home and having to learn how to use a fork and knife again.

On Saturday morning Jimmy thinks it is time to get started on the various handyman chores he’s been documenting for weeks. Each time he sees something he writes it down on a list, along with what parts or tools he’ll need to complete the job. He goes to the kitchen to drop off his empty coffee cup and retrieves his list from behind a magnet on the refrigerator door.

He enters the garage and hits the button on the wall to engage the garage door opener as he reaches into his pocket to click the fob, unlocking his car door. He starts the car and begins to back out when he hears a crunch. Jimmy puts the car back in drive and starts to move forward when he hears a loud screech.

He gets out of the car and sees his neighbor, Bradley, running toward his garage. When Jimmy gets to the back of the car he sees why Bradley has coming running. One of Bradley’s kids left their bicycle in front of his garage door and he backed over it when leaving the garage.