By the time my life changed irreparably on February 9, 1982, I had spent several hours in the offices of Rea, Chamberlin & Russell, interviewing for a clerkship.  After I had talked with everyone at the firm, partner Loren Rea told me that I had gotten the job.  I decided to celebrate by meeting a friend towards the end of his shift at a restaurant in Wesport.  I parked my car at the curb, stepped into the street, and within seconds, had been struck on my left side and propelled upwards, higher than the adjacent buildings.  I soon found myself falling, falling, falling until I landed on the hood of the car and flew forward into its windshield.

The incident is noteworthy for several reasons, not the least of which was the brief visit from a sweet angel who told me my time to die had not yet come.  My leg sustained multiple fractures when it impacted the windshield. I spent the next three months in the hospital, and twenty years later, had a terrible experience with a knee replacement that set the record for admission (seven weeks) and failure (almost complete, except the darn thing does, in fact, bend).

I associated February 9th with hard luck and heart break for a long time.  But over the years, I have reclaimed it for happiness, because February 9 is also the birthday of Tshandra White, one of two shared daughters from my first marriage.

Tshandra and I struggled to establish a stepmother/daughter relationship back in 1987 – 1989, but in the last five years, we have reconnected.  The love which I felt for her twenty-five years ago but could not express comes unbridled now.  I’m humbled that it is returned, and that because of her, I have reclaimed something that I lost along the way.

Happy birthday, Tshandra!  Thank you for letting me be your substitute mother.  Your presence in my life brings me great joy, and has triggered more than one reclamation.  May this day give you the same joy; and peace; and wonder; and may your coming year be prosperous and peaceful.

Tshandra White with her daughter, Grace P. Kelley.