The Best Accident Ever

“You…what??” 

“I was..cliff jumping.’’

I knew I shouldn’t have done it. 

Ledge, boulder, boulder, poison ivy, and then…I could see the spot of brown below, the rock the boys told me I had to leap away from. I stood there so long, pretending that my stomach didn’t feel different this time. 

Then why did I jump anyways?

It started with the Ferris’ Monterey Cypress. The weeks of staring and wrestling with the ladder, and then, us two kindergarteners, slipped into the cup of the tree. Five feet. 

“Wait, I want to come too!” 

“Shut up, Vale. This is OUR fort!”

“Waaaa!” 

But soon, we were craning our heads to see him, our hearts beating wildly. 20 feet. 30 feet, 40 feet. 

“I’m kinda bored. Why don’t we try some real rocks?”

By the time I was 12, I knew every spot from the north of San Francisco to the Russian River. But not just rocks. Rollerblades, skateparks, bike paths, waterfalls…I would just run down the hill and hop in the Toyota minivan. 

And then we moved to San Jose. 

It was the house of my mom’s dreams – a Spanish revival, tree shaded, a quiet side street. Downtown Willow Glen was a 15 minute walk. And yet…

“Can I go to Santa Cruz? Please!!” 

“Hannah, gas is $6 a gallon!”

“What about seeing Sofia in San Francisco? I could come with you to work.’’

“I need to be out the door by 6 p.m.’’

“What about Joseph Grant County Park? It’s only 35 mins away.’’

“I’ve commuted every day this week. Why don’t you walk downtown?”

“I have! Every day! There’s barely anyone out except for some old people and antique shops.’’

“Hannah, why don’t you just…”

BAM! 

Bone. Rock. 

SPLASH! 

Yes, I can’t walk or run or rollerskate now. But I have something better – contentment. And when I feel that whine rise within me, I know what to do…

“I’m thankful for…ACAI PRIMO BOWLLS!! Wait, also still being able to do Russian twists! And meeting so many cool people at Newman. And, and, finally having buff arms again – thank you crutches!!’’

I still don’t know why I did that. And maybe that’s okay. Maybe I needed a broken/sprained ankle for me to accept my limitations. And that? That might be the best accident ever. 

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