Sunday, April 13

sadness

I have a sad post today.

Last Monday, Christopher got mugged. He was walking down our block on his way home from work at about 9:30pm when someone whacked him in the face and took his backpack and wallet. He made it back to our building, where he received aid from a few our of our neighbors.

Long story short, he spent the night in the ER with his best friend (I was still in Hartford) and had surgery the following afternoon to repair multiple fractures in his face. He's now home with me, and we're trying to pick up the pieces. It's tough. He's in pain. He's afraid. I want to make it all go away but I can't.

For now I'm fielding phone calls and trying to keep our lives together. We are lucky to have a community of loving friends and family around us, and are not hurting for pureed soups and smoothies (which is just about all Christopher can eat now because he can't chew). My mother was here a few days, but left this afternoon, and now the house feels quiet and empty, and a little lonely.

I tried countering our solitude by spinning while we listened to This American Life this afternoon, but it was hard to care about the spinning, it just felt like I was posing or something. I told Christopher that I need something I can accomplish and feel positive about, and the spinning is just not so natural for me yet, even though it does have more of a Zen effect than knitting does. So now it's back to my knitting. Since I'll be house-bound I could get a lot done, in theory.

Anyway, that's life this week.

9 comments:

Ami said...

That's awful! I am so sorry for Christopher. I recently took care of a patient who was mugged and he was miserable so I can only imagine :(

Anonymous said...

I am SO sorry to hear that! I hope he starts to feel a little better soon, but that is just such a scary experience...

Penelope said...

My heart goes out to both of you. It's so hard to have a happy, secure way of living be so disrupted. Thinking of you...

Penelope

Alyssa said...

I am so sorry. That's my biggest fear living here in New York City but you can't let the fear get to you or him. I hope he heals soon both physically and emotionaly. My heart goes out to both of you.

Julie said...

Thinking and praying for you both from all the way over here in Afghanistan. People respond differently to traumatic events, keep him busy and keep him talking. It will get better; it will just take time to get him feeling safe again. much love!

Unknown said...

Instead of asking why terrible things happen, times like these are best spent counting your blessings: supportive friends, strong family, and a good craft to pass the time.

Sometimes moments of solitude are like a house of prayer in a life riddled with traffic.

Hang in there. You and Christopher are in my thoughts and prayers.

Tony

Unknown said...

Eliza, I was so sorry to hear this news from your mom, and I have been thinking about you and Christopher since it happened. I will be glad for the day when you will be writing here that Christopher seems like his old self again.
Ramona

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry, that's awful! I can't imagine how hard that must be for you both. I'll be praying for you guys.
Jessi

Martin - Adornments NYC said...

Eliza & Christopher - I'm so sorry to hear about this. I've only met Christopher a few times, but I was assaulted myself while Eliza & I were classmates at NYU. I got off much easier. It's senseless - I'm so sorry. Strangely, another person I knew at NYU was assaulted on the same night, and he gave me a CD that he had been listening to: songs in the key of life - stevie wonder. Sounds like a strange choice perhaps, but it was great to listen to then, when things didn't seem to make sense. If you don't have it, I'd love to pass on the favor. (You know where to reach me Eliza.) It will get better, I promise you both. Stay strong. I totally get what you mean about the spinning. Making things, accomplishing some little thing is very therapeutic. I'm always making stuff. Best wishes - Martin