JANUARY

Phew. January came and went, and normally I would say “I don’t know where the time went,” but in this case I do: it went between my couch and my bed.

I so rarely get sick (my non-medically-degreed opinion is I have built up an insane immune system from my many months in the hospital), so when I do it’s an event. An event that requires my husband and children to cook, grocery shop, do the laundry, drive carpool, feed the dogs… and continually hope I get better soon.

But there were other events in January that, as I slumbered in and out of sleepiness, I kept thinking “I need to write about that…”

Every January has a January 24th. This year we honored the 28th anniversary of our bus accident, which just sounds crazy. 28 years. I was only 18 when the accident happened, and I have lived with its effects for a decade longer than I have not. At a recent doctor’s appointment, I was asked about a pre-accident condition, and I could only answer, “I have no idea.” I can’t remember, it was so long ago. I am the definition of a pre-existing condition. I feel like I have lived with this my entire life.

This 24th was particularly meaningful, as I was in South Bend with a teammate and our coach. I was able to visit Meghan’s gravesite, Colleen’s tree, and their lockers at the pool that have been locked since January 1992. The current team had a swim meet, which was fun to watch; and as they do every year, the team gathered afterwards for a quick prayer service led by the seniors. This may not sound like much, but it is everything we love about Notre Dame: the community of faith, honoring our history, celebrating athletics beyond the sport, bridging the past and the present.

I am always grateful to those who remember the anniversary of the bus accident. Because we never forget, not on the 24th, nor any other day for 28 years.