Exactly 4 weeks ago today, my dad had an accident that resulted with him in the hospital. He spent the following 26 days in the hospital and is now recovering at a rehab facility.

And while he may not be the same person he was 4 weeks ago, he is doing well and continues to fight every day.

To say his accident was a wake up call is like saying Michigan is really cold right now. Both statements are no-brainers and will induce an eye-roll from me.

And while I admit he’s not the same person, I’ll attest to the fact that I’m not either.

As a writer, this is how I cope… always have in the face of adversity. I have a friend who will gently say “write about it” when I’ve gone off the deep end for too long. She’s right. Sometimes, it’s the only way I can figure something out.

As I sit here and write this, many of the people I know and love are somewhere else. Most are in Florida… a couple in Denver. I have spent most of this week alone. Yes, I’m working, but a trio of three-year-olds doesn’t count. I have been through every emotion possible – from the lowest of the lows, to what I’m feeling now – stronger. After what can only be described as a mental breakdown on Tuesday, I have swung to the other side of the pendulum. I don’t know what the opposite of a breakdown is, but I’ll be honest – it’s a hell of a lot better on this side.

I realize now that I have been stuck for about a month, refusing to understand and accept the changes that we have been dealt. I’ve been clinging to what was, and ignoring the fact that it’s just different now.

A new normal. I hate that phrase, by the way.

It’s not a normal I would’ve chosen for myself, but the only sure things in life are death and taxes. The rest we have to figure out and accept, or we drive ourselves (and everyone around us) crazy.

So, I’ll continue on this path – the new normal – and figure out ways to deal with the ever changing mood swings issues in my life – hopefully in positive ways. My goal is to find some other ways, but let’s be honest, there isn’t much that can’t be fixed with a trip to Target