Ann-imals and I share a Birthday of sorts…
As readers of the More Than a Speed Bump blog are well aware, it was July 4th, 2006 that I sustained the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a car crash that greatly impacted me and my family’s life. In addition to my so called belly-button birthday, I consider it a start date of a New Life! The fact that this Independence Day will mark 19 years since that fateful night is hard to wrap my head around because at times it feels like a brand new condition while I also struggle to recall living without a weak left side. Sometimes I wonder if in the year 2029, when my time living with a brain injury will surpass the length of time when I was brain injury free, if I’ll feel complete acceptance and be unaware of any “difference”? Regardless, now in my work for RAWZ and being a Seacoast resident, each year around this time I become aware of Ann-imals, York, ME’s Pet Supply Store’s Anniversary celebration.
I just recently confirmed with Ann-imals’ owner/operator, Ann (I bet the store’s name is starting to make sense know!), RAWZ’s attendance at her annual birthday celebration triggering a fairly strong memory. It was during the period of time after my TBI when I was living at my parents with my father often picking me up to bring me home from Portsmouth Hospital’s NeuroDay Rehab program. To set the scene, at the time Portsmouth’s day rehab program was located in a facility adjacent the mall in Newington, NH with a aquatic therapy pool on site. I would arrive when they opened (I believe at 8AM) for a day of Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapy until a lunchtime memory group. Finally I hopped into the pool for an hour session.
I always remember being exhausted when I slid into the car for the ride home after a long day for the short ride to my parents house. Rather than heading straight home to the couch, which was my preference, my father often had other ideas. Whether it was perusing the aisles of retail stores, looking at real estate, or searching for a good cannoli, he usually had to “make a quick stop.” I don’t remember the exact date or even time of year, but on this particular day when driving on Rt.1 in York a sign for Ann-imals caught dad’s eye.
“We have to see that new store!” said dad.
The car seemed to be pulling into a parking spot in Ann-imals’ lot by the time he finished the thought or I could offer any protest. We must have been quite the pair; me barely able to ambulate in a bathing suit and t-shirt with my dad, while I can’t remember for sure, most likely attired in his usual jeans. Shortly into the conversation between Ann and my chauffer, our family’s long time involvement with the pet food industry came up. I can only imagine Ann’s thoughts after we left. A recently opened pet store proprietor following an unsolicited visit from some guy accompanied by his obviously physically injured son claiming to be the founder of a large animal nutrition company!
Well, I guess as they say the rest is history, Ann-imals is celebrating 18 yrs as a trusted member of the community in York and RAWZ, not even a thought that day 19 years ago, works to improve the lives of people and pets. RAWZ is tremendously grateful and proud to have Annimals as RAWZ’s trusted hometown retail partner with us in our mission: I can only speak for myself, but hope Ann would agree, we’ve come a long way!