Cool And Amazing Things

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
10155231_708382009221990_2089497346978882618_n.jpg
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
60
Kentucky
This is a piece of the tree that almost killed my friend, Jay. It left him paralyzed from the chest down.
1544352_10203764180248774_1357767421_n.jpg


This is the bowl that Jay's friend, Tom made out of that tree.
Jay says the bowl will serve as a reminder of how something beautiful and useful can come from something horrible....
10177889_10203764180208773_1729968298_n.jpg



This is part of Jay's story.... I think he's pretty cool & amazing


~ Hello, my name is Jay Erwin and running changed and saved my life! After purchasing P90X and losing 50lbs, I began to run. I won 1st place in my age group and I was hooked after. Running with a friend Valerie Mazza, we decided to create the Boone Running Club here in Boone, NC. We had so much fun practicing and running races together.

Getting ready to run the Myrtle Beach Mini half marathon, I ran 5 miles on August 24th, 2013. I jumped rope and did sit up's to fail after that. I was in the shape of my life and I couldn't wait to try for a PR. I went home and passed by a tree that was bothering me for years because it was leaning over our road. When I got home, I decided to cut that tree down. I called my son Samuel on the phone and asked him to meet me at the tree. I had experience in cutting trees and I had great respect for the situation. The tree fell on another tree and that wasn't what I planned. I prayed then to God and asked Him for His guidance. Once I got my wits back, I began to cut the tree from the bottom and that is all I remember.

I woke up sixteen days later in the hospital. My legs are not moving and I am totally scared. "Why isn't my legs moving", I asked? I was told that a very large branch came down on me and broke my back. It also broke my collar bone, ribs, shoulder bone and it punctured my left lung. "I died", I was told! My son gave me CPR to revive me. A helicopter came and took me to a trauma unit in Johnson City, TN. I stayed there for 23 days and then I went by ambulance to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga. where I recovered and rehabbed for around 100 days.

What I began to realize was I wasn't getting ready for a race to run, I was getting ready for the race for my life! The doctors said that it was a miracle that I lived. They said four things should have killed me, but I was so strong that I lived. I feel lucky and I am blessed. God chose me to live and to carry out what He began in me and I shall do that.

I miss running very badly now. I can't even wiggle my toes! What a miracle that is to be able to do that if you really think about that. It is a blessing. I am seeing my body deteriorate now. My very strong legs are getting smaller. It is sad, but I have great faith and that pulls me through. Never take for granted a foot step in your run. Think of me when you hit the pavement or trail. Remember me when your running your race and you are giving out. Remember that I would give just about anything to be in your shoes! Appreciate what you have, meet new people and have fun with your runs! Running is not supposed to complicated. Just run your run and if you want to get better, work hard at it!

If it were easy everyone would be doing it!
I'll remember him every time I run.
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
This is a piece of the tree that almost killed my friend, Jay. It left him paralyzed from the chest down.
1544352_10203764180248774_1357767421_n.jpg


This is the bowl that Jay's friend, Tom made out of that tree.
Jay says the bowl will serve as a reminder of how something beautiful and useful can come from something horrible....
10177889_10203764180208773_1729968298_n.jpg



This is part of Jay's story.... I think he's pretty cool & amazing


~ Hello, my name is Jay Erwin and running changed and saved my life! After purchasing P90X and losing 50lbs, I began to run. I won 1st place in my age group and I was hooked after. Running with a friend Valerie Mazza, we decided to create the Boone Running Club here in Boone, NC. We had so much fun practicing and running races together.

Getting ready to run the Myrtle Beach Mini half marathon, I ran 5 miles on August 24th, 2013. I jumped rope and did sit up's to fail after that. I was in the shape of my life and I couldn't wait to try for a PR. I went home and passed by a tree that was bothering me for years because it was leaning over our road. When I got home, I decided to cut that tree down. I called my son Samuel on the phone and asked him to meet me at the tree. I had experience in cutting trees and I had great respect for the situation. The tree fell on another tree and that wasn't what I planned. I prayed then to God and asked Him for His guidance. Once I got my wits back, I began to cut the tree from the bottom and that is all I remember.

I woke up sixteen days later in the hospital. My legs are not moving and I am totally scared. "Why isn't my legs moving", I asked? I was told that a very large branch came down on me and broke my back. It also broke my collar bone, ribs, shoulder bone and it punctured my left lung. "I died", I was told! My son gave me CPR to revive me. A helicopter came and took me to a trauma unit in Johnson City, TN. I stayed there for 23 days and then I went by ambulance to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga. where I recovered and rehabbed for around 100 days.

What I began to realize was I wasn't getting ready for a race to run, I was getting ready for the race for my life! The doctors said that it was a miracle that I lived. They said four things should have killed me, but I was so strong that I lived. I feel lucky and I am blessed. God chose me to live and to carry out what He began in me and I shall do that.

I miss running very badly now. I can't even wiggle my toes! What a miracle that is to be able to do that if you really think about that. It is a blessing. I am seeing my body deteriorate now. My very strong legs are getting smaller. It is sad, but I have great faith and that pulls me through. Never take for granted a foot step in your run. Think of me when you hit the pavement or trail. Remember me when your running your race and you are giving out. Remember that I would give just about anything to be in your shoes! Appreciate what you have, meet new people and have fun with your runs! Running is not supposed to complicated. Just run your run and if you want to get better, work hard at it!

If it were easy everyone would be doing it!
I missed this post before... thank you Sunny. (& Danie for (unknowingly) bringing it to my attention) xox
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
danie and FlakeNoir.....y'all are pretty cool and amazing, yourselves! ♥

I've known Jay since our freshman year of high school...he is one of the most truly amazing and genuine people that I know.

This is an old photo of Jay and Tom in high school
24287_10151874805702679_1208451013_n.jpg

and a photo of them on Jay's birthday, when Tom presented him with the bowl

1656330_10203461490880709_572055800_n.jpg
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
60
Kentucky
danie and FlakeNoir.....y'all are pretty cool and amazing, yourselves! ♥

I've known Jay since our freshman year of high school...he is one of the most truly amazing and genuine people that I know.

This is an old photo of Jay and Tom in high school
24287_10151874805702679_1208451013_n.jpg

and a photo of them on Jay's birthday, when Tom presented him with the bowl

1656330_10203461490880709_572055800_n.jpg
No words...
 

FlakeNoir

Original Kiwi© SKMB®
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
44,082
175,641
New Zealand
danie and FlakeNoir.....y'all are pretty cool and amazing, yourselves! ♥

I've known Jay since our freshman year of high school...he is one of the most truly amazing and genuine people that I know.

This is an old photo of Jay and Tom in high school
24287_10151874805702679_1208451013_n.jpg

and a photo of them on Jay's birthday, when Tom presented him with the bowl

1656330_10203461490880709_572055800_n.jpg

No words...

Me either.... ♥
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
On the southwestern point of Mauritius is a crazy-looking phenomenon. When viewed from the air (either in real life or in Google Earth) it appears to be an underwater waterfall!
Of course, a real underwater waterfall isn’t possible but the actual answer is really quite fascinating.

What you’re witnessing, that looks like an underwater waterfall, is actually sand from the shores of Mauritius being driven via ocean currents off of that high, coastal shelf, and down into the darker ocean depths off the southern tip of the island.

Underwater_Waterfall_Illusion_at_Mauritius_Island1.jpg
 

EMARX

Well-Known Member
Feb 27, 2009
2,970
15,757
On the southwestern point of Mauritius is a crazy-looking phenomenon. When viewed from the air (either in real life or in Google Earth) it appears to be an underwater waterfall!
Of course, a real underwater waterfall isn’t possible but the actual answer is really quite fascinating.

What you’re witnessing, that looks like an underwater waterfall, is actually sand from the shores of Mauritius being driven via ocean currents off of that high, coastal shelf, and down into the darker ocean depths off the southern tip of the island.

Underwater_Waterfall_Illusion_at_Mauritius_Island1.jpg
I'm always amazed by the sublime beauty that is our natural world....