HELL NO TO ROMANCE

One of the sweeter things about Josh is that he loves wisdom from old men. He enthusiastically told me how he likes sitting down with an aged dude and listening to his advice about life. Soaking in what he has to say.

I low key adore that.

I’m picturing Josh taking some rickety and dignified veteran he met at church out for coffee at an IHOP, sitting at swivel chairs at a long lunch counter, and listening to the guy tell stories of life lessons. (I’m making this part up, but I’m pretty sure the idea, if not the details, is accurate.) The vet would tell Josh how he straightened up his act after being a teenage punk and racing stolen cars or why he makes his wife a cup of coffee every morning exactly how she likes it or how he lost his own father or how he swore to raise his son different than how he was raised. And Josh listens, absorbs, enjoys. Orders the guy a piece of berry pie.

In so doing, Josh shows his own wisdom since he’s smart enough to listen to those who came before him. (Josh also talks about how his parents are amazing people. He doesn’t have a perfect family—none of us do—but it sounds like he’s got some honest admiration for them.) So it’s patently obvious he’s got humility and respect in his marrow.

But here’s the thing—Josh now has wisdom of his own to share.

Just think about it.

When he gets back to work with his patients (he’s a physical therapist), he’s going to be so much more understanding of the physical and emotional challenges they face. He’s going to be able to point to himself and say, see, I did it, and so can you. This is gonna be a no-B.S. type of connection with his patients.

Josh has been through hell and come out the other side tough, yet vulnerable.

Angry, yet loving.

With an iron will and inner strength that has been tested beyond what he ever imagined—having made it through low, dark moments where his nerve and resolve were tissue-thin.

But by living with such militant optimism (to paraphrase Rick Steves), I don’t think the day will be too long before some kid with a missing arm is taking Josh out for brunch so they can talk.

Then it will be time for the kid to listen, because Josh has plenty of wisdom to share.

***

Thanks to Josh Reed for letting me riff off things we talked about when I went to see him.

I ran the idea of writing a fictional hero based on Josh with him on the cover past my husband, and his comment was: Josh’s story isn’t finished yet.

He’s right. Josh’s story isn’t finished yet. I look forward to the day I write about how he’s deadlifting 600 pounds again. How he rocks a prosthetic. How his good days outnumber his bad.

I mentioned writing a book to Josh, who wasn’t comfortable with the idea of being a cover model. I also got a hell no on writing a romance—which made me laugh.

So this is my compromise—a few blog posts blessed by Josh. I’m grateful for being able to process my thoughts, because he’s a really inspirational person, and I’m grateful to you for reading them. If they’re helpful to you or if you think they’d help someone else, please pass them on.