“I can’t feel anything in my fingertips,” Manning said. “I’ve talked to a doctor recently who said, Don’t count on the feeling coming back.
The ESPN pundits were chattering about the NFL preseason in the background. Upon hearing Fingertips – Feeling – Not coming back, my attention moves from the morning paper, to the broadcast. I listen.
“It was hard for me for about two years, because one doctor told me I could wake up any morning and it might come back. So you wake up every day thinking, Today’s the day! Then it’s not.”
I gently release my grip from the newspaper, and with feather touch brushes I slide my fingertips over the paper. Back and forth and then again. And again. And again.
Skin on paper.
A boy, hand in his pocket, fingers his favorite polished stone.
The paper is dry, smooth.
I release.
A trace of ink stains both fingertips.
Today’s the Day!
Inspired by Albert Einstein’s quote: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
Notes:
- Manning quotes: NBCSports.com – Manning Still Can’t Feel Fingers, But Otherwise Feels fine.
- Photo: Ilaria Luciani – “Touch“
- Related Posts: Miracle? All of it.