Aric – How have your friendships changed?

No, with everybody knowing everyone, it was really cool. And the newer friendships, even in the eighth grade, before I got beat up by this guy, and after the accident, he came up and wanted to be friends. And I’m like, “you beat me up in eighth grade. I’m sorry, I’d love to forgive you and go on, but it’s kind of hard for me.” So, in my mind, after you get over the initial trauma, people with accidents, or with a spinal cord injury revert back to being the same way they were, the same joyful, whatever person. Or, they may do a 360, and become something totally different. Maybe they find religion or different aspects, new things in life. I was told I was the same person, so I didn’t change, and mom told me that, so with mom, everything is right because she is mom. And it was easy for me to make friends, and I think it’s easy for people to remember me. One, because of the chair, I won’t lie, but two, the personality. And like I said, I’m a people person, and it’s all built on relationships across friendships, business, and personal relationships.