Be Resolved

Sara-Jane McGeachy

2005

I made a New Year's resolution to try and eat breakfast every morning - set myself up properly for the day. On the first of January 2005 I woke up at 1pm and had an Alka-Seltzer accompanied by a slice of cold pizza. It was all going to plan. On the second and third I managed something a little more nutritious. Then on the fourth of January I was due to return to work, so I got up and made myself five minutes late by having a bowl of Bran Flakes; very bad idea.

I put on my new boots and the trousers I had got for Christmas and headed out in to the wind and rain. I remember turning into Palmaston Place and feeling a little despondent that the holiday period was over. Im not quite sure what made me look up, maybe it was instinct, or maybe I heard a noise, but something made me look to the top of the four-stories of scaffolding towering above me. It was moving; slowly it seemed, tilting towards me. I began to run across the road - I think I was trying to out run the falling scaffolding, looking back that seems ridiculous, but in that instant it was all I could think to do. It turned out to be one of the best decisions Ive ever made, a much better idea than the Bran Flakes. Its strange to think now that it was to be the last time I was able to run anywhere for the next two and a half years. ... (continues)