Foodie Lit
Thom Ring's Nathan's Journal
“You no what craze? I hit that kid hard. I know I did. I bet I knocked him back like 5 feet. And then Im the one that gets hert. They always tell you to hit em hard that the guy who hits the other guy the hardest is the guy who doesn’t get hurt. He was supposed ti. But I did. I guess.”
As an avid reader and retired English instructor, the opening of this novel immediately made an impression. I wasn’t sure what I was reading. Was I reading a poorly written story? Was this from an inept author? But as I continued reading, I realized that the story’s evolution in Nathan’s Journal unfolded in a unique and brilliant way. It’s only until later, that I (and other readers) realized that Nathan’s journal is “unedited” from his brain-damaged mind. Nathan’s brain and physical injuries from his football injury on his high school team are extensive. We learn about them as he describes them, as he understands the extent of them.
The complexities of recovery from brain injuries include the tremendous difficulties for those injured to come to terms with their new identities, especially when their mental and physical abilities lessen, sometimes forever. Each character at the recovery center where Nathan participates in his physical therapy deals with anger, frustration and some progress. The author, Thom Ring, is well equipped to understand, having worked for over 30 years with adult and teenager survivors of traumatic brain injury and covering sports as a reporter for daily newspapers in New England.
He told me, “Typically, survivors have to deal with a combination of anger, denial and determination. In a way, Nathan decided how he would deal with his challenges. We never wanted to discourage a person's motivation. But we hoped that their efforts would reveal their limitations to them. Hopefully they could develop reasonable and appropriate goals.”
The novel is both heart wrenching and inspiring as Nathan tries to come to grips with the loss of his dream to play football. After he was injured in the game, he lost his ability to speak, to walk and to use his hands.
Nathan starts writing a journal on a device, as he cannot write by hand and cannot speak. It offers him a way to communicate, albeit slowly. Emotionally, he was devastated. He thinks, “You know it’s frustrating. Here I am I know what I want to say but I can’t say it. You try but it comes out wrong. If it comes out at all. I can do words. Say a few words some times even get a sentence out, People think your stupid if you stumble to say what you want. Or worse you can’t answer them at all.”
Despite the pain and frustration for Nathan and the others at the rehabilitation center, the novel is ultimately inspiring, with hope for the future, albeit a different future than Nathan and the other brain injured characters had hoped for.
When Thom and I were discussing the recipe, he reminded me, “Just remember that he is a football player. He's a meat and potatoes guy.” With that in mind, when Thom and I were discussing the recipe, he reminded me, “Just remember that he is a football player. He's a meat and potatoes guy.” With that in mind, my simple Coffee Cake, cut into squares, is easy to pick up and delicious to eat, with as many variations as you may like.
