Hello Texas Cavers! I am about to put out a call shortly for TSA convention speakers, but since this listserv turned into "MalloryTex" temporarily for a couple of months there last summer, I just wanted to kind of address my situation and get it out of the way first. :)
THANK YOU ALL SOOOOO MUCH! For everything--all your caring, your support, your interest, your patience, all the gifts/donations I recieved from grottos and cavers in this state. I cried a lot of sad/confused tears in the hospital, but a lot of happy tears after I saw the outpouring of support this community sent my way. SO cool. It's been a rough, messy year, and there's a lot still to come. For example, the guy who hit me hasn't been convicted yet (due to endless court resets), and there will be several court dates coming up in the coming months, perhaps years, and for that reason I really don't want to put much about the details of my recovery on a public listserv. However, when this whole situation is resolved, rest assured I will shout the happy events from the rooftops. Or maybe the top of some rope, in a pit. :) Regarding caving, it'll be some time before I'm in the shape I used to be in, but I am in a program called "Strength Unlimited" to try to work on some of the physical damage from the incident, and I'm pleased with it so far. The prognosis is WAYYYY more positive than it was last summer. :) I graduated rehab Dec. 19th, so I do have some physical therapy/emotional therapy to continue with, but the worst/biggest part is over. I hope to see many of you at the TSA convention this spring. Besides being thrilled to actually be able to make it, I'm especially excited for this convention because Rex, my partner in survival, will be attending! This will be his first caving gathering of any sort, and he's looking forward to seeing what I've been rambling on about for months. So please volunteer to speak if you've got cool content! I can guarantee at least two appreciative spectators. :) Often, I feel a lot like a boxer after they just got suckerpunched...confused, reeling, but ultimately just trying to get back on my feet and soldier on. And I want to thank all of y'all for helping me make that happen, and for reminding me who I was, and still am. Cavingly Yours, Mallory Mayeux GHG Chair
