Oh, your poor, poor eye.

Here's how it happened:

In 2000 pb*, Rachel and I were living in Jefferson City, TN.  We went to MD for Christmas, but celebrated the New Year's at home with my brother and our friend, Matt.  

Oh wait, some back story:  In High School, when Jon and I switched schools Matt had been the first friend we made collectively, and he ended up being our best friend.  We did everything together.  Over the summers we would go visit Matt's family's property in southern VA (I actually have no idea where it was), which we called "fish camp."  After a long day of skiing and fishing we would always play cards, which would always turn into Matt and I throwing cards at each other.  

You'll think I'm making this up, but we actually got good enough that our hands would be covered with little cuts after a game from where we'd blocked the other person's cards.  Several times my hands actually bled.

Fast-forward to 2000, and Matt's at our house.  We're talking about fish camp, about to play cards.  Matt says, "Remember how we would.." and throws a card.  I see stars.  

After a few minutes of rubbing, I go to our bedroom and lay my head on our bed.  My eye won't stop watering and it feels miserable, like it's full of sand.  Every time my eye opens it feels like it's being cut.  I say I should go to emergency room, but Matt (pre-med at the time) says my eye is just in shock, so I ask them to go to Wal-Mart and get something that will keep my eye shut.  When they get back, I put on the silk, cosmetic eye patch and everyone laughs.  

In the emergency room an hour later, the doctor puts some stuff in my eye that knocks out the pain.  I actually said, "Dr, I don't even know your name, but I love you."

The same night one of the worst colds I've ever had kicked in.  When Wes saw me three or four days later, he said (mostly because of the over sized sweats I think) that I didn't look like the same person.

I wore the patch for a week, and dealt with eye issues for two years!  I had to put salve in my eye for a year.  

Here's a polaroid from the incident:

*pre-baby