To Pick Up a Pen

I was so desperate that I almost was willing to give up all of my artisan-designed Montegrappas and Viscontis in return for a lowly Bic ballpoint ($8.79 per dozen).

- JERRY CEPPOS

The reason is that the Bic held my key to freedom after 1 spent 11 days in two hospitals. I had taken a gentle fall that, more than a week later, led to a hematoma on my left leg that looked roughly like the state of Florida and almost was that size. I couldn't steady myself enough to walk.

But physical therapy at the Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Rehab Hospital brought much of my strength back. Finally, I was being tested to determine whether I could go home. I did fairly well crawling into a fake car and even working out on a stationery bike. Then my wonderful therapist, Kellye Chappellie, turned out to be not so wonderful.