It's funny that I would choose this person and this song because I hardly know him; in fact, I don't think I've seen or talked to him since my senior year of high school (19 year ago now!) and he was just a little boy then. But Rob Wudlick, this song reminds me of you.
I know Rob because he is the brother of my dear friend, Marta. I've been friends with Marta since we were about 5 years old. Rob was always the little brother running around in the background.
Marta let us know that Rob was in a terrible accident early this summer. The family describes it this way on their Caring Bridge Website: "Rob was on a month-long back-country rafting trip down the Colorado River, through the Grand Canyon, when on the afternoon of Monday April 4th, he made a not shallow enough dive off the raft into the too shallow water, hit sand, and fractured vertebrae C4 and C5." Since the accident, Rob has been recovering and is slowly gaining some sensation and movement in his body, but for the most part he is paralyzed from the shoulders down.
Since hearing the news, I have been thinking of and praying for Rob every single day. His story hits so close to my heart! I love reading the family's Caring Bridge updates and learning about Rob's progress and his incredible optimism and determination. From all reports, he has a wonderful attitude. His support system - his family, friends, community, former Scout troop - is incredible and inspiring.
R.E.M.'s song Ûberlin reminds me of Rob every time I hear it... and I hear it a lot, because I love this song and the album it's on. That means that Rob is constantly on my mind, and I remember to say a quick little prayer for Rob and his family.
I know, I know, I know what I am chasing
I know, I know, I know that this is changing me
I am flying on a star into a meteor tonight
I am flying on a star, star, star
I will make it through the day
And then the day becomes the night
I will make it through the night
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