The Owners' Manual | Issue 15 | Spring 2019

In my 40+ years I’ve been lucky to receive a bunch of stuff, but nothing compares to what happened on 2/22/16. While driving home from work, that evening, I had a Gran Mal seizure. Now I had never had one before, nor did I know that I had become epileptic in my late 30s (which is highly unusual and possibly a result of concussions I had as a teen). I remember nothing of the incident, but apparently while driving in the evening traffic on 691 in Meriden, I lost consciousness and started convulsing. I sideswiped a car

and hit a guardrail. I destroyed a car that I had searched over a year for and had to fly and pickup because it was so rare. I also dislocated and broke both of my shoulders. At this point, most people would be asking, why was this lucky? I’m lucky because instead of flying off the road into a tree, wall or over a cliff or bridge (all present on that short stretch of highway), I ended up in a grassy median. I’m also lucky because there was an off-duty officer only a half mile behind me, who was the first person on the scene and get this, he’s best friends with one of my best friends. I got immediate help and my wife was in the ER by the time my brain had rebooted enough to remember who I was. So despite all that, I feel incredibly lucky that I survived that. I feel very lucky that I get to spend more time with my kids, wife, family and friends. I still drive that route every day and I’m amazed that I was lucky enough to end up where I did and that I get to continue living life. – Justin Kababik, Meriden

I try to avoid arcades or fun zones that give out tickets, which can be redeemed for prizes. They are fun until you realize you don’t have enough tickets to get what your child wants. I’ve left many of these with an unhappy kid. I’m sure anyone with a child can relate. However, on October 23, 2016 at my nephews birthday party, I hit the jackpot on the Big Bass Wheel. I was able to get anything my son wanted plus some!! I never felt so lucky!! – Joy Kloss, Meriden

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