Shannon Eichenauer Writer

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2024/06/24/care-of-self/

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2024/04/03/its-time/

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2024/03/16/my-way-back-into-the-kitchen/

mommyrhetoricwrites.com

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2024/02/18/i-doubt-the-moment-will-ever-come/

I doubt the moment will ever come… I doubt the moment will ever come when I am not utterly in awe that my body and mobility has taken me so far…from a wheelchair to 2nd full mountain climb in less than 3 years. As I climbed this mou…

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2023/11/02/i-dont-want-to-talk-about-that/

I don’t want to talk about that. November 2nd I am just gonna say it…I don’t want to talk about simple things like the weather, your car breaking, or how you have to make dinner tonight. It’s those things we wrap…

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2023/10/15/traveling-again/

Traveling Again… The goal is to say, “Traveling Always…” We headed East this time Ohio. So many have said I needed to see Hocking Hills and they were 100% accurate. I did. It was absolutely beautiful. And every tim…

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2023/04/03/heading-south-to-tucson-az/

Heading South to Tucson, AZ I am adventuring again. The way the west has just absolutely captured my heart is amazing. The way that in all directions you can find utterly mind blowing beauty. Sometimes in 20 minutes and somet…

I am waiting for the day that views like these don’t make me tear up. They always remind me who I am, my story, the things I have lost, and the things I have gained.

What a cool experience to stand in the middle of the desert in the ruins.

I did it again y’all! A full mountain…bottom to top to bottom. This was was Arizona moderate. My husband had to be my stability quite a bit but I still did it! 💜 Love wins y’all.

Hi All! I decided to change this page to my writing page. Words cannot express just how much the Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant opened my eyes to the world and my place in it.

It created in me an insatiable need to travel, explore, and be alive. It can be hiking in Arizona, having my feet in every river in Colorado, sunning on a beach in Florida, or exploring the beautiful landscapes of Indiana. I am forever changed.

I am heavily working on my book. Initially, it was a mad rush to push the story out but like most things in life savoring the recovery and things I learn about life and myself in the process remain the most important part of any adventure.

This week was 19 months since the accident and I am still dealing with the physical components of my injuries. I am still almost daily dealing with paper work, my husband and I are still processing the true and full miracles that we are in our survival and recovery.

So the book is being lived and written. In the mean time I hope you will stick around here for the adventure, blogging, and moments of time I hope to capture in an image or word.

And oh yea…I climbed a mountain. As in I climbed from bottom, to top, and back to bottom all four miles. 19 months ago I couldn’t move from my waist down in the hospital bed and two weeks ago I grabbed my heart and as I stood looking out at the Superstition Mountains in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2023/03/11/balance-in-the-wild/

Balance in the wild. The Search – Day # 674 When I started hiking in the summer of 2021, I ran into this phenomenon called rock stacking or cairns. Now if you research them you will find various opinions on if ro…

Long time no chat...I continue to process what an amazing experience I got to have this summer. It was absolutely life changing and I see ways my month in Colorado has changed me every single day. As I am looking at processing the trip, writing my book, looking at publishing, and figuring out the what is next in this journey I am truly humbled in where I have been and my being chosen for such an honorable trip.

Colorado Rehashed. The Search – Day # 625 “I like the mountains because they make me feel small,’ Jeff says. ‘They help me sort out what’s important in life.” – Mark Obmascik, Halfw…

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2022/08/07/i-survived-because-i-had-no-other-choice/

Video of me going from not being able to wiggle my toes or move in a hospital bed to climbing mountains as promised.

One year later and I saved myself. Truly saved myself.

I survived because I had no other choice. The Search – Day #469 I am still working on a post about the year anniversary. I go from wanting to process it publicly to then just wanting to quietly let it pass by. But I do think it is im…

First day in AZ

We hiked in Tonto National Forest and around Saguaro Lake. We laid around by the pool and because we never really switched to Arizona time (3 hour difference) we had our hike done and dusted by 10AM.

We drove around Chandler, AZ and Gilbert, AZ looking at houses and dreaming. We still aren’t sure where we are headed. But loved the area.

They are back! I have literally fallen so in love with our national forests.

Long time no talk and while this is not a part of the grant today I am embarking on my trip that was originally planned before the grant.

Today my husband and I are headed to Arizona to dream. We know we want to relocate there and soon after our accident we asked ourselves why wait to start planning.

So here we go…if you will indulge me I would like to share this trip here as well because travel Shannon on this trip will be looking for the same things.

Hiking, writing and healing.

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2022/07/04/colorado-gave-me-a-gift/

Colorado Gave Me a Gift The Search – Day # 437 The one thing I have realized about the search is that it is never actually over. The end of the search is the end of life which may seem a tad morbid, but almost dying…

https://mommyrhetoricwrites.com/2022/07/02/from-grand-junction-co-to-alma-co/

From Grand Junction, CO to Alma, CO The Search – Day # 435 I was so disappointed that we could only stay one day in GJ so we are already planning our next venture. Maybe over Christmas or Spring Break. However, the next part of…

So I’ve made it home. I am trying to adjust. It is weird being away for a month. I had a lot of realizations that I plan to share eventually.

I slept for almost two days. I had Zesto of Decatur West End Restaurant, Inc and Soul Pig BBQ. Now it is time for unpacking, cleaning and lots of writing.

I drove through the intersection twice in one day and I survived even with a red light which I usually pay never happens.

Thank you, Colorado, for reminding me I am alive.

The last of my special people. This kiddo who is actually an adult now and her person have made me so proud through all of this. She had to do a lot of really adult stuff, found out about our accident in maybe the yuckiest way and has been pushed out her comfort zone in the biggest ways and is still standing. She was born a fighter.

I am annoying as a parent when my children date. I refuse to acknowledge their existence because no one is ever good enough. Though secretly I pray for someone to love them like they deserve even though it feels impossible. Guy and Abbie are unique though. They make their own rules and do things their own way.

So all I can say is Guy and Abbie seem to work and Guy has been such a source of comfort and help to our family the last 11 months and he helped hold our house down this month by taking on the lawn, helping with the dogs and taking care of my Abbie Doodles.

And like I do I fawn him with the love of being one of our people. They had a blast in Colorado and I especially loved making them stick their feet in the cold mountain river.

And we made the trek to Brighton which is right outside the airport to get the kiddos to a flight that leaves today and ours that follows tomorrow.

The traffic created an extra hour of driving to get down out of the rockies. But the view did not disappoint at least while I was awake.

Once here every thing just seems so boring that I am battling a little sadness that this is all about over. How do I transition back to the flats if Indiana when I am struggling with the flats of Brighton, CO?

We did try a pizza place called Old Chicago and it was amazing! The breadsticks were my favorite and so good.

Today we reconnect with our youngest who stayed in the city with the Stetlers and to try Jack in the Box at her request. We also grabbed In N Out one last time in Aurora in our travels yesterday.

I hope this afternoon to hike one last hike at Barr Lake State Park.

Can I tell you about my second to last visitors on this trip? This is two of the Stetler Family. This is Christine and Carebear. They have been friends with our family for awhile and as long as we have lived in Decatur my girls have grown up with the Stetler's (Jaime and Christine's Bunch).

We have always dubbed ourselves "The Unicorn Moms" and they are "Our Unicorns". My kiddo has spent many a night at their house. They have a pool so that is kinda hard for me to compete with? :)

Anna normally would have been with us the night of the accident because we were celebrating my oldest birthday. However, since it was the last weekend before it was back to school I let her spend the night with the Stetlers.

It took me a long time when I came to upside down to process that my Anna was not there. The person who pulled me out begged me to understand she was not there. Once I finally realized it I pushed the seatbelt button and passed out.

Finally around 10 when I was being prepared for my emergency surgery I called Christine to let her know what was happening. We had no idea then how things were gonna go and all we knew was that they were really bad.

A little over 24 hours later Kyle needed to go home and change out of the hospital scrubs he was in. He needed to take a shower because he was covered in our blood over him and glass.

I had friends and family rallying around us but they needed time to get themselves together for the longer term and Kyle refused to leave me. So I asked Christine to come up to the hospital. One I knew she was nurse and could help me understand all that was happening because I was so shockingly overwhelmed and two I didn't really want to be alone.

The way she walked in and made my world make sense for just the few hours she sat with me meant everything. She came in and brought me an anxiety ring and set me up with a charger and headphones. She explained my injuries as best as she could understand them and then I will never forget what she said. She told me, "I am not going to lie. This is going to be hard, but you will get through. You are going to see, hear, do and smell things here that are going to be incredibly hard. But you will be okay and you will get through."

I am pretty sure she was the first person to get me to laugh. Kyle and I were still very much in shock at that point and just really processing everything that was coming at us. She was a friendly voice of reason to guide us through the medical aspects.

That is not all she did. She also coordinated with people in my community both Decatur and EAU for meals for my family, raised money, and checked on my other two girls. I know she and my Abbie Dudes bonded a time or two.

The whole Stetler Crew really jumped all the way in for the Eichenauer's and carried us. She also made sure my girl had a stable home for the first few months after the accident. She provided Anna respite from the trauma happening around us and has continued to do that for her. As well, she has been her taxi to and from school and soccer practice.

There are very few people I trust my daughters with and I trust Christine so much I let her take my girl up the mountain where I would not dare go. But it obviously goes further than that. I have never had someone besides my husband that I let my girls be with where I don't fret and worry about them.

Words will never cover what the Stetler's have done for us. I am so incredibly lucky that my baby girl has a second Momma and a unicorn best friend.

Thank you Christine, Jay, Chloe, Cami and Cara.

Woke up today and immediately got into explore mode. I had some of my stamina back and was energized by middle and her boyfriend being here. They wanted to Gondola ride and I was a no. They went up to 12000+ feet.

While they did that I explored and hiked the Snake River more. I got to see new parts. I learned my lesson and did not stick my feet in. I did talk my kiddo and her boyfriend into it though. 😂

After that we hopped in the car and explored Dillion a little and drove over to Breckenridge and then we explored some in the White River National Forest.

Then finally wore everyone out by heading to River Run Village Keystone, Co for the Bacon and Bourbon Festival. I do no drink but it was fun to explore and listen to the 80s Rock Cover Bands.

Then tonight we celebrated the kiddo’s 18th by having Chicken Alfredo and rice crispy cake.

Tomorrow we are on the move again. This time we are headed over Loveland Pass 😳 (one of the highest paved roads that is usually always open) and into Denver for the end of our trip.

We did decide to leave Tuesday instead of Thursday because there is a community graduation for my EAU peeps that I don’t want to miss.

I keep trying to remind myself this is just the beginning of something magical and not the end.

Also, in three weeks I am jetting off to Arizona.

Take care! Tomorrow is a highlight of more of my crew who I hope I can honor for being such a loving support to my family.

I know sometimes talking so frankly about my PTSD makes others uncomfortable. But I honestly don’t care. I have said all along that my trauma affords me the right to publicly process it because society accepts it. But so many other traumas must be dealt with in silence. I also know society places these expiration dates on how long we are allow to process our traumas. Oh it’s been almost 11 months and I won a grant that afforded me the opportunity to spend a month in Colorado I should be okay.

I want to be real clear part of my grant was speaking and writing about PTSD publicly. Speaking and advocating for everyone being able to process their traumas how they see fit in the time frames that they need.

On that note: physical pain is a trigger for me. I have been in pain for two days where walking has been hard. My hips, legs, feet and back ache fiercely. Let alone walking in the mountains. I have had to lay low and just be. Just being is where my mind processes.

But I surrounded myself this trip with people who I am not afraid to tell my pains or my story. I cannot wait to share about them.

But yesterday I rested again and that is okay.

Also find yourself a spouse that pre-empritiveliy goes up a pass to see how it will be for you. 💜 We will be traveling the Loveland Pass tomorrow as we move to Denver for the final leg of this trip. Also my middle made it and turns 18 today!!!eded

Today was a tough day. I had a lot of pain. I was tired. I was triggered.

Thank goodness for my people. They take your kiddo and go gold mining with strict orders to rest which I did.

It was a writing, movies, sitting by the pool reading and ramen lunch kinda day. We ended with the yummiest pizza.

Crossing my fingers for a better day tomorrow. The sun usually will shine again.

Yesterday I went exploring Breckenridge for a few hours which was amazing. But also explored Dillion Reservoir and Snake River and tiny little secret…I enjoy the peace and solitude of nature way more than the touristy hyped up place. Breckenridge had some cute stuff and I did partake but at one point Haylee and I realized most of the shops carried similar things.

Haylee did great driving. I am not a fun one to drive with since the car accident. But I didn’t want to drive the mountain and Kyle had to work, so I told her I would trust that I would trust her eventually. She did great. I put my sweatshirt over my face and she narrated the whole thing. I told Kyle he needed to up his game because she took care of me. That was of course until she took a drink of water. 😂 She got to see my panic in full mode. It’s okay. We laughed later.

We got out and put our feet in the river and the Reservoir and just explored sometimes even barefoot. We came home to new guests and she takes off today. The good part of this long trip is when I get home sick my people come in from home.

One of my most favorite guests comes Friday. My middle kiddo. It has been almost three weeks since I have seen her and it is her 18th birthday! I cannot wait. I love Colorado and am getting kinda sad as my month comes to end soon. But…I miss my kids.

I did too much yesterday. I was in miserable pain last night and this AM. Today I will be laying low and relaxing!