a gift

I ran into a potter friend recently.  Well, acquaintance really.  

She's a pretty well known potter ( among other potters) and it turns out she lives in my neighborhood.  When we moved in four years ago, she'd noticed my bumper stickers indicating my love for clay and introduced herself.

Fast forward to the other day when I ran into her at the grocery store.  I hadn't heard form her in about a year and a half and just figured life got busy for her.  As it does for most of us.  

She then shared with me what had happened to her.  

She'd been in a car accident with her husband.   Someone had let them out into traffic at an intersection and she 'd raised her hand to wave the obligatory thank you.  

They were then t-boned by another car.  Her hand was crushed.

She's been through a few surgeries and physical therapy but has been told that her hand will never be the same.  

In short, she'll never be able to throw again.

I asked her what accommodations she'd tried.  I mean after all, that surfer girl was able to surf again and then there's that lady who paints with her feet.  Surely there's a way!  

She was adamant that it wasn't possible, pointing out that throwing pots requires so much manual dexterity and that she just would never be able to do it again.  

I walked away thinking that she'd given up too easy.  I immediately felt bad for thinking that but at the same time I couldn't help but transfer the situation to my own life.  

Would I do that if faced with the same situation?  Would I give up something I love so easily?

What would I do instead?  or would I even be able to find a replacement?  

Could anything fill the clay void?

I feel like each of us is given a gift.  A talent or skill that makes us special.  

What if that gift were suddenly gone?  Would we still be the same person?