When Optimists Stumble

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The day after my birthday I fell hard and sadly, I fell forward, not backward as I was trained to do when I was an active skier. I would have preferred a soft landing on my bottom but it didn’t happen.

Maybe I was still on cloud nine after a very nice birthday that made me feel beloved and extra special, or perhaps the explanation is much simpler. I didn’t pay attention! I was carrying something in my hands when I either didn’t lift my left foot high enough or I forgot about the small threshold of the baby gate completely.

When I noticed the stumble I was already in free fall toward earth. I landed hard on my left knee, and from there I fell forward with my face, I hit the dog’s water bowl, and water splashed everywhere.

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It’s always fascinating to see how a split second can change your life and your health. The left side of my face got wet, and water was running down my cleavage.

A headline Woman drowned in the dog’s water bowl flashed in front of my eyes and it made me laugh. I rolled onto my side -away from the water. Our dog Vader was now beside me, concerned licking my face, our dog Patches, further away just curious but not overly stressed out.

My knee hurt instantly and I wiggled my toes, bent my leg, and did all the things I learned so many years ago when skiing. Verdict: “Nothing broken, good!”

I moved my hands, moved my fingers, moved my wrist. “Awesome, I didn’t fall on my hands, how lucky am I?”

And this is what I like about myself best. No matter what, I always find something to be grateful for, even when I find myself on the ground. You can’t learn this. I am an optimist. This is the special gift that has been given to me and the older I get, the more grateful I am to feel that way.

My first thoughts after the fall were interesting. The amusement over hitting the water bowl, the relief that I didn’t stop the fall with my hand. My hands! The moneymakers. I need them to perform – to work.

Next, I was sitting up and I felt the pain in my knee. Still, on the floor, I rolled my pant leg up, and sure enough, I had a banged-up knee. I can’t even remember when I had one of them last. Forty years ago? Maybe fifty?

You need to get up!

The voice of logic got louder and told me to get up quickly. The commercial came to my mind, “Help, I have fallen and I can’t get up.” The commercial shows an older woman on the ground, asking for help. The company sells LIFE ALERT, a necklace with an alert button for seniors who live alone. I love the idea for older (much older) people, but it always angers me a bit too. “They should be given out free to our seniors.” I always have the same thought when I see it. I can’t help it!

I scooted backward toward the buffet, right beside it was our man-fridge. The beverage cooler for water, beers, and old bottles of whatever, that nobody drinks. And then I pulled myself up. Shaken up a bit I hobbled toward the next chair.

I felt so grateful! I had a bad fall and I didn’t break anything. How much luckier can you get?

The baby gate was now on the floor. Water everywhere. The mug and the bag I had carried were on the ground. I had things to do. I hopped around like all females do and cleaned the mess I had made. I threw a towel over the water and put the mug in the sink. Picked up the baby gate and then I went upstairs. Let me rephrase that. I hopped upstairs. I finally called my husband and let him know what happened. “Do I need to come home?”

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There was no need for him to rush home. I laid down, propped up my left leg for a while, and dozed off.

About an hour later I woke up, my knee was now three times more swollen and it hurt. I made it downstairs somehow. Finally, I got the ice out of the freezer and made an ice pack. I took another look at the injury and decided that a visit to the emergency room would not be the worst idea.

By then it was 4 pm. To my surprise, I could pre-register at the emergency room and I made an appointment for 6:30 pm.

Nothing is broken, but I have a very hurtful deep bruised bone and deep bruised muscles. I will spare you the pictures of my leg. Let’s just say this rainbow has a lot of dark colors. 🙂

I have spent the last eleven days in our Senior Chair, that’s what we call it. It’s an electric recliner we purchased in 2019 when my husband had shoulder surgery. We never use it afterward and the dogs love it. We decided to keep the chair, just in case. We both are aware of the fact that we are getting older.

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It’s wonderful to sit in, you can even sleep in it, but oh boy it’s not good for my back.

I have another appointment with a sports orthopedic specialist on Thursday morning. It’s healing but very slowly and it still hurts a bit too much. We shall see!

Before I decided to take it easy for a while, I called all my customers. I have their projects lined up in my workroom, some of them needed to be done by Thanksgiving. There will be a delay and I needed their blessing.

I was surprised by how they reacted. They all understood. “Health comes first.”

I have wonderful customers!

I have started working a few hours a day this week, but I can feel that it’s not good to have my leg on the ground for too long.

I didn’t read your blogs. I didn’t post other than scheduled ‘stuff’. I stayed in our senior-recliner and watched TV and read a lot. I just took a break and took care of myself.

Now I am back because it’s time to be back but I will not overdo it!

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