Some readers noticed I was missing in action for awhile in September and then all of October, and there is a reason.
I was finally starting to recover and feel a lot better from a health issue I dealt with in September when I fell October 1. And, fall I did. It wasn’t a graceful swan dive fall. The fall was an all-out belly smacker. A face first in the carpet kind of fall.
Over the years, I’ve fallen a time or two, and was always able to bounce back. There was no bounce in the last fall. It was an all out splat that required a trip to the emergency room. My editor, Mr. Bill, was kind enough to check on me in the emergency room and keep me company for awhile. His presence and joking proved “laugher really is the best medicine.”
The end result of the fall was a radial fracture of the elbow as well as a sprained wrist and knee – all of which are still causing me some problems and pain; but at least, I’m able to work, type, talk, watch football, and do crafts.
The loss of one wing – even if it was the left one – instead of the right one is hard to live with. Although I’m predominately right handed, there are a lot things I do left handed or require the assistance of the left hand to accomplish.
For nearly three weeks, I couldn’t knit or crochet, and even holding a book was an issue. I love football and doing crafts while I’m watching games. The more exciting the game is, the faster I crochet.
Because I couldn’t crochet, all I could do was watch a football game so I immersed myself in them. So much so when I touchdown happened, I forgot about my arm. I cheered and then slammed my arm down as the referee called the play back. Oh, the pain!!!! So after that, I held my arm down with several pillows so I wouldn’t do that again while watching football.
Also, while I was out of commission, it seemed there were more news happening in my area than usual. I was chomping at the bit to make phone calls, go to meetings, and write articles, but alas I could do nothing.
Plus, I never realized how much I waved my hands around when I talk. How can you make a point while talking without the using hand motions?
Anyway, I’m back to work now, and that’s my story about my “fall from grace.”
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.