Cracking Up Again

 I managed a full year of writing and posting my blog essays, but I only made it seven months between fractured bones. Yes, I fell again, this time breaking my wrist. Silver lining, it’s my left wrist and I’m right-handed. You’ll forgive me, I hope, for today’s abbreviated post. My keyboard skills are pretty good two-handed, but losing the use of five of my ten digits is dire.

All I did was walk down my driveway, pick up the Sunday paper, and walk back to the house. A neighbor was out doing yard work. I gave him a brief good morning, and then splat, and hello sidewalk. Oddly, I went down onto my right side but broke my left wrist. I don’t even know how that happens. The right wrist is sprained, but mostly functional.

 Functional is a spectrum concept. I’ve had 18 hours to figure out how to do some things and to give up doing others. Jeans, for example, are officially out for the duration. I’ve been in elastic-waist yoga pants ever since I had to ask Michael to zip me up after a potty stop. It goes without saying that I can’t tie my own shoes. And I definitely cannot ask Michael for help with that.

 My dad became quite frail in his elder years, partly because my mother did everything for him, including tying his shoes. Many years ago, I drew a line in the sand about shoelace independence. Imagine how much fun Michael could have at my expense if I asked him for a shoe tie!! As they say, discretion is the better part of valor. I’m just not going to go there at all.

 I had surgery on my left hand a decade or so ago to fix a problem with the bottom joint of my thumb, which had drifted out of its assigned parking space. That was one of the most painful surgical recoveries I’ve had. Preliminary X-rays suggest that no surgery will be required this time, but boy, does it hurt. When I get the permanent cast on, things should settle down to a dull roar. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.

 As with my broken foot last fall, I am so grateful to have a fully committed and able-bodied partner to depend on. Michael is really in my corner and I couldn’t appreciate him more than I do. Still won't ask for help tying my shoes, though …

 Who can you count on when bad things happen? And who can count on you?

 Ciao

 P.S. I will be experimenting with voice typing between now and next week. All my doctors seem to be doing it. I’ll let you know how well it works for writing blog posts.