No LEG to Stand On

My sprained ankle (not broken) has slowed me right down.

You really can find a bright side in almost any situation. Now this ankle injury sucked outright and as I was literally falling on the pavement I had a couple thoughts:

1) Fuck

2) What the fuck was that

3) Shit

What it was was a small, golf-ball sized rock in the road that I did not see. Jogging can do that to you. My other two severely sprained ankles from 20 years ago came as a result of jogging. As I was jogging down the home stretch (after sitting all day I decided I wanted to get out and sweat), I was day dreaming thoughts about how jogging cannot be anonymous - everyone sees you. And then WHAM.

As a self-conscious person, I immediately looked around to see if anyone had seen my clumsy fall. And yes down the straightaway a car was coming and slowing down to see if I was O.K. No I was not O.K. but when the woman initially asked if I needed a ride I demurred and said something like "That's O.K., I live close by."

I actually think I was in a mild form of shock and due to my self-conscious nature I felt compelled to explain to this stranger about the rock in the road. I also quickly came to my senses and hopped over to her passenger door.

She drove me home and said "You never could have made this" and she was probably right but she doesn't know about the shortcut through Mr. Stedman's house and I didn't mention it.

Immediately upon entering the house, I went upstairs to get a couple of Advil and then downstairs to begin icing the ankle.

The next day, at Doug's prompting, I went to the doctor. He insisted I get an x-ray. So yes it was a very bad sprain but that's all.

And the sprain has cancelled my dog walks and any form of exercise. It has made me ask for more help from the three boys. It has evoked some nice sympathy from people. But mostly it has made me slow down. I am always rushing to fit things in that I deem important. I am always doing. The ankle mellowed me a little and made me literally put my feet up (with ice) and watch the news.

Unrelated thoughts

• It's started. I was officially ignored by my 5th grader at a school function. It's not cool to wave at Mom at Field Day or let her give you a hug at graduation. And yes it kind of hurt my feelings.
• Love is an emotion very close to hate at times.
• While sitting in the hospital waiting room, waiting for my x-ray results, I browsed the U.S. News and World Report magazine. There was only one problem. The article I wanted to browse had been ripped out - "Most promising careers for the new economy." A true sign of the times. If and when I need a new job, I wanted to know what was hot.
• Did I tell you how the squirrel or unidentified varmint went down Doug's newly planted corn row and removed each carefully placed seed? Now Doug has installed some elaborate chicken wire contraption over the row and I am wondering if that same wire will strangle the full grown corn stalks or will he remove it by then?