That awkward moment when...
You're heading out into the kitchen to clean up and the dogs start arguing with one another, so you round the corner with that "I'm gonna break THIS nonsense up!" attitude. And before you know it?
You're laying all over the floor.
See, when basset hounds drink water, they end up watering the floor in the process. Fuzzy socks are suggested footwear. Bare feet are an absolute hazard.
That's my PSA for the night.
The thud I made very well may have registered on the Richter Scale. The pain that initially shot through my hip definitely earned some form of sad face on the hospital's pain scale.
Can I digress? Wait. Let me get into italics...
We've all been to the ER and had the triage nurse ask us to identify our pain level, right? These faces. There is no time in my life that I have presented to the ER and resembled any of these. When I have been able to get to the ER with a migraine (rarely), I was barely mobile, shaking violently, hands clenched over face, asking for a vomit tray at the sign in sheet. I always gave that a 7/8, because I couldn't see the faces to tell me otherwise. That heart thing I had after taking a magic carpet ride migraine med? There wasn't a corresponding "scared out of my mind" face. I believe I gave that a 5/6, because it doesn't hurt when your heart has left your body and clung to the ceiling. The results of the EKG felt I downplayed the severity and I won that no-expenses-paid, overnight stay in the luxurious cardiac floor. With no coffee. What was THAT about? And the kidney stones, which created writhing pain? Again, no corresponding faces, but the nurse was able to properly assess based on my...words.
Know what I think of when I see these faces? I think of a dining experience at a new restaurant. Excellent service, never running out of your beverage, food prepared to your liking? 0. Wait staff taking the attitude of the last table out on me, not getting my sweet tea refilled, dry chicken and not enough butter for my baked potato? 10.
/ end digression /
The thud. The instant pain. The customary inventory assessment of "how badly am I hurt, can my legs move with some sort of coordination, what's the best way to get back to my feet?" was interrupted by my son, who was clearly shaken: "Should I call 911???"
And me, not really able to move my legs just yet, feeling the initial pain disappear into numbness and tingling, realizing there was no getting back to my feet in the immediate, yelled out: "NO! No no no. I'm okay."
My husband came to see if he could help and saw me all twisted up on the floor. I felt so sad that he had to see me that way. I mean, it's Saturday night. I wasn't dressed for the occasion. I gave him the usual, "I got it. I'm good. Carry on. Seriously." But, it took a few minutes to get my arm and leg to do what they were supposed to do, which resulted in him coming *back* out to check on me. In that moment, I was finally ready to accept his helping hand. Sorta ready. Okay, not emotionally ready, but more like recognizing and embracing the necessity. Pride comes after the fall when you're me.
As my new and freshly laundered pajamas gently hold me, it is as if they are whispering, "Regardless of whether or not tomorrow is a high pain day, which it certainly has the propensity to be, on account of how the numbness is now transitioning into twinges of pain...it's okay. It's going to be okay."
:::because pajamas would whisper and be totally supportive like that:::
I also have a cat who likes to lay on the top of my desk chair. Usually, he just hangs out. But, tonight he's lending me his paw of support...in my hair. See?
Shout out to the solid construction of our home as well as to my chiropractor, who will put my Humpty Dumpty self back together again as soon as it's safe to push on me ;)
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