It was not the New Year’s Eve that I imagined. In fact, if I recall all the New Year’s Eve’s that I can recall (not many), I would have to rank this last one as the worst, the absolute worst! It all started out just as planned: Champagne and hors’ d’oeuvres, filet mignon with made from scratch Béarnaise sauce, asparagus, and wild rice. An early celebration of 2010 and then to sleep somewhere around 10:30 p.m. An almost perfect “for those over 70” evening. NOT!
At 7:00 p.m. I turned off my laptop, draped my long, flowing, white knit shawl over my shoulders and headed downstairs for that glass of champagne. Oooops………………..on the first step my right foot caught the edge of my shawl and I soon found myself airborne – literally. My fully rounded, matronly body was flying down the stairs and my feet were not on the steps. I remember thinking “Oh, S—t!” But not for long.
CRACK – my right hip landed on the edge of the hardwood step and I swear I heard the bone snap. My ankle hit another step and then nothing but white pain flooding my body. “Oh, no,” I thought, “this is not good.” No kidding. It was not only not good it was bloody horrible and I was in a blanket of pain I hadn’t felt maybe ever. Of course those two with whom I live came running as I sat there gritting my teeth wishing away the pain that only got worse…and worse…and worse. 911 call in my immediate future.
Blessings upon blessings always seems to come my way when I look for them. A couple of hours in the ER with accompanying X-Rays showed no broken hip or ankle. WOO HOO! But, oh my, the pain kept up and up and up. Was finally able to put some weight on the old leg and the ER crew stuffed two Percoset® into me and sent me packing home! Champagne and Filet here I come.
We ate our yummy meal, donned our celebratory hats, blew our horns, toasted in the New Year and watched the ball descend on Times Square. 12:06 a.m. – off to bed to rest for the next four days, ice on thigh, husband waiting on me hand and foot, aaaahhhh. The dinner plate sized deeply purple bruise on my thigh will fade with time as will the pain which is already getting so, so much better – more blessings! Thank you, Jesus. But, I think I’ll not try to go downstairs wrapped in a flowing shawl again.