OUch!

Saturday, will be going to Mass in Gordon tonight, as I have an invite to some group therapy tomorrow early. 3rd or 4th day since I managed to drop off into a steep ditch with the rider mower! Man is my right calf sore !!! What a stupid thing to happen. Guess life is like that though. I've owned and mowed more acreage than most in my lifetime, but reading the ground fooled me completely. grass growing up the steep side from the culvert to the street was level with the grass growing up on top, so it all looked solid. I was a good foot away from what was obviously the ditch, but as the front wheel touched nothing but air, the snapper promptly tipped into space, throwing me maybe 8 foot onto my back as it rolled 3/4 of a revolution on it's way down, landing with the mower deck edge on both of my calves.  Sheesh! as I opened my eyes I'm looking at that 28" blade (stopped). A couple of half hearted 'help' hollars and I realized there was no one  around who could see or hear me. Luckily my oxygen tank was still on my back, and finding the end of the breathing tube was just in time. As I lay there waiting until my oxygen requirements recovered, several minutes, I looked around and realized no real blood flow, that the left foot could be slid out from under the deck, and using it, could push the deck back enough to free the right foot. Gingerly I checked foot and ankle movements, then knees. Seemed OK, no sharp pains, so I decided to stand up.

Once standing, I pulled the mower on over putting it on its wheels. the battery had come out of it's spot, so that was the next thing to do and as the fuel line came loose from the tank I quickly set it on an angle so it wouldn't leak out until I took care of the battery. Then, gas line back, a quick look over to make sure there wasn't a big pool of gasoline or anything and sat down n fired it up. It started right off.  I had to drive down the ditch center until I found a spot where it wasn't steep and I could climb out. By this time I was sure glad no one had seen this and decided I'd tell no one, least of all Vicki ;-)

I knew I was in shock and that's why I felt no pain, so decided to finish mowing the driveway, gassing up etc. As the shock wore off that night and I started whining about it, Vicki offered to put some stuff on it and before long I'd told her, but by now it'd been hours ago and past the point of panic... lol  waited a couple of days before going in to the doctor, but was pretty sure nothing was broken and expected that poor muscle to be really sore. He confirmed no breakage and reassured me that although there would be clots, they'd be in veins and not arteries leading to my chest/heart.

What I may have made a mistake doing however, was taking a tramidol for the pain figuring I could probably just walk it off in a day or so. Man is my leg sore now. very slow with a cane and can hardly lay down without both legs wanting to cramp!!  oh well, considering what easily could have happened in that ditch, I'm feeling pretty lucky.

Sitting here late at night, just a sense of thankfulness filling the room. Vicki made it back home from her 1,000 mile journey of two days.

 I saw my daughter board her plane in Scottsbluff, (and got her message she was already in Denver before I made it back to Alliance) but the memories of that week just sharing the same air will last me a long time and bring a ready smile each time.

 I suppose I should be letting go of all the toys and distractions of this world, because beyond a doubt my life here is coming to a close.. Dropping down (or trying to) 55 mg of Prednazone leaves me gasping within seconds, and even 60 mg might help me feel better, but it does not help the breathing.

Still, although I'm ready if it's my time, I find I'm still out fixing mowers, still working up loads to target shoot, feeding birds n chickens, living in a state of thankfulness for each day, each beautiful sky, each blooming flower.

Praying has been taking up more of my day for awhile now, almost thankful that finally I have something to really offer up. Now I can offer up my suffering for others. I like that whole thought, little as it is it's at least something. I know I've been on the receiving end of those kinds of prayers for years from my mom while she lived.

Oh Yeah

Wed. Aug. 7th, 2013
   
     How time flies. Enjoying a rare visit with my oldest daughter Melissa

for a week! Health has pretty much deteriorated to a point of no return, but mind still works, wife still loves me, still able to hobble around and not stuck to a wheel chair or in the hospital, so life is still good.

Just found this again, so might start blogging again, who knows, lots to do with so little time left.