And just like that, I was reminded how fragile we are. Even more so, how quickly our circumstances change.
We’ve all been there; a car accident, a dreadful diagnosis or a phone call that put us on our knees. Thankfully, my incident today wasn’t nearly as bad as all that, but falling face-first onto our pool deck was an instant reminder even the joys and pleasures of life can bring pain.
After working several hours pulling weeds yesterday – and beginning my next big project – my back was tightening, and I was worried I’d lose a day of yard work. Thank the Lord, it felt better when I woke up. After my coffee and mindless scrolling, I put my work clothes on, pushed my airpods in place and picked up where I left off the day before.
You know you have a lot of weeds when you’re nearly forty percent through an audiobook by the time you stop yanking those invasive, vexatious buggers out of the ground. And I only stopped because my body wanted to see how it could handle tripping on the pool cover strap and nearly nose-diving into cement. All things considered, it could’ve been much worse. But I still have my teeth, and my nose isn’t broken. I kind of wish it was so I had a reason to straighten my nose. I’m not vain or shallow, but I wouldn’t have complained if they said they’d have to redo my nose. Then, I’d hope the doctors knew the golden ratio.
As I write this, I still have my bulbous, crooked nose. But falling wasn’t the worst thing. Yes, I admit, I get a bit angry when I’m enjoying doing something only to have my nociceptors (no, that’s not a dinosaur) flash red on high alert. Joy is hard to maintain as it is, so to trip, fall and bust up your hand incinerates all happy feelings – even if temporary. I tried to work through it but my hand wasn’t feeling it. More like I wasn’t feeling my hand. Icing and leftover prescription ibuprofen helped, and most mobility has returned. Nothing is broken (I don’t think), so perhaps only a sprain.
Before I tripped, I was holding packets of zinnia seeds. Now, I love zinnias. They provide lots of color to the yard and, when picked, to the kitchen when standing in a vase catching the summer rays of sunshine. They make me think of my grandma, too. I have two garden beds between two large daylilies dedicated to zinnias. Only zinnias. Nothing else. The bed was prepped and ready for me to sprinkle the seeds. But they fell and scattered during my seventy-inch fall. They would've been lost if the pool cover had not been there - the irony is just now occurring to me. With my hand throbbing, I swept them up and salvaged most of them. My zinnias will once again sprout, grow tall and supply a nice splash of color around the pool.
Dream Out Loud,
rg
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I am glad you are keeping your nose and saving your seeds and tossing your weeds today!