Fall is here in more ways than one

I had an exhilarating trip yesterday! Unfortunately, it was down the stairs.

I’m not gonna lie, tears were shed. It wasn’t a huge fall; on the contrary, I sort of just missed the last two steps. But coming to what you think is the bottom when it isn’t, sets your body in a motion that’s ungraceful at best, and damaging to boot. I went down like a ton of bricks and lay at the bottom of my 130-year old stairs completely immobilized by fear. In fact, in was the fear that brought on the tears, although the pain in my right ankle did bring forth a four letter word, severe wincing and my entire family rushing over and looking down with pity at me.

The fear was not irrational. It was just over two years ago that I fell down some steps and did mega damage to my left ankle. That last tumble had me in a cast for 17 weeks and in physiotherapy for over 10 months. I realize the theme here and I’ll admit, I fall down a lot of stairs. I always have, but falling down at 22 years old and falling down at 42 years old apparently makes a difference and takes its toll. It might appear that I am a klutz, but it really isn’t so. I do have severe attention deficit though, and most of my falls happen when I am doing something else while I descend. The real trick is paying attention it seems. Go figure.

So after a few tears were shed, and ice and heat were applied diligently, after a nap, some Advil and a good night’s sleep, the ankle is tender and bruised, but otherwise okay. And I can’t tell you how unbelievably fantastic it feels. Even with a sore foot and a summer cold, I want to jump for joy. I don’t have a cast, I won’t need physio, and I won’t have to change my life around places you can travel in a scooter (and I don’t mean the cool kind that kiddies use either).

But then again, I think I’ll better eat a little better, get back to the gym, and start going to bed before midnight. Somehow I started to take my good health and well being for granted again. It took a small reminder, but I got it. Tuesday means back to school for the kids and back to healthy living for me.

Goodbye summer lover, September is here. Just like the August heat wave, the free for all eating, no exercise, not enough rest, and lazy days without writing are gone, and maybe I should thank my lucky stars for it.