These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Thursday, August 03, 2006

I Have A Hero!

I decided to work in my garage a little while since I was waiting for the temps to go down enough that I could go outside again. My friend Scottie is coming on Saturday with his pick up to take all the bottles and cans of unknown substances in the garage to the HazMat collection center. My husband would know what they are, but I don't so they will all go to be inspected and safely disposed of or recycled.

So in the garage, I was taking all these mystery containers off the shelves and boxing them. With those done, I moved to the work bench which has a number of gallon paint cans to be taken as well. The door would not quite open because I have a table set up to sort things on. I decided to move it about 3 inches, It's one of those huge, heavy banquet tables with folding legs. You know, the kind that takes a couple men to set up. So I went to the opposite end and pulled. It moved an inch or so, then stopped. I bent to look under to see if the other legs were caught on something, and they weren't, so I gave another tug, and it moved. Yeah, it REALLY moved.

Next thing I knew I was sitting on metal tool boxes that had been about 18 inches behind me. The legs at the opposite end of the table had collapsed (why didn't I realize they might?? duh!!) and had pushed the set of legs on my end as far as was possible, resulting in my ankles being caught between the crossbar of the table and 2 metal toolboxes. I couldn't move. And it hurt like hell! I knew nothing was broken, just incredibly tightly pinned in place. I tentatively tried to move the table. Well, of course, I couldn't! (again, duh!!) I also realized that if I did move it, it might shift farther and do serious damage. I tried to move a tool box, but from my position (sitting on a larger tool box with the small one under my thighs, and of course, it is pinned between the one I'm sitting on and my ankle!!) I couldn't move it. I was completely trapped.

I hope you understand that all of that above happened in just 2 minutes, at most. And now I'm sitting there with the pain increasing and my brain is churning. I live alone. Shih Tzus are wonderful companions, but as rescue dogs, they suck. So now what? Fortunately, since I locked myself out of the house a few weeks ago, I've been good about carrying my phone with me. The cordless phone is a bit big and awkward, so if I'm going out for any period of time, I forward the house phone to the cell phone and clip it to my pants. If you're guessing that I forgot it this time . . . nope! I had it. So I dialed Laura next door. When she answered, I'm sure I sounded awful. All I said is "Laura, can you come over here?" and she said, "Yes." I told her I was in the garage, and she asked no more questions. What seemed like a really long time (the pain was increasing), but which was less than 2 minutes, she came in the back door. After a couple attempts to free me in the obvious ways which didn't work at all, I managed to shift my bum to another place, and she was able to move out the tool box that I sat on, then she could free the one that was pinning me in. What a relief!

I'm going to be bruised, and I'll probably hurt tomorrow. I'm already feeling the muscles in my shoulders and neck beginning to ache and scream at me. I'm pretty sure I wrenched my back in all that, too. But considering the possibilities that DIDN'T happen, I'm very lucky, and . . .

LAURA IS MY HERO!!!


14 comments:

  1. Oh, I understand that now!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Laura!

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  2. I beg you're not the only person that thinks laura is a hero :) Caroline thinks highly of her too!! Way to go Laura!

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  3. Oh, I'm having sympathy pains for you way over here in the San Luis Valley! I hope you're taking it easy now. And a big HURRAY!! for heroes like Laura.

    P.S. you had me laughing OUT LOUD about the Shih Tzus lacking rescuing skills.

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  4. What would we do without wonderful neighbors! Thank God for Laura!

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  5. one - hmmm. perhaps Caroline and I should tone it down just a bit. Don't want Laura's head to outgrow the viser!! Boy, am I lucky she was home. The time of day this happened, most neighbors aren't home from work. gulp!

    catherine - I'm almost afraid to say this, but I'm not terribly sore today!I do have that "aching all over" thing going on, but not severe. The ankle is bruised, but surprisingly not stiff or showing other signs of extended trauma. Thank goodness. Shih Tsus = yeah, love 'em and an't imagine life without them, but even when Ali wandered out when he heard Laura's voice, there wasn't even a thimble of liquor to assuage my pain!! Laura and I talked about what could I have done if I'd not had the phone. Neither of us had a plan . . . well, except when she mentioned that some people gnaw their legs off!

    old - really! I told Laura I was so glad she didn't have a "real" job! Her new venture allows her to work at home, and I would have been in a fix if she'd not been there. I'm so fortunate to have C & L as neighbors in many ways.

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  6. Yeah for Laura! Smart thinking to take your phone out with you. Glad to hear you're not terribly sore. Just take it easy and be careful! :)

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  7. sassy - I got a couple of "threatening" emails from people who wanted to say something not appropriate for the comments section! I've promised to be more thoughtful before I act!!

    traci - frankly, I was more shaken by the "afterthoughts" than the event. When I realized how much trouble I was brushing elbows with, I was quite sobered. I should say that my garage is air conditioned, so it wasn't hot, but jusst the "being trapped" is enough to make me think twice.

    Thanks to all for your concern.

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  8. Glad you are alright as well and glad that Laura was able to help you. Laura is now walking around the house acting like she is wonderwoman.

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  9. I keep hearing that Greatest American Hero song. How great you had someone nearby to help.

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  10. Way to go Laura! :) I am so glad it wasn't worse. Household incidents can be scary!!!
    Madison got her legs stuck in her crib bars yesterday and I had to use lotion to get her out. Her little chubby knees were red and I felt SO bad. We're thinking of moving her to a toddler bed now.

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  11. I'm so glad you're okay!! Thank God for nice people and cell phones!! :)

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  12. caroline - it's OK, she has my permission to do that!

    ragged - good friends and neighbors are priceless!

    patti - Maddy can tell you how bad it feels, for sure. And yes, household accidents are frequent and very scary!!

    Jen - Amen!!

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  13. Omigosh! Seriously, how many lives have been saved by cordless phones, though. How did we manage without them?

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  14. sandra - I've wondered that myself. I always keep one phone with a cord for power outages, but otherwise, I like having it with me wherever. And thank goodness I did.

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!