Well, another challenge has come my way long with all of the odd experiences that comes with it…also, it has been a learning experience of sorts. I am not through it yet so I am still figuring it out.
Thursday and Friday mornings I went on a hike that I hadn’t taken in awhile.My garagiste / friend Fred, had to take apart my gas pump as it was leaking a little….but what was I to do without a car and stuck at his place for a few hours…so I asked him to bring Rune and I to a trail head not so far from his house. This trails starts out as a long uphill that is a challenge for me…I like uphills for some reason…We had wonderful walks both days. I was super careful not to twist anything.
Yesterday, feeling fine, I went to the supermarket. As I was going in I noticed a big group of Croix Rouge…Red Cross volunteers collecting donations. When I finished my purchases at the self check out machines, I turned right to walk towards the elevator in my regular NY speed and my left knee just gave out. I went down in the crowd of Croix Rouge…what luck! One woman jumped right into action and got me sitting up and moving my leg. I was in shock. That had never happened before. I immediately resorted to english ...my go to in emergency situations...I had to force myself to switch to French. Looking up I see a bunch of beautiful young french boys ( 8 /10 years old ) who looked like they should be perennially be in tennis whites with sweaters tied around their necks standing over me, concerned. The women got me to my feet. I could walk, but the knee was wonky.She asked me if I wanted her to call the pompiers…( the fireman who respond to this type of thing in France) …no no…no pompier …I already put on a big enough show in the busy store. ( my thoughts went to > dog alone in the house, car in the parking structure that locks after a certain time and no one to call to help me…I will have to go it alone) ) The woman asked the boys to go with me to my car and to carry my groceries. We had to go up in the elevator to the parking garage. We got to the car. I thanked them, still in shock.
There was a fancy car next to me with a snobby ultra thin woman ( not french I don’t think)…she gave me a sneer as she got into the passenger side next to me. I opened the door and went to get into my car and bam, I was on the ground again….the couple kept backing out and just drove away knowing I was lying there on the ground…a man came over and I asked him to hep me get up, which he did.
I got in the car and decided that I needed to get home. It was painful but I was not that far away. My foot was Ok to use the clutch…I was definitely in shock. It was like…what?????how was that possible…like having no control over yourself.
I got back to the house and assembled the walking stick ( which I never use) that is in my car. I used it to drag myself down to the house.
Once there, I was in panic mode…what to do? I googled knee failure and it encouraged me to go to Urgence to make sure I don’t have nerve damage. Then I googled the god forsaken Urgence at the local hospital…where I bring all of my broken bones and injuries…It was open for another hour. I figured I’d get there and it would be quick as it was the end of the day. I dragged myself back to the car armed with books, a sweater, a wool shawl, water, ice pack, muscle rub…and I painfully made my way to the hospital. 3 euro parking for as long as you stay and I was right infant of the Urgence. I had visions of just getting in and out quickly, I know the drill there…ohhhh but was I wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment