How the Mighty Have Fallen

See the brace? I don't ordinarily wear one of those, it's a new addition to my wardrobe.

The Nuke and I were out walking the dogs, hadn't gone that far when Bear, who was on my wing, decided to stop and sniff something interesting. So I turned to see what she was doing,

Bear in mind (no pun intended, well, maybe a little) it was dark out. As I turned to starboard, my foot managed to find the edge of a sunken hatchway in the sidewalk. I'd call it a grate, but it was solid, more like a hatch.

Thing is, the hatch was recessed about a half inch into the concrete. My foot found the precise spot where my ankle decided, "Fire truck this, I'm rolling this old man."

I heard (and felt) a "pop" as my ankle decided to "give way all." Down I went onto the sidewalk, with all the grace of a dropped sack of potatoes. But back in the day I learned how to fall, sort of, it wasn't pretty but nothing important was bounce checked. No concussion protocol necessary.

But oh Madre de Dios did it hurt like a sumbitch.

"Dad, are you okay?" The Nuke inquired, as Kodi licked my face.

"Ah negative, Ghostrider, I am not okay."

Actually what I said sounded more like, "Ow, ow, ow, ow, jumping Jiminy it hurts like a sumbitch! Gimme a minute, m'kay?"

"Can you walk on it? Can you move it?"

"Standby, running a full BIT check..."

Actually what I said sounded more like, "Ow, ow, ow, ow, jumping Jiminy it hurts like a sumbitch!"

Eventually I regained my senses and rather gingerly moved my foot around (the right one mind you, the one not attached to my bad knee, or perhaps I should say worse knee). Seemed functional. Slowly I tried to arise from my reclined position on the sidewalk.

It was slow, it was awkward and oh yes, oh shit, oh dear, it hurt. But I discovered that I could more or less move, I could put a little weight on it. (Which, not to jump ahead in our story, the Doc at the ER said, "Oh, you shouldn't put any weight on it."

Hhmm, so should the wee daughter of mine attempted to lift my not inconsiderable bulk from the grip of the sidewalk? Nah, I told the Doc, "Okay, I won't do that again."

Off to the ER we went, fortunately it wasn't busy, couple of young kids with stomach bugs, not happy campers. No GSWs, no automotive mishaps, no belligerent drunks (yes, I've seen all of those in various ERs, here and there).

Got in, they took X-rays, three I think, then I was pronounced bowed but unbroken. 'Tis a sprain, no broken bones. Ice it, take pain meds as necessary (they offered opioids, I only hesitated a second before saying, "Nah, I'm good. OTC meds should be fine."), and here's a referral to an orthopedic guy, should you need it.

I'm "okay," but I won't be doing a lot of walking for the next few days (perhaps a fortnight the Doc said). Just what you want while visiting the Nation's Capital.

Ah well, I had a good couple of days, and that's no wee sma' thing.

So I am somewhat hobbled, and somewhat humbled. This too, shall pass.

Like Buck said, "It's always sumthin'."

Why yes, yes it is.