Sh@%# happens!!

This last October, I took a stupid fall! It should not have happened, but it did!!

In two days, I was leaving for Europe then Africa. I had been planning this trip for a year and it was a big deal. I had arranged for six of my friends to accompany me on a Safari.

The Friday night before my departure, my next door neighbor knocked on my door to tell me, my tree on the lower level of my property, had fallen onto his drive-way. He has a very narrow, 90 degree, up-hill driveway and it was evident the tree had to be removed immediately. I got on the phone and arranged for a tree company to come to my house the next morning.

Sure enough, nine o'clock that morning, standing at my door was a nice young man from the tree company ready to remove the tree off my neighbor's driveway.

My lot is large and he asked me to tell him where the tree had fallen. I was standing on my driveway, pointing to where the tree had fallen and he yelled back "I cannot see it". With that, I stepped off my driveway, onto the slope dirt area, with my flip-flops on, and whamo, down I went right on my left ankle, with my left hip. I knew that I had done some damage to myself, however, decided it had to be a sprain so I could continue on my trip to Europe/Africa.

I did leave for Europe, two days later, struggling on a cane, with the intent of joining my friends on this trip of a life-time.

I made it to Europe for five days and finally I was advised that my foot was not sprained, but fractured. Of course, the tell tale sign was my ankle was twice it's normal size, and the pain was bad. With that, a great big cast was put on it and I was sent back home.

Arrangements were made to send me home first class and handicapped. Needless to say, everyone was not expecting me for another three weeks.

I am now wearing a big, Velcro boot and awaiting physical therapy. I am trying to figure out what this was all about and the lessons one must learn when something unexpected happens. I have gone from shock to sadness and depression. I learned that the company I had arranged for the safari would not refund any money to me. I did not take out insurance because never had I cancelled a trip.

My daughter reminded me had I gone on the trip, the money would have been gone anyway. I am working on that.....

I guess the moral of the story sh@%# happens. This accident got me on the 'side of the head', I did not see it coming. I am working on bouncing back from this physical and financial set back.

Life, sometimes it ain't easy!!!!

Tora