Another glorious day, perfect for a bike ride! It had been a great ride until . . . I was on the last uphill grade. I had just made a turn and was pedaling hard and slow. A car came up behind me. I moved over but my wheel slipped off the edge of the blacktop. The lip of the road was too high for me to whip my bike back onto the pavement. I had no choice but to continue down into the ditch. I applied my brakes, trying to slow down. Life began moving in slow motion.
I took my foot off the pedal, reaching for the ground. It was too far down. Slowly the bike began to fall to the right with me still on it. The grass created a soft landing. There I was laying on the ground with the bike on top of me. My first thought was I’m so glad there’s no one around to see me. My next thought was how am I going to get up? Mentally I did a pain check of my body. Mostly okay, except for my right foot. It hurt, but it wasn’t OMG! pain.
Slowly I pulled my legs away from the bike, pushing the bike away with one leg. I was at an awkward angle, getting up was not a graceful move. Once I was up, I looked over my bike. Nothing was at an odd angle, so I began the task of pushing it out of the ditch.
A black SUV stopped next to me. The window rolled down and the driver asked, “Are you okay? I saw you go down, so I turned around to check on you.” I assured her I thought I was okay. She moved on. I knew something wasn’t right with my foot, but I figured I could make it home. Home was only about a half mile away and most of it was downhill.
Once home I hobbled into the house to explain what happened. “Do we need to get you checked out? my husband inquired. A cold pack was applied and my foot was elevated.
“Let’s wait and see what happens today. If it doesn’t feel better in the morning, we will go to urgent care,” was my response.
Urgent care opened at 9:00, we were there at 9:02. An x-ray revealed that my third metatarsal was broken. The orders were to stay off my foot completely until I could see the specialist. Crutches are not as easy or fun as I once thought they might be. The rest of the weekend found me perched on the couch.
Monday morning dawned bright and I had hopes that someone would call from a doctor’s office. No one did. I contacted Urgent Care and they gave me the number of the office for my referral. Long story, shortened . . . I have a lovely new boot to wear for the next six weeks.
Good thing gray is a good color for me.
*title suggested by my friend Raegan š Thanks Raegan!
elsie tries writing 
OH NO!!! I hope you’re feeling better! I love that you are always able to write with a light heart, even about something like this!
Oh, yuck!! The beginning of your slice made me wince. What an awful moment. I hope you heal quickly!
Perfect mentor piece for telling an event in slow motion! Sorry for your misfortune, but like Tara, my first thought was “time for reading!” We’ll stay tuned for some book reviews.
Oh no! I am so glad you did not get hurt worse! Still, having the boot on will hinder your bike excursion for the near future. Hopefully you will have interesting visitors, great books to read, and maybe a new show to watch on television.Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Yikes, my friend I am glad you went to get it checked out. I guess the boot will be going about the same time I am arriving. Take it easy!
Ugh- I’m so sorry. I was honestly thinking you got some great deal on some stylish boots before I read it :).
Maybe this is God’s way of telling you to slow down and relax. I hope the next 6 weeks fly by. I’m counting them down myself too.
Jen
What a frightening experience Elsie. You are right….your boot is very fashionable, but square. I hope that you are getting along on those crutches better than I would. Here hoping for a speedy recovery.
Sorry to hear about your mishap. Praying that you will heal quickly and be back on the bike in no time. I’m sure hubby will be pampering you and caring for you. Lots of reading and writing time. Knowing you, that boot won’t stop you at all!
Oh Elsie. I am so sorry. So glad you were not injured more….but know how aggravating that boot must be. Hopefully you will get more mobile on those crutches with a little practice.
Oh my! Only you could write about a bike crash and find the humor in it! Looking at the positive side of it – you could have a cast (or two) on a leg (or two). Hopefully you will be completely healed by All Write! I just signed up yesterday and can’t wait to meet you! Take care of yourself or better yet, let you husband do that!
Elsie, I was expecting it to be a story about wearing Ugh boots on a hot day, or something! And then, I realized what kind of boot you had alluded to! At least you fell away from the street and traffic! Sending positive thoughts for a speedy recovery š
Oh no! I’m so sorry! I love the way you told the story though. And I couldn’t help but think as I was reading, that it’s too bad it didn’t happen in March when you would have had some great SOL reading at your fingertips every day! I hope you recover quickly and are able to get back on that bike asap!
Oh, no! I’m always afraid of that happening! Hope you have a pile of books and your computer close! This too shall pass!
So sorry to hear about your foot! I had to wear the same boot for two months this past winter, so I can “feel your pain.” It’s no fun. When I told my doctor that the boot was “not cute,” he told me I should “bedazzle it.” š (I didn’t…)
I enjoyed reading your post about your fall (though I’m sorry it happened to you!). I liked how you brought your reader right along with you. One of the sentences that stuck out at me most was, “Urgent care opened at 9:00, we were there at 9:02.” I thought this really communicated how ready you were to go see a doctor due to your extreme pain, despite the fact that the night before, you thought maybe you’d be able to push through. That one small sentence told us just how bad the pain really was!
Elsie, I am so sorry to hear about this. Hope it is not too uncomfortable. On the bright side, if there is one, there is absolutely no way you can cook for the next six weeks so you husband will have to take yo out to dinner every day. Hopes for a speedy recovery.
Elsie, I am so sorry to hear about your crash! I hope that your foot heals quickly and that you are back to bike riding in no time! š
Oh that “lip” you describe between the gutter and the street is my main fear of biking! So sorry this happened to you. My colleague broke the same thing running! Take care, listen to the doctors, heal fast, and great slice.
I was with you through that piece, feeling it personally. Yesterday, as I was walking in the sunshine with Tara’s kids, I fell and bruised my knee, made a hole in my black pants, but saved my camera and only had a few girls watch me.- They were very sweet. I had my doctor Tuvia check me out and it seems that even though I feel sore this morning I’m heading out for my swim lesson. Can’t miss that right?
Feel better so you can get back on your bike. ASAP.
Oh Elsie, I am so sorry to hear about your tumble. The title is pretty fantastic, I must say! I know exactly what you mean by “a pain check.” It only takes a few seconds for your mind to scan your body for pain. What an incredible body we have!
Yikes! I am sorry to hear about this. I did enjoy reading your story, though. This part made me chuckle “My first thought was Iām so glad thereās no one around to see me. My next thought was how am I going to get up?” Why is it that we always have that thought?
Oh Elsie, I’m so sorry about this. The only positive is that it wasn’t worse. What.a.bummer to have it happen though. Best to you for lots of beautiful spring days so you can sit on the porch and enjoy them.
I had a feeling…the way you slowed down the beginning, I had a feeling…thank goodness, though, that it wasn’t worse. Take care, Elsie – get some great reading done!
Oh my gosh Elsie, thank goodness is was not serious! Be a good patient now and keep icing and elevating . . . here’s to a swift recovery.
Oh Elsie, That sounds terrible. I hope your recovery is swift.