September 10, 2007
No Good Deed Shall Go Unpunished
The Peaceful Farm, near Bella Vista Ar
The title of this post was suggested by an emergency room physician as he was taping up my left foot... and helping me to learn how to use crutches.
I have broken my foot at the 5th metatarsal... just at the place where that little bone sticks out on the outside of the foot. Im in a hard boot under orders to stay off it, if I want it to mend. I dont do crutches very well, but I was able to get up the stairs and into the house. (I yelled like a banshee on each step, it hurt like the devil and it helped to let go and let the pain out)
How did this happen? By trying to do a good deed. Woody and I were just talking about the huge number of "roadkill" animals and how many accidents occur trying to avoid creatures great and small as they lumber, scamper,or stroll out onto the road.
Or creep along as slow as our turtles do as the creep out onto the warm pavements to bask in the sun. We have had chilly rain now for days and the turtles along with every other creature was excited by the prospect of the sunshine that we had today. Woody and I saw several along the side of the highway, and I commented that a motorcyclist had told me that turtles are super dagerous to hit, that they are like hitting a rock and he would pull over and try to get them off of the street. I have seen them trapped on center dividers, in medians, they move so slowly that they cant escape. If they are heading onto the street, and its safe for me I pull off grab the turtle and place it in a safe spot. I have done this many times.
Well, I was on my way to the church to a meeting and there was a large turtle right in the middle of the road. I pulled off the the side of the road and turned off the van. I got out and went to the little beast. He took one look at me and turned and ran in the direction that I wasnted him to...So I am a turtle hearder. Encouraged I followed him to the side of the road. Well, then he turned and tried to run back from whence he came. I grabbed him and walked to the drainage ditch area near the van. The soil here is saturated from the heavy rain that we have had. The little varmint streached his neck and tried to bite me. I looked down and began to scold him. I took my eyes off of my path and didnt realze that I was stepping into the grassy area. My left foot sank about a foot and twisted. The ungrateful turtle went flying over my head and I hope had a safe landing in the bushes. I sat down hard and heard the bones in my foot crunching. My first thought was...Well now I've done it,Ive broken my ankle. I cried out for help but no one was around.
I managed to get up and hobble back to the van I was only a block from home, and was able to get there quickly. Woody came out and we were to the hospital before it had been an hour. I didnt have a long wait and was prepared with insurance, and FSC card for payment.
I am grateful that it is this type of injury, and not a ligamental tearing, or a joint break. I dont regret trying to rescue the turtle, I hope that perhaps I prevented an accident. Maybe this is the answer to the continuous prayer that I have made to learn paitence. Now I must depend on Woody for everything, and he must, perhaps, learn a bit of empathy for me. I have a bit of time that I wasnt counting on, to study and work, and to be still...Doctors orders
Labels: Breaking News, Current Events, Faith, Woody
