#7 from the jar

Have you ever broken a bone? Tell about it.

the first time i broke a bone

my right wrist when i was 38 years old

skateboarding

a little wet on the pavement from the rain

three weeks after Liz was born

on my way down the street

to see if Cindy could play

i never made it to her house

my wrist looked like a "Z"

trying to catch myself

a tricky turn

  not wanting to rip my new pants

sweetie was out of town

sam (my oldest) 16 years old 

drove me to the hospital

chastising me for riding in the rain

 rolled up magazine supporting my wrist

the Dr. suspended my fingers

Chinese finger trap

after administering pain medicine

with all his weight

he pulled, leaned, tugged

my baby was three weeks old
avoiding surgery

a new baby at home to nurse

seven other children needing their mama

YES! 
all that hanging 
from my arm lined up bones

man oh man did it ever hurt

sweetie chewed me out when he got home

"you're too old to be doing stuff like that"

my dad got after me

"too many are depending on you"

they were right about my many responsibilities

but, i wasn't too old

the skill just wasn't there

...

then when i was 54

i was skiing much too fast

the light was flat

a little icy

i hit an unexpected bump or dip

SPLAT!!

broken right clavicle - close to shoulder

boy oh boy

did that ever hurt

i skied down the hill

sixth child, third son david drove me home

when sweetie got through skiing 

he came home

we went to the hospital

x-rays

sling

pain meds.

i was back in business

sort of

sleeping was miserable

once again speed exceeded my skill

maybe that trip was doomed at the get go

i slid off the road on the way up the mountain

 that great big white suburban

before we ever got there

speed and an icy turn

(seems to be a theme)

...