Not Cool

I've never been that great at rollerblading. It's the balance thing. I don't have great balance. Sometimes I lose my balance just walking across the flat living room floor and I bump into the couch. It's my rotton balance that got my arm broken.

But before this happened, I did enjoy an occasional rollerblading expedition every so often; and Monday was a perfect day for rollerblading. The evening air was warm and the light breeze felt great. Rollerblading would be a good way to end a relaxing Memorial Day.

We drove to a park on the east side of Palmdale. The sidewalks were smooth and continued around the perimeter or the park, breaking in a fork to pass through a picnic and basketball area.

The whole east side of the city was out Monday evening playing basketball and hanging out with their families. Mind you, Thad and I were giants compared to the mostly Hispanic and African American crowd. Yeah, two six-foot-tall, blonde giants on rollerblades blazing through the park with a stroller; not exactly inconspicuous.

You want to know what's even more inconspicuous? The six-foot-tall, blonde giant woman flying through the air, then falling six feet to the ground in front of everyone and their families. Yep. And I don't even have an excuse. I thought I was going pretty fast, but Thad assured me we were going at a rather mediocre pace.

I'm not even sure how I lost my balance, seeing as the pavement was flat and debri-free. Thad said I gave no warnings. No waving of the arms, nothing. One minute I was whizzing past the basketball courts with the wind in my hair, and the next, my legs flew out from under me and I hung, suspended in the air for the tiniest of seconds. Yet it was long enough to think,

“This is going to hurt!”

Then gravity yanked me mercilessly back to earth, building momentum with every inch. Instinctively, I threw both of my arms behind me to break my fall, and my left hand and elbow took the brunt of the impact. My rear absorbed the rest. Oh the pain! And then I rolled. Not once. But three times. Momentum finally exhausted, I came to a stop on my elbows and knees, face in the concrete. Thad saw the whole thing from behind, and quickly bladed to my side. Probably trying not to laugh.

Thad: "Oh, Linds, that was a pretty bad fall! Are you OK?"

Me, still dazed and in pain: "I think I broke my arm!"

And I still had to rollerblade back to the car, through the crowd (holding on to Thad's arm, of course). After wiping out in front of everyone, I didn't have much dignity left.

So, after going from the ER to the Urgent Care, to an MRI office, and back the the doctor, I found out that my elbow is indeed fractured. Now I get to see an elbow specialist to find out what to do about it.

Since Monday I have found all sorts of things -- that once came naturally -- that now I can't do. Like my hair. Tried it. Didn't work. So I look homeless with my nice, kinky, air-dried hair. No big deal, as I'm not planning on driving anywhere for the next month. Picking up Analyn, getting her in her car seat, buckling it, carrying it to the car, situating it in the car, all with one arm: yeah, it's too much of a hassle.

Thad did do my ponytail this morning, however, as I had to go to the doctor's office and did want to look somewhat presentable. Consequently, I spent hours in doctors' offices today looking like this:



oh well -- I guess it could be worse!