Back From My Vacation... More or Less Intact

We headed down south the family cabin to celebrate Thanksgiving and we accomplished that. We had prepared a lot of what we ate for our Thursday dinner back home in Iowa so there wasn't much to do except to heat things up and make a few odds and ends to go with it. The forecast was for rain and indeed it was raining. We decided to do a small hike anyway and went on a hike we did the last time we were down there to a somewhat famous outcropping of rock seen above. Our daughters, who had never been there, were with us this time. We walked out on the rock and had our picture taken so those who get our Christmas card, will see us in that version of the photo.

The following day wasn't raining but we spent it helping friends of ours collect a winter's worth of firewood. Although there is some work involved, we enjoy doing it and just being in each other's presence. Unfortunately for me, on the final (as it turned out) load of wood, I was helping to throw it from a pickup into a pile and being tired and somewhat careless, slipped in the loose debris and did a header off the back of the truck into the wood pile. It knocked me senseless, contused several spots on my forehead, hip and legs and most painfully, perhaps tore part of my rotator cuff muscles. I declined the MRI to know exactly how badly I tore things since the treatment part is the same regardless. I am now doing physical therapy from now until who knows how long to get full range of motion and strength back into my arm. Fortunately, I can move it enough to eat, get dressed and do all the basic things in life but I'm not going to be doing jumping jacks anytime soon. I certainly wasn't planning on causing a serious enough injury to require physical therapy but such is how life deals at times.

On our final full day there, I opted out of the family hike and stayed back to concentrate on healing my wounds which weren't diagnosed until two days later anyway when we were back in Iowa. The rest of my family went on another short hike to see a rock balanced over a ravine seen below and also on another short hike later. The latter one was during extreme fog so there wasn't any pictures taken to show. It was great to get away from home, see friends and family and eat a lot of food that could be worked off by hiking and processing firewood. 


 

Comments

  1. Yikes! Sorry to hear that Ed. Hope you recover well (says the guy who is also in PT right now). The pictures are lovely.

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    1. This being day five since the "incident" and I have a lot more mobility already. Directly lifting my right arm from my side, I can go out at about a 45 degree angle before I have to stop. In the days after it was maybe only 10 degrees at best. I'm optimistic that I didn't tear much of those muscles and after the pain part goes away, I'll get much of my mobility back again. But I plan on doing PT until I get it all back.

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  2. Well, the scenery is beautiful, but I'm not sure it was worth injuring yourself! I hope you heal quickly. I am not sure I'd stand on that rock in the top photo!

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    1. I will continue to help cut the wood in the future despite this injury. They have been great friends to our family over the years, so much so, part of my mom's ashes are off their back deck.

      This rock looks far scary from the vantage point of the photo but when you are actually out on it, it doesn't look scary at all. None-the-less, it has a deadly track record in the advent of selfies, people taking things too far and increased foot traffic due to increasing popularity.

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  3. So sorry about the injuries! I'm glad that the healing is progressing (from what I read in your response above) I know you're an active person so being incapacitated is torture. :)

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    1. They happen from time to time. All I could think at the time was that nothing appeared to be broken.

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  4. Oh my. Too late to tell you to be careful. At my age, I am careful with every step I take.

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    1. I'm getting old enough I should remember that advice but my brain still thinks it is a teenager.

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  5. I'm sorry about your injury!! I hope the PT does its job and has you back to "normal" soon. We were in Hot Springs for the holiday and it rained there, too. It didn't dampen (pun intended) the celebration, though.

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    1. I'm pleased with my progression thus far.

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  6. Look after that torn rotator cuff. They're very painful. Hate to tell ya.

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    1. They certainly are. Debby recently wrote a blog post on how she keeps accidentally bumping her bum knee and I feel in much the same boat.

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  7. Yikes. Oh yikes! I think I would rather be hobbling than having compromised arm use...how are you going to wrap presents???!!!

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    1. I'm pretty sure I already have enough function to that now so by the time I actually get them, I should be in good shape. Hope your knee is showing signs of improvement!

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  8. I remember this place, but am sorry for your accident which would certainly have diminished your enjoyment. I hope you improve quickly.

    BTW those photos are very nice. Photographers love fog and will seek it out.

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    1. I have always like fog in the background of the Ozark mountains. There are always so many scenes that I would love to photograph with fog in the background if it weren't for all the trees blocking the view in the foreground. I'm sure you understand that feeling!

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  9. Sorry to learn that most unwittingly you did yourself an injury. Your beloved wife will be able to assist the healing process by giving you regular massages according to your precise instructions. Aromatic massage oil and candles may be required. I hope you are feeling a whole lot better soon.

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  10. Yikes, Ed! That injury of yours sounds painful. I hope they get you healed up quickly and back on the mend. Take care of yourself.

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    1. I'll try to get my brain to realize the rest of me isn't as young anymore.

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  11. Oh Ed, ouch, ouch, ouch! How unfortunate! Not a fun thing to happen on a vacation. I hope physical therapy works well. Really nice photos though.

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  12. What a beautiful spot to take a photo! So sorry you got hurt, I hope the recovery is complete I am certain it could have been much worse if you had broken something:(

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    1. I think so too. I'm not sure I can withstand wearing a cast, something I have never done this far into my life.

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  13. Didn't I read about you falling off a train too and dislodging your kneecap. You do have painful accidents. Then again, my accident history is extensive too.

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