Birthday commute

[Melalvai]

Today is my birthday. That has nothing to do with anything...
On my commute this morning I cut through a parking lot as usual to cross the creek at a footbridge that comes out on an otherwise dead end road, the other end of which leads up to campus. The parking lot is pretty rough, but I can stick to the paved part of it mostly, except for the last little bit right before the bridge which is gravel.

I have crossed the bridge twice a day for 2 1/2 years. Today, that little patch of gravel got me. It happened so fast, I still don't know why I fell. I had the briefest moment of knowing that I was going DOWN before THUNK I hit the ground.

I lay there for a moment. I was still alive.

I sat up and realized I'd had the breath knocked out of me. I couldn't breathe quite right. I didn't try to stand up until I could breathe.

A couple girls I'd passed a moment before appeared around a corner and saw me. Their dog also wanted to know if I was ok. "I think so," I said.

I stood up and walked the bike across the bridge. My helmet had a chunk missing. My wrist and arm hurt. My bike glove had grass stains on the palm, so I must have tried to catch myself--I don't remember. I had a pretty good headache.

Later in the day, my arm started hurting just awful. I couldn't twist it and someone said I might have a fracture. I took a couple ibuprofen and tried to go to urgent care, but the wait is so long--2 hrs at least. When the ibuprofen kicked in, it started feeling a lot better. I think I'll give it a day or two and see how it does. It was probably just inflammation.

[frnz]

Worst birthday present ever

[redrhodie]

Oh no! That's a terrible birthday story!

But really, happy birthday! Have some cake, and feel better!

[sbctwin]

Happy Birthday, but you shouldn't have 'given' yourself such a present Buy yourself a new helmet for a present. Sorry that you had to experience a fall...

[NbyNW]

Ouch! Be good to yourself, hope you feel better soon!

[F8th637]

Happy birthday! Sorry fall. I feel that we should all have the day off on our birthdays and that bad things like accidents on our bikes are banned on our birthdays. Definitely treat yourself to a new helmet. You and my sister have the same birthday. Speedy recovery!

[shootingstar]

I hope you get better soon after knowing what type of injury you had. But good wishes for a birthday.
May you cycle your birthday years every year for a long time forward.

How many years is it anyway?

[Melalvai]

34! Next year I'll be eligible to run for president.
I'm going to get my arm x-rayed or at least see a dr. It doesn't hurt too awfully but my brother had dire warnings about letting a fracture or break heal without medical intervention. He has experience...

[patel_shital]

belated Happy birthday. Sorry to hear about accident. there might be a hair crack in your hand. you should try that elastic band for couple of days.

Hope you feel better

[SouthernBelle]

Ow. Happy Birthday! Sorta

[Tri Girl]

Wowzer! Now that's no way to spend your birthday- cooped up in an urgent care clinic, all bruised and battered. Sorry you tumbled. Hope the evening was better than the morning.