Some days it doesn’t pay to take a walk. First off this morning, March definitely came in like a lion around here with storms and winds. Lightning. Thunder. Even hail. And pouring rain. Over 2 inches last night and today. And nearby communities had it worse than us.
But then the storm passed on to the southeast and so, as I am a dedicated walker, I put on my old shoes and headed out with my dog, Oscar. I’d had a pretty good morning writing and was looking forward to a good afternoon getting more words down. What is it they say? Best laid plans of mice and men. Meaning, of course, that plans often go awry.
Oscar’s arthritis was giving him fits but he came along, limping a bit. But he was game, even if he took a few shortcuts. Me, I didn’t do those shortcuts. I was zooming right along, carrying my weights to give my walk a little extra oomph. And then I stepped in some slippery mud. Oops! And down I went. Somehow my finger got smashed by the weights I was carrying. Don’t ask me how. As they always say, it happened so fast. I just know I ended up on the ground with a nasty, very smashed finger. Blood dripping in the mud and everything.
So back to the house I come, after I finish my walk, of course. Got to get in those steps! I put peroxide on it. Show it to my husband in a bid for sympathy. Think I can just bandage it up and all will be hunky dory. But the mashed open cut keeps bleeding and it looked pretty bad and I do depend on my fingers for a lot. So I googled how to treat mashed fingers. Isn’t that what you always do? Google it to find answers. Those crazy sites kept saying if it looked this or that way (and it did), go to the doctor. And there was that problem of not stopping bleeding. So, okay. Maybe I need a stitch or two. Off to the walk-in clinic.
The PA looks at it and says she can’t stitch it up without an x-ray to be sure it’s not broken. Broken?! It’s not broken, I say. But their x-ray technician is off for the day. So after waiting around to be sure they couldn’t work out a way to take care of me, the nice woman sends me off to the Urgent Care Treatment place. Thank goodness they opened one recently here in our town. I fill out information. More sick people come in and have my husband worrying about catching something. Me, I’m worrying about bleeding on their floor.
They say we have to do x-rays. The girl who does them says, “Oh yeah, it’s broken. Want to look?” I looked. It was broken. Cracked in several places, but no bones floating around. Everything seems to be still in place. Smashed in place. And so, on to the stitches. But you better take that ring off. Easier said than done. I don’t take my wedding ring on and off. It takes a lot of soaping to get it off at the best of times and this wasn’t the best of times. My finger had already swollen a little. But somehow by using a lot of liquid soap and cold water I got it off before they found their ring cutters. The doctor asked if I couldn’t replace the ring. I said sure, but not with one over 50 years old.
Once the ring was out of the way and the finger was nicely bleeding again from the struggle, they cleaned it and gave me many shots before the very nice doctor put in 3 stitches. Then she said I’d have to wear a splint. Wait a minute! I can’t type with a splint. I have a deadline! That’s bad and they really did sound sympathetic, but they still put a splint on my finger. For how long? About 4 weeks. 4 weeks! The s & w & x finger. The s is what I really miss. But here I am typing, albeit slowly, with a splint on my finger. Maybe typing slowly will give me extra time to think up ideas for my story. Got to find the positive in this somewhere. Oh, the doctor did say she liked to read and would love to read one of my books. But what a way to get a book sale!
But then when I got home, the UPS man brought a carton or two of my new book, Murder Is No Accident. Adventure all around. New books, a fractured finger and learning to type with nine fingers.
Remember you still have time to enter my giveaway, but time is running out. I’ll pick the winners Sunday. See details on prizes and how to enter on my News & Events Page. Also Murder at the Courthouse is still a free download and is getting some nice Amazon reviews from readers.
As always, thanks for reading. And you thought you would be reading more first love stories. 🙂
Comments 25
“The s & w & x finger.” I completely get this! You have to really stretch to get your forefinger from your right hand over there when the s or w are a capital letter and you are holding down the shift with your left hand. I am a newer texter (if that is even a word nowadays) and still using said forefinger instead of thumbs for everything. Oh, goodness, that is rambling. Enough to say, I sympathize with you and hear knitted bones become bonded stronger. Ouch. Thinking of you and prayers for nonbumped finger and good healing. Kathleen
Author
Thanks, Kathleen. I appreciate your understanding sympathy, and texter is definitely a new word. I can’t do the thumb thing either, but my grandkids can do a great job of it. I’m really thankful for keyboards that are so easy to press the keys. I remember when I used to use a manual typewriter. You had to have strong fingers then and not broken ones.
So sorry about your finger, Ann! It’s frustrating when these things come along to derail our lives a bit. I rarely get sick, but I’ve been home all week with influenza A and B. All the exposure to sick kids at the elementary school where I work finally caught up to me. The upside is that most days I’ve been able to read while I rest; more reading time is always good. I hope you’ll have an uneventful recovery and be able to meet your book deadline.
Author
Thanks, Pam. I’m hoping on that deadline too. I need to keep my nose to the grindstone or maybe just my nine fingers on the keyboard. Plus figure out what happens next. I’m surprised you felt like reading with the flu, but hope you feel much, much better very soon. This flu bug has been a bad one, I’ve heard.
So sorry about your finger. Ouch! Praying for quick healing.
Author
Thanks, Melissa. I’m sorry too. I was just as soon as I mashed it. Started worrying about typing as soon as I saw the bloody finger. But never dreamed I’d end up at a doctor’s office or that it was broken.
Ann,
So sorry to hear of your accident. It’s so easy to take those little digits for granted until we can’t use them! However, I’ve heard of a surgeon who broke both of his hands so I guess it could be worse. Hang in there! I’ll say some prayers for you!
Pat H.
Author
Well, definitely it could be worse, Pat. I wouldn’t want a surgeon with broken hands trying to patch me up. LOL. When I mess up typing, I can backspace and fix it! I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Ouch ! I know that hurts!
Oh, Ann! I am so sorry!! If we make it to that Ft. Knox show, we might be able to get combat pay. We are going to look like we have been in battle! You will be in my thoughts and prayers. (Have you thought of teaching Oscar how to type? He is a very smart dog!)
Author
Combat pay – that sounds good, Roberta. But I’m hoping to be shed of this splint by then. And that you’ll be talking by then. What did the specialist tell you? I think Oscar might have trouble pressing one key at a time with his paw or nose. It might end up looking like this kjlkljkjllj. Of course, what I write sometimes makes about as much sense. Get your book?
Author
It did as Jonathan Winters used to say “smart” pretty good, Evelyn. But it hasn’t throbbed too much today. If I could keep from knocking it against things. A stiff finger just has a way of banging into things.
Broken or just smashed we know you are worried about your typing skills more then the finger…Be patient. This had to have happened for a reason.
Ky folks are stubborn and strong so I know you will be fine in the long run.
just know many fans have you in their thoughts and prayers for speedy recovery.
Author
I think the reason was that I wasn’t paying attention when I stepped in that slippery mud, Pauline. 😉 But it’s been great having so many messages of support and concern. And I am stubborn and the doctor said tough when she was giving me all those shots between my fingers so she could dig around in the cut before she stitched it up. The tough people were those who used to have to get stitched up before they got all these good deadening medicines. In fact, I let my heroine in Words Spoken True get a few stitches like that. Me, I was just whining about missing a typing finger.
Whoops! Ouch! A simple outing ends up not so simple, complicating life. One day all fingers doing what they should the next day one is useless. So much to be thankful for and do I even think of that when all is well? Healing is a gift and you are the recipient of that gift for the net 4 weeks. Thanks be to God.
I woke up thinking about you. Hope you had a relatively restful night.
How about asking your posting friends what their most memorable Murphy’s Law kind of a day Ever has been?
Doggies and Digits and Deadlines— Oh My! Doggies and Digits and Deadlines— Oh My!
Were off to see the Doctor— the wonderful Doctor of Lawrenceburg!
Author
Thanks so much for your concern, Paula. I’m glad I don’t have a penchant for mashing my fingers. Once is enough. Oh wait. I did mash a finger majorly when I was a kid. That’s a funny story too. I’ll have to do a post about it sometime. I love your title – Doggies and Digits and Deadlines. Or maybe that’s a song. Actually I am off to see the wonderful doctor of Lawrenceburg because they decided I needed a tetanus shot. I like your idea about asking you guys about a memorable Murphy’s Law kind of day, but it might not be good if they weren’t seeing any humor in the situation. Then whatever happened might be too sad for them to recount. My finger isn’t hurting and it’s amazing how quickly my other fingers are catching on about hitting that s and w. Thanks for your concern. You’re the best.
Oh my goodness Ann! That’s one of the reasons I’m against exercise, people are always getting hurt! LOL!!! Just kidding! I love to walk! I hope the pain level is very low & your 4 weeks flies by! Take care!
Author
That’s funny, Robin. Love it. Actually my finger quit throbbing and now as long as I don’t hit it, I’m doing fine. Some things are difficult. I mean besides typing. Wringing out a washrag. Putting on socks. And what about kneading bread? Hmm. I’ll have to figure out a way to keep making my sourdough bread. I do appreciate your kind concern and wish you were here to take a walk with me. We’d stay away from the slippery mud!
Oh yes, I have a penchant for getting my fingers stuck in things! Car door when I was a teen. Hydraulic Car trunk lid with fingers already bent when I was getting my father’s golf clubs out of the trunk about 40 years ago. And the other hand , the pointer finger just after I told my boys ( we were in my parent’s car on the way to see the first Star Wars Movie) ” Now be careful and don’t do like Mommy does and get your finger stuck in the car door!” Famous last words. I went to dinner with my finger in a cup of ice that the waitress kindly gave me; then sat through said movie with my finger stuck up in the air to keep the throbbing to a minimum! I feel your pain!!! Some of my fingernails split as a result so I can’t keep them manicured correctly. No accidents recently though. Blessings again Ann!
Oh, Ann!!! So sorry about your finger. Sounds like a Murphy’s Law type of a day! Pun intended! You should put that in one if your books. Glad you can see the funny and absurdity in the situation! I was chuckling as I read that account! Hope you heal fast! Blessings
I am so sorry about your accident Ann! I hope the four weeks fly by and you’ll be back to 100%! 😞 On the other hand, kudos to you for taking a walk!
Author
Oh yeah, I love walking, Diana. Gives me a chance to think up new plot lines or sometimes to do something silly like fall down to give me something to blog about. LOL. I appreciate your kind wishes for a fast recovery.
Oh Ann, I am so very sorry about your poor finger. If I lived by you, I would offer to do your typing. Hope it heals quickly!
Author
Thanks, Melanie. I appreciate your good wishes. Thank goodness I can manage with the three fingers as long as I don’t try to use the big stiff finger. LOL.