I had two errands to run that day – return a DVD to the library, and get a haircut.  I didn’t accomplish either of them.  Short version – I was on an e-scooter….and then I wasn’t.  I thought I knew how it worked.  Apparently I was wrong.  There were no other vehicles, people, squirrels, obstacles, or breaks in the pavement involved.  I fell, I’m sure gracefully, to the ground, all in my own bubble.

I was traveling light.  In my pocket was my phone, a pair of sunglasses, and a card case (which included my Ontario Health Card – thank you Canada.)  They were all fine.  The DVD was fine.  The scooter was fine.  My leg was not.

The DVD, that didn’t fit in a pocket, managed to stay with me through the subsequent twelve hour adventure:

• Next to me as I sat on an electrical box and talked with two helpful strangers who got me out of the bike path;
• Next to me as I sat on some grass, after I had a short fainting spell, and talked with two fire fighters;
• Tucked into the stretcher in the ambulance as a paramedic repeatedly measured my blood pressure and gave me some water;
• Under my butt in the hospital wheelchair after my paramedic friends and I waited in the hospital garage for covid procedures and I was eventually admitted and wheeled to a quiet corner of the waiting room;
• On the wheelchair as I laid on the x-ray table;
• Back under my butt as I surveyed the comings and goings of the waiting room;
• On the bedside tray, five hours later, when after a thorough interview, the med student asked me to stand and I almost fainted, and then got an iv;
• Still on the bedside tray, an hour and a half later finally seeing the x-ray and hearing the explanation for why my left knee seemed four times its normal size;
• Back under my butt, as I sat in a wheelchair with my leg in a brace while holding a pair of crutches;
• On my lap as I devoured a banana and two granola bars in my wonderfully thoughtful friend’s car, heading home with paperwork about surgery the following week for a tibial plateau injury.

What movie was this tenacious DVD, you might ask?  “Onward”, by Pixar.  I had really enjoyed it, and had watched it three times, including once with the commentary (a benefit of the DVD.)  Loosely it could be described as a story of a teenager on a journey of self-discovery.  And here I was suddenly on my own unplanned quest, going onward into the unknown, learning more about myself along the way.  Coincidence??

Before I fell, I knew that dilaudid was a strong, addictive drug.

• But now I know that hydromorphone/dilaudid (fortunately? unfortunately?) didn’t mitigate the pain (at all) right after surgery, but tramadol/ultram got me through the rough patch.

Before I fell, I knew that crutches and braces generally appeared out of hospital cupboards and later on invoices.

• But now I know that in Ontario, the two plus the ambulance, only totaled $135.

Before I fell, I would have said that my core comfort food was a pot of tea and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

• But now I know that comfort is found at the hospital in the form of ginger ale and a chocolate pudding cup, and at home as a pot of tea and a stack of Dairy Milk Fruit and Nut chocolate bars.

Before I fell, I knew that good friends are supportive.

• But now I know that friendship can extend to cleaning toilets, changing sheets, and washing floors.

Before I fell, I knew that I enjoyed a variety of movie genres.

• But now, after more focused testing, I know that my favourite genre is the heist movie, followed closely by its cousin, the chase movie.

Before I fell, I knew that I enjoyed music.

• But now, I know that if I listen to music of any sort for any length of time, I will feel better.

Before I fell, I knew that I loved to write.

• But now I know that after times of not being able to write and choosing not to write, that having energy around writing is a very positive measure of my recovery.

If this is a time where life is imitating art, then I am glad that I don’t watch horror movies – right?!

It’s nice to be back at the blog.  More to come about this eleven week (so far) journey!

P.S.  The two errands have since been completed.  A friend returned the DVD for me, and the same friend coordinated a haircut when I was up for it many weeks later.  No late fees or self-haircuts were incurred.