SPQR

I broke my ankle getting to work yesterday

Try to be gentle on old planet earth by comuting by bike and what does it get you? Well, in my case, a broken ankle.

As I arrived at school and preparing to stop at the door of my room I swung my leg over the back of the bike to dismount as I was slowing down. At that moment, my rear bike rack decided to free itself of its mounting on the frame below the seatpost. So the rack (with my work clothes on it) rotated backwards jamming against the tire. Just as I was standing on one pedal. Did I lose you?

So the bike stops with me hanging off the side. Both ankles twisted in a cartoonish spaghetti like movement.

So there I was, laying on the sidewalk, my bike beside me, one earphone still in blasting "Morning Edition".

After 15 seconds an elementary student walked by, and in my best attempt to sound calm in the midst of tremendous pain, I said "Good morning Jacob, would you mind getting Mr. McLaughlin, please?"

So off he goes, I get a ride to the hospital, a smurf blue cast, approximately 800 Xrays and a diagnosis of "broken ankle, young man."

The bones were out of place a bit, so they twisted my cast so everything is lined up. In a week they'll take a look to see if it is staying in place. If not the doctor informed me that they'll have to operate, and graphically described the procedure using scary words like "steel plate", "multiple screws" and "yes, you'll get a shot or two."

I'm a wimp with needles.

The narcotics I'm on knock me out. And when I'm not sleeping I am trying to keep my focus. I keep spacing out.

I'm planning on being back teaching Monday, I'll let you know how it goes.

Posted by Nat at January 6, 2005 12:55 PM