You’re Never too Old to Fall
That’s right. You’re never too old to fall. Today I proved that to be true. I fell. HARD. On our asphalt driveway.. and then rolled a bit on some loose gravel before coming to a stop.
You remember Stella? Stella who went to obedience school a few months ago? Stella who did graduate, but doesn’t quite understand that “come” means, “come-whether-you-want-to-or-not.” Or maybe she does understand and just chooses to do what she wants anyway.
Usually, I don’t let Stella out of the house unless she’s on a leash. But today, I decided to give her a little trust. I let her and Riley out when my husband, Rick, who had been gone for a little bit, came home. Stella and Riley love to run outside when he drives into the driveway. They act like he has been gone for days, even if it’s just 15 minutes. So I let her out of the house, no leash, with Riley. After she greeted Rick, I told her to “come.” She looked at me then took off as fast as she could run up the driveway. She’s just so cute and mischievous looking. I have to say it would be pretty funny if it weren’t so frustrating – and well, disobedient.
We live on a mountain, and our house sits down the mountain, with the road up above us. Our driveway is like an upside down “Y” – with the bottom of the Y being where the driveway meets the road, and then as the driveway winds to our house, it separates and breaks into one driveway that goes to the front of the house, and the other driveway going to the opposite side of the house. One side is longer than the other. Stella was running up the longer side, so I ran up the shorter side to cut her off where the driveways intersect.
I had my eyes on her, and she was darting and weaving through some bushes.
The next thing I knew I was mid-air, and I knew I was falling. BAM. Down on my right hip and hand, then the momentum I had going caused me to roll down the driveway a bit – just to ensure that I had scrapes and bruises on both sides of my body.
The sweetest thing happened though. As I lay on the ground, still a little stunned, Stella came right up to me and started nuzzling my neck.
I didn’t have the presence of mind to grab her collar. But she stayed there until I finally stood up. Then she took off again. Of course. She was a little tentative though. She ran down the driveway toward the house, and when I told her to “come,” although she didn’t come – she did sit and she did stay. I’ll take that.
Although I have several bruises, a BIG knot on my leg, and a cut on the hand on which I landed, I had forgotten, from all my tumbles as a child, that it’s really the road rash that hurts the most!
Be careful! It’s dangerous out there!
Comments (23)
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Oh you poor thing! I’m so glad you got her to eventually stay. And that she came to you when you were hurt was soooo touching. My heart hurts for you. I have not fallen in a couple of years, but when I did I needed foot surgery! Heal quickly my friend! Yes, road rash hurts the most! Gentle hugs to you! DeLoris
Ahhh. thanks for the GENTLE hugs! I needed that! I’m sore, but okay!
Ohhh dear, from experience I know that had to hurt…for several days!! Dang!! You did put a smile on my face when you said Stella came up to you when you were down (even knowing she’s the reason you were down…kinda) and that she did a sit stay! Sorry you had a rough week!!
Oh, yeah, she was definitely the reason…. as I see it. If I hadn’t been chasing her I wouldn’t have fallen, right? LOL! I’m honestly not sure what made me fall. One minute I was on the ground, the next in the air.
So the real question is – did your husband laugh at your graceful fall or was he concerned? I’m sure I would have been arms flailing and quite funny to see, as long as it wasn’t a serious injury. Hope you are healing well with so residual effects!
LOL! He was sick with the flu but was carrying in groceries from the car for me. You can’t see it well in the photo, but the driveway is very steep and I was a bit away from the house. He immediately asked what happened, because he heard me but couldn’t see me. As soon as I could catch my breath I yelled out that I fell but was fine. He asked if I needed him to come up, and I said I didn’t. If he hadn’t been sick, I would have said YES. So, no he didn’t laugh. And he was concerned, especially when he saw the blood on my hand and the goose egg already developing on my knee.
Get checked out. The last time i fell I broke some bones!
More tender hugs coming your way (((. ))) Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Thank you, Renee!
Oh my goodness. Thankfully you are mostly ok. And now your DH has the flu? You two have been through a lot. Take care!
Oh my! I hope you are not in pain tomorrow. So hard to get mad at our fur babies.
You’re right with that, Marge!
Oh Karen, I do hope you are okay. A fall always leaves one shaken up and that’s without the injuries. Sending more gentle hugs your way!! ((Hugs!!))
Thanks, Esther! Thanks for the care and concern. I’m healing!
Hope you don’t hurt too bad. Sometimes it takes a little while to feel the effects of a fall. And you’re right, one is never too old OR too young to take a fall.
Thanks, Dona. I’m feeling better now, on day 3.
Hugs! I’m thanking the Lord nothing was broken, Karen. I imagine you’re probably sore all over though. Stella probably thought y’all were playing a fun game. It was sweet of her to check on you and of course give you the opportunity to look into that darling little face before she took off again. My fur baby like to push the come command to the limit as well.
I hope you & your hubby are both back to 100% soon. Take care.
Yobeth
I bet you really impressed Stella with your flip, and she probably thought you had come up with some new and wild game. 😉 My dog is the same, never listens when he manages to sneak out the front door. (He’s very obedient in the house!) Problem is he’s going blind and totally ignorant of traffic rules, so you can imagine the panic that ensues when he makes a successful escape. He just runs wherever he pleases!
I’m glad you’re on the mend Karen! Btw, your property looks lovely!
Oh, dear, YES, that would be VERY scary, in your situation. But can you imagine the freedom he probably feels running with the wind in his face? Kinda scary not knowing where you’re going through! I’m definitely on the mend. Thanks, Maria! (And now that it is starting to turn green, it gets prettier here every day. The summers take a toll on everything green though).
So sorry to hear that on top of the flu you had while doing Michelle’s webinar, you fell and from how I read and pictured you, you got pretty banged up! Sometimes, the “after effects” are worse than what happened. Then the bruises and muscle aches makes their debut and you have to get worse before you get better. That’s what I was always told. But being a Senior Citizen, living alone, I am super super careful … to the point where I feel like I am becoming an agoraphobic, hahaha! I think of what you went through, and I am convinced that I am doing the right thing, hahaha! I love your weekly stories that are so real and it makes me “live in the moment.” Sorry … hope you are better today and everyday hereafter.
You are right to be very careful! Also right that you get worse before getting better! But I’m doing well, thanks! The only that that still really hurts is the big bump on my knee. But it’s feeling better every day! And it’s okay to laugh at the story. The whole thing was kinda funny. 😉