Tuesday night, July 31, 2018 — Time for an update from the Zed Man, who has recently learned a lesson about just how quickly one’s quality of life can take a sudden — and unexpected — turn for the worse.
And frankly, when things so south in a Big Way, an obsession with CW keys seems incredibly unimportant. But even when faced with the realization of how frail our grasp is on life on this Planet Earth, we all need hobbies and reasons to get out of bed each morning (beyond another bowl of the XYL’s oatmeal).
Two weeks ago I took a very nasty spill outside. While mowing on the hottest day of the summer (with a 107 heat index), I hung up my zero turn mower in my neighbors fence (the fence is at the bottom of steep grade …. I avoid mowing that area with the mower, but tempted fate this particularly day — and lost). This left me at the bottom of my hill on an unbearably hot day with the task of walking from the very bottom of our steep hill to the top.
Long (and hot) story short, I was 40 feet from the back door when I stumbled and fell. I banged my left side hard on the concrete driveway. The pain was intense; I slowly made it inside the house. The pain the next morning was exponentially worse. Due to the pain, I could hardly breathe (my right lung is mostly nonfunctional, leaving the left side as my “good lung” side). Time to give in and listen to the XYL — and a trip to immediate care for x-rays.
A couple of days later, I have a 101.7 degree fever and congestion. Due to the pain, I can’t cough and get the junk moved out of my lungs. Time to visit the ER. Three days in the hospital and evidence of fractured ribs follow, and a cardiac issue previously unseen becomes the most important issue. Since I was discharged a couple of days ago, the pain is gradually lessoned. The heart issue is being addressed. Its taken all weekend and half this week for me to feel human again. Moving anything still hurts, but feeling some gradual improvement buoys the old soul. I can pee, poop and shower without help. Thank heavens for the little things!
Got some eBay goodies to share soon … but for now its time to pull the plug for the night.