Friday 9 July 2010

Just spinning my wheels.....

Sigh... Purl and I are grounded. Let me set the scene. A lovely Sunday afternoon, All is well with the members of the family, DD1 is doing well, and DD2 is working, and the G-man is holding the fort. It is sunny,  but not too bright, cool but cold.


the perfect day for a ride, and so we did. A few hours later I found myself having worked to the far outskirts of Ottawa. I was thirsty and being the mid-aged girl badly in need of a restroom, so when the sign said 16km to Cumberland, and I turned for the home of my motorcyle pal Peter. Finding no one at home, I confidently re-negotiated back down the tricky gravel driveway, and pulled out.

For fhat happened next I need to rely on the accident report. AlI I rememeber is no traction and then wham, traction galor! And then there was a ditch. When my heart stopped pounding and Purls kills switch kicked in, I realized that there was no way my right leg was letting me stand up, so so I pulled out my cell phone all the while cursing a blue streak.

As luck would have a pair of good samaritains, mom and daughter, stopped moments later and took over the mechanicals of the cell phone and called all the appropriate emergancy personnel, and kept me squared away and in good spirits while we waited. Can't say their names as I have yet to speak with personally, but ladies you are the best!! Simply the best!! I can only hope to pay forward the kindness, campassion and good humor as you showed me that Sunday afternoon.

OPS (Ottawa Police Services) attended and prompty imformed me he had found the problem with the ditch: there was a Harley in it! Good sport that he was though, he had is up and out of the ditch and tucked away safety in Peter's lean to. Sargent your Harley quip is forgiven in light of your brotherly biker concern for the sercurity of my girl, Purl!

So, up until this point, aside from the wee problem with my front leg, I was in good shape.That was until I discovered that when a person is in what is considered a vehicluar accident like myself, they need to be taken to the nearest emergancy room, and in this case that place was the Monfort hospital. OMG! I.DO.NOT.SPEAK FRENCH. Barely a word, and the Monfort is nothing if not French.

For now I will spare you the ups and downs of my 10 days there. The stories are hard and 2 surgeries later I am trying hard to forget most of them.

For now it enough to know that I my right Tibia Plateau was shattered and rebuilt over the course of a week and I`m grounded for the next few months. My stable now houses a walker, a wheelchair and some shiny crutches I have yet to make friends with. And a whole summer to learn how to play nice.

I have not let Purl see them, she would not be pleased. She too will need some TLC: new handlebars, a signal light, and front spokes checked and complete safety check before next season. Poor girl - she is stabled at Peter`s next to Miss Daisy, and will stay there until repairs begin. It is the best place for her for now, amoungest her kind while we both recoupreate.

And yes there will be knitting - as soon as the pain meds allow me to count sequencally, there will be plenty of time for knitting. A whole summer of knitting the days away...

Knit on........

6 comments:

Jody said...

I have to tell you that I am very sorry about your accident and the surgeries - you've undergone a lot. My son had a treacherous spill last year and I know all about that long recovery. I'm glad that your spirits haven't failed you! I wish that you would rethink riding tho - that's always my hope.
God bless you and keep knitting!

-sanna- said...

Ouch!
Speedy recovery and happy knitting.

Susan said...

Good freakin' god. I turn my back for ONE MINUTE and look at the sh*t you're up to. You, missy, obviously can't be trusted further than I can thrwo you, and believe you me, that ain't far.

Okay... flippant and light-hearted cussing out aside... good freakin' god. I'm glad you're mostly in one piece, and wish you speedy heals.

kate said...

Poor Jody - you are echoing the setiments of my mother, but my husband and deqr pals are all about getting back on the horse, and indeed I likely will as it is more my style. Tht being said if two wheels aren't my thang' have you seen the newest Harley trikes - whoa that some kinda fun looking, and I'm not too proud to say i nned 3 wheels under my arse if necessary! See Jody, there's always a plan B!

Thanks for the love you three, Jody, Sanna, Susan.

Susie love come commiserate with me with you knitting when you get a chance - suddenly my schedule is wide open! I may yet get my WIP's into a managable state with this little interlude!

knitjo said...

Dear Kate, I just had to spend a week at a cottage to get my WIPs in check...Take care and knit a lot, your a strong one so take care and speedy recovery...We'll see ya when we see ya...

SarcasticKlicker said...

Wow! I've been so busy at work that I'm behind on the news! Thank goodness you are okay Kate! {{{HUGS}}}

Hope your stay was hospitable at Montfort. I am partial to that hospital... I delivered my two babies there. The staff is very bilingual.

Being the kind of woman who always keeps herself busy, I know how hard it will be for you to stay put. Be patient, get some rest and you'll be up and running in no time.

Kim