Whatever you believe about Karma, Fate, God or the power of thoughts to attract, I experienced the power of such forces recently. I couldn’t write about it at the time because I broke my writing arm. This is what happened.
I was talking to my granddaughter, and, as usual, citing a story from my youth. I’m convinced that such cautionary tales are a gift from grandparent to grandchild, although they might elicit rolling eyes behind my back. I told her about noticing other children my age, about 12, experiencing broken arms and the need for casts. And I told her that I longed to have a cast, too. Well that winter, I fell ice skating and hurt my arm. However, it was deemed a “green-stick fracture” and therefore only deserved a splint and Ace bandage for a few weeks. I was disappointed. No white plaster for friends to write on, and no great notice taken at school. That was the end of the story.
The very next day, back in the present time now, I returned home from exercise class to find 50 sheep and the donkey happily eating the grass in my front yard. I texted a neighbor to help and went to find the break in the fence. There I found a 100 lb lamb completely tangled up in a portion of the portable fence netting, lying helpless on the ground. The day was hot. I was hot and tired. I tried for 20-30 minutes to untangle the lamb and pull her out of the fence, but it was tightly wound around her body and legs. She was docile and cooperative, but I was having no luck getting her out.
I gave up the effort and went and got sharp scissors to cut the fence off of her. As I approached her again, in the field, my foot caught in the downed fence loops and I fell. I thought about not landing on the scissors and dropped them. I caught myself with my right hand and broke my fall and also my arm. So there I was lying next to the lamb. I said a few words and then decided that I nevertheless needed to get her cut out. Despite some hand pain, I cut a number to loops of fencing off of her and she got up and joined the flock.
About that time help arrived and we worked together, me with one hand, to restore the fence and herd the sheep back in. Since the fenced area was all in the sun by this time, the sheep refused to return to it, instead seeking the shade of the woods nearby. After an hour of futile efforts, we gave up and left them, to take me to the local Emergency Department. Yes, radius was broken, but not in need of any special intervention. Splint and sling provided plus referral to Orthopedic Dr. for casting.
Two days later I chose a Carolina blue cast and later had my grandchildren decorate it with vines and flowers. I guess I can check that wish off my bucket list now, finally.
Site Title 