BY JOELLEN COLLINS
About a month ago I experienced a rather traumatic fall off a curb in Hailey that resulted in a broken shoulder. I can now reflect on how, all in all, this accident has been a huge wake-up call, and the experience has been full of both pain and joy. It brings to mind a quote from Gilda Radner: “Some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next—delicious ambiguity.” I don’t know whether this was written after she had been diagnosed with cancer or not, but I do think it’s a very positive way to deal with things that you don’t expect to happen.
Oddly, I was blessed when I fell off that curb … it could have been a lot worse; I could have been hit by a car, had a head injury, or not had my close friend, who is a retired local nurse, standing next to me. She knew exactly what to do. She got me to the emergency room, drove me home, and stayed with me two days and nights monitoring my pills, feeding me, adjusting my sling, getting me in and out of bed, and bringing me comfort.
My daughters found caregivers that took over through the rough first week when I should not have been left alone. I was surprised to find myself enjoying these vibrant helpers, hearing stories of lives I would have otherwise missed, and often laughing so hard that I forgot the pain.
I have been overwhelmed with phone calls, drop-in visits, and gourmet meals. My pet sitter even drove up from Hailey twice so I could cuddle with my fluffy dog, Suki. Another friend spent hours planting my deck and flower boxes and keeping me company. Neighbors have offered to walk my dog. Each day someone has helped, paid me a visit, or driven me to an appointment. What a marvelous community we enjoy!
However, I am also humbled by the realization that I must make some life changes. I have never had a solid sense of balance, often tumbling in places that were “funny” at that youthful time. Not funny anymore! I must slow down and step carefully … another fall would be devastating physically and emotionally. I am OK with that challenge. The generosity and compassion of the caregivers, my family, and my new and old friends, over the last few weeks, has made what should have been a miserable experience one of enlightenment and growth. I have been able to take the moment and make the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next, and I think that I’ve started on a path that’s very positive.
I hope that others experiencing unpleasant events will be, as I have, reminded of the miracles around us. In my next column I will share with you another recent and unexpected discovery, a surprise I could not have predicted, another blessing.