cold concrete, into the garage, up the steps,
The guys spent the day cutting up some through the door, onto the rug.
wind fallen ash trees. Henry had bought a
smaller chain saw for me. We hoped to “Lissy”.
work on a new supply of logs together. And
December 19, 2005 here I sit on my duff! Bummer! She heard; she came. By then I was in the
land of sweating, buzzing, turmoiled tummy,
Granted, I crawl a big share of the summer. So what did I do? I only felt sorry for darkness.
That’s acceptable, understandable. How Sparky, our rottweiler. She snoozes in a hay
else would all the wonderful lettuces be bale hut during the day and spends these “I’m really sorry I laughed! But I couldn’t
harvested? The arugula cut? And the green cold winter nights in the shed. Alissa didn’t see anything wrong, no blood anywhere and
beans picked? But crawling in winter? Up have to work Friday morning and I thought you weren’t answering!” Lissy stroked my
and down the stairs? Down the hall to our maybe Sparky was hungry or thirsty or had hair from my face and let me cling to her
bedroom? to go potty. I only felt sorry for the dog. hand.
Yup! I’m crawling in winter! On carpet no So I threw on Henry’s coat, slipped on some “Arnica, give me some arnica.” (A
less. I can leave my crutches behind and tennis shoes, and slopped out to the shed. homeopathic remedy for shock.)
move faster on my knees than getting this “Hi Spark! Are you hungry? Nice puppy,
aging body upright and balanced between eh?” She wasn’t in a hurry to enter the land “I’ll call Rick. He’s only ten miles away
two peg legs. of cold and snow. Stretch! Yawn! Turn today.”
around and around under my petting hands.
I was complaining to my mother, “How can “Rick, can you come home? Mom’s hurt.
I sweep the floor with three legs and a “Here’s some fresh water. Brrr, its cold out She’s lying on the rug, passing out. Don’t
broom and only two hands?” Mom cleans here! I’m going in.” I turned to go. come barreling in the garage door; you’ll
houses for fancy ladies. One such lady was crash into her.”
so fussy that you mightn’t sweep in her Step. Step. Step. Tipped forward. Tipped
house. “Sweeping raises the dust!” She had backward. SNAP! ****** (No swear What did I say to them? Two things:
Mom mop up the dirt; changing the mop words, just the sound of agony.) I hit the “Never postpone doing your work and you
water often. ground with a thud. Remember, a person must always be ready to die. You need a
who climbs trees does fall occasionally. So new heart.”
Mom has knees like mine. “I can walk on I already knew what happens when I fall or
my knees! Although, one knee is starting to hurt myself in anyway. It’s called: Swoon. Rick pulled off my shoe, gave my three
bother me a bit.” She’s only seventy-one. Faint. Pass out. Unconsciousness. aspirin and some water, and called the new
local doctor that he had just built a house
When a person is regulated to sitting in a Face in the snow, a few of Sparky’s warm for. “Just bring her to the clinic; that way
recliner in front of the cozy wood-burning noses and I knew I better crawl for the house you won’t get charged for emergency.”
stove, the floor can really appear dirty. It before I no longer knew. Lissy had just
took up most of the day, but my floor is gone upstairs; she wouldn’t miss me for a “Rick, how are we going to get her up?”
clean! At least until the next time someone while. So I crawled. Across gravel, over
loads the stove with wood.
“Don’t lift me; I’m too heavy. You’ll hurt your “You have the sweetest husband. He was so Maybe a web site. I should have enough to
back.” nice when we x-rayed him. He kept do while I sit on my duff.
apologizing about making everything a mess
”Mother! Have you seen the huge beam I with all his blood.” I’ve been on call for jury duty November
just put into place? I can lift you.” and December and the same day I broke my
Back in the little exam room, the pinching of leg, I received a letter that we have to report
I was up! the blood pressure cuff made me cry again. for the first time this week. I’ll call and beg
The nurse was very nice. “What’s wrong? to be excused. Don’t really dare to drive
I wrapped my arms around his waist (Rick is Does it hurt? Can I help?” with a wooden foot and then try to get into
tall, 6’6”, and skinny) and we hobbled to the the court house with two pegs and only one
truck. “I’m not taking you into the clinic “No. It’s too long of a story.” I was good foot on slippery ground.
like this! We must look ridiculous!” I had picturing poor Robert during his last days in
to giggle. Houston. In the Critical Care ward, he had Another bummer! I’ve always wanted to
an automated blood pressure cuff. Every serve, every since we argued in favor of the
The nurses had Rick drive into the fifteen minutes, that cuff would tighten twelve man jury concept with our high
emergency garage and they met us with a regardless of where it was on his arm. He school debate team. Oh, well. Better days
wheel chair. As long as Henry was in the kept his arm above his head so the cuff ahead.
wheel chair and as many times as I have sat wouldn’t slip down around his elbow. “It
in his chair, I had never been pushed around hurts!” (I’ll send you Robert’s story after Like summer!!! And gardening!!! And
in a wheel chair. Felt strange! But my leg Christmas. It’s just too sad to share during Farmers Market!!!
was feeling pretty good. False alarm? I such a joyous time of year.)
was hoping so. Have a wonderful Christmas and we hope to
Anyway, to make a long story short, since I see you all again in the New Year!!!!
Sitting on the x-ray table, the tears started. I already made a short story long …
had sat here before. Our car accident had Henry, Harriet & Alissa Kattenberg
been four years ago but it come crashing My leg is broken. The small bone. Near the Seedtime & Harvest
into my thoughts. “Do you like this shirt? ankle. A splint until the swelling is 2710 Hickory Ave.
We can cut it off or try to save the shirt if it’s completely gone and then a cast. “Six Hull, Iowa 51239
new and you really like it.” weeks,” Doc said. “You can only use your 712-439-1861
toes for a bit of balance. No weight on the
“I really like it.” heel at all.”
“My bra really hurts my breast bone.” Fiddle sticks! I’m not finished outside. I’m
not done cleaning house. But I can sit and
“Shall I hold up for you so we can save it, order flowers, decide on vegetable seeds, fill
too? Else we can cut it off.” That little out the organic certification forms, finish the
nurse held that constricting band away from books for tax time, plus there’s lots of work
my body. She’d switch hands when one on the computer … recipes … mailing
became tired. addresses… sending out the CSA invitation.