We’ve known for a couple of weeks that Labor Day ’06 was going to be chock-full-o-activity. We had plans to attend a party at my aunt’s, then hop over to Jackson for a surprise party for D.’s best friend. We thought we’d leave on Friday so that we wouldn’t be rushed, spend a leisurely weekend with all our people, and then come back this way Monday. It was going to be a thing of beauty, the weekend of the Labor.
But things didn’t go as we planned. I had a crazy week – and when Friday rolled around, I was nowhere near ready to leave town. Not by the longest shot. I called Mama and told her we’d be heading her way on Saturday.
Saturday morning I woke up Very Task Oriented because I think we all know that if you’re leaving town, your house must in fact be spotless so that All The Thieves can enjoy it while you’re gone. I got out the vacuum, ran it over the rugs in the kitchen, den, and dining room, then threw a load of clothes in the wash. I made up our bed, unloaded the dishwasher, and headed upstairs to get out a suitcase for the trip.
I don’t know what I did, exactly, or why a movement that I’ve made countless times in my life (the highly, deeply complex Reaching-Around-The-Door-For-A-Suitcase Move) suddenly went horribly wrong. But something in my neck / back / shoulder region caught, and all I could manage to say was, “OOOOOH? OOOOOOOH!”
I thought at first that it was a fluke, but when it became increasingly clear that my torso would in fact never be straight again, and that any attempts to straighten it would result in mind-numbing pain, I slowly made my way back down the stairs and proceeded to hobble into the bedroom, onto the bed – no, wait, that soft surface is wrong, all wrong – then back to the den, and slowly – slowly! – SLOW-LY! – made my way to the floor.
Alex, bless his heart, was just as confused as could be. He kept leaning waaaay down so he could look in my eyes and say, “Mama? You all right, Mama? You hurt your neck, Mama? Your back hurt?”
To which I replied, “Grrrmph. Grrrrrrmph. Hurt. Mama hurt. Yes. GRRRRRRRRRMPH.”
About that time D. came in the room to see what all the fuss was about (I’ll tell you what it was about! I’m OLD!), and he got me some Advil with a diet Coke chaser. He tried his best to work out the kinks in my neck and back with his mad impromptu masseur skillz, but then Alex wanted to help by running one of his toy cars up and down my spine.
And thus ended my brief and ineffective physical therapy session.
For the next thirty minutes we debated what to do. One thing I knew for sure – aside from the fact that I would never stand straight up again – was that I could not get in a car. Cars require sitting, and I could not, under any circumstances, sit. So the car was not an option. D. was concerned about leaving me at home, but I assured him that as long as I could get back and forth to the bathroom, even if it was slowly and awkwardly, I’d be fine. He asked me to show him that I could in fact get up off of the floor, and never one to back down from a challenge, I decided that I’d show him, oh yes I would. And GOOD.
So I gingerly rolled over on my stomach, took about four minutes to make the move to all fours, grabbed onto the side of the coffee table, and gradually pulled myself up to a semi-standing position while I attempted to blow my unkempt hair out of my face. And as I stood there in all my hunchback splendor, radiant in my t-shirt and decidedly unsassy pajama bottoms, just as lovely and put-together as the day D. married me (AHEM), he looked me over and said, “Yeah. So THAT makes me feel a LOT better about leaving you.”
Eventually, though, I convinced him that I’d be fine. I tenderly asked Alex if he’d be sad if I didn’t go with him, if he’d be okay going with just his daddy on the trip, and he answered me with, “OKAY! BYE BYE, MAMA! BYE BYE!”
Clearly, he was all broken up about it.
And as a result of all of those events, I have been by myself for the last two days. That doesn’t happen very often around here.
So after a couple of really hot baths, liberal doses of muscle rub stuff that stinks to high heaven, stretching exercises prescribed by my personal occupational therapist (okay, it’s Emma Kate, but she is licensed and all), a couple of magic pills that helped me sleep pain-free, and a hearty portion of blog reading (I read every single link. I did!), I’m all better now.
Sitting up and everything.
And not doing any more of that risky empty suitcase lifting anytime soon.
Oh no ma’am.
Awww, I’m sorry you’ve spent the weekend all stooped and bent and hurting, and even sorrier that you missed out on all the Labor Day festivities! Somebody should bring you a bucket of fried chicken tomorrow…everybody oughta have fried chicken on Labor Day. ;)
Hope your back continues to unkink itself and you’re feeling rested by the time your family returns!
So sorry to hear about your back…and your plans! But glad your back is starting to feel better.
I sure do enjoy your blog. You crack me up…especially your “southern” posts. : ) My mom lives in Alabama (born and raised) and so I can totally relate and reading your blog makes me feel a little closer to her. And even though I’m a California girl, I have a subscription to Southern Living. ; )
Hope your feeling 100% soon!
Keep taking those hot baths and “magic pills”. I’ll remember you in prayer!
How wonderful and glorious is the empty house!! I love it when daddy takes the kids somewhere and I’m left alone!!
Keep up the meds and feel better soon!
:( … bummer! I’m sorry about your back and about your weekend! That’s happened to me before and so I sympathize with you! I hope it’s healed up soon!!
Sorry about the “kink” in your plans, but it sounds like the quiet bloggy weekend was much enjoyed.
Oh NO, so sorry to hear that!! Hope you feel better soon!
OUCH!!! Nothing knocks a person off their feet like a back injury! Well, that or your air conditioning system shutting down…. :-)
I’m sorry you got hurt BooMama. Selfishly? I’m glad it wasn’t your Blog-writing hand. Isn’t that awful?
Get well soon our friend!
Chris
I’m so sorry to hear about your suffering over the weekend. I can feel your pain. My back is messed up and is in pain alot of the time. (I broke it when I was 10, a whole other post so I won’t go into the detail and ramble on and take up all the room here -ahem-ooops-coughcough) Ok where was I? Glad you’re feeling better now. Enjoy the rest of your holiday! No more lifting anything as heavy as an empty suitcase ever again. LOL
Oh goodness! That has a way of really wiping out a weekend, huh?
Glad you had a relaxing one anywya, and that you’re starting to get back to normal.
Ouch! Isn’t it odd how a little, perfectly normal thing can throw us for a loop? I’m sorry you were in such pain and missed out on the “best laid plans.” But glad you got some alone time. I enjoyed the other post, too, and thoroughly need some alone time to recharge my batteries as well. I’m not ready for everyone to leave the nest yet, but a little alone time here and there keeps me sane.:)
Hope today’s better for you!
Ah ha! So that’s how it’s done?! Painful, debilitating kink in neck equals ALONE TIME! Let’s see…what can I lift around here? Must be heavy and cause a lot of sudden damage….ah yes! The piano should do it!
Don’t get me wrong, I love, love, love my family but I’m a loner who is never alone. And it’s hard sometimes. ;)
Oh, that is a definite kink in the plans….but like grafted branch, I NEVER mind alone time, ‘specially if it means I can read as many blogs as I want and not feel guilty! So sorry to hear about your “kinkiness”, (ahem!) but glad your excellent care has made you feel better.
Take care and no more lifting! We wouldn’t know what to do if you hurt your hand and couldn’t blog!! 8-)
Oh wow. I hope your back continues to improve, especially before the troops come home!
Aww…sorry about all the pain and disruption to the plans. I’m so glad you’re feeling better. But if I were you, I’d take an extra hot bath or two, and do some more blog reading. You know, just to be sure. Since they seemed to help. You wouldn’t want to risk a relapse that could be easily avoided, right?
I was wondering what was going on with you. Your talking about leaving town, then your not leaving town, etc. But I am so sorry to hear about your injury. So glad you had a “licensed” occupational therapist to help. Sounds like your having to “labor” to get around. (Ok, it wasn’t necessarily a good pun but…)
Seriously though I hope you are feeling much better today!!
Isn’t it funny how sometimes the Lord gives us exactly what we don’t want to give us exactly what we need. My prayers are with you. I am glad you are recovering.
Heather –
AMEN.
:-)
Feeling good as new today.
That reaching-around-the-door-for-a-suitcase move will getcha every time.
I’m sorry your fun weekend got so messed up. I’m glad D and A went anyway though. When something like this happens, it only makes it worse if you’re surrounded by well-meaning people who feel sorry for you but can’t do one blessed thing to make it better.
I’m trying to imagine having two.whole.days to catch up on reading blogs. And I’m not sure who had the better weekend – you or the boys.
Glad you’re all better now.
I am sorry to laugh at your pain… but
“And thus ended my brief and ineffective physical therapy session” is the funniest thing I have read in a while.
It was those skinny jeans you had on, I tell ya!!
So here’s my question: was it worth the pain, to get a weekend by yourself? If so, I’m off to wrench my back:)
so sorry to hear about your back. A weekend alone is a good consalation prize however!
Hope you feel better.
Isn’t it funny that once you’re a mom the only way you really get serious time alone is if you incur an injury of some sort? I had to get teeth pulled last fall and got to spend 2 glorious days lying on the couch. It also makes me want to go back to the dentist. :)
Glad you’re feeling better.
BYE MAMA —
too, too funny. I really thought the Nascar therapy would have made you good as new. Darn.
Sorry you missed the trip, and had such horrid pain.
Glad you had some alone time and rested, even if slightly medicated.
Your comments made perfect sense- now, that – is scary :)
You’re old? OLD?! Naw, I don’t think so, ’cause I’m waaaay older than you and I’m not old!
xo,
I’m SO sorry you pulled a muscle right before a family trip this weekend! Is it getting better? Stay in bed, watch some TV and think of me WORKING this labor day (it’s my holiday to work–yippee-skippee!) from 3:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. If I lived closer, I’d bring you something to eat and cheer you up! Take care and GET WELL SOON!
Jody (GW Mama)
And you didn’t mention it sooner because….?
A) You were afriad we would all show up to help.
B) If we showed up not only would we see you rolling around on the floor in your new skinny jeans, one of us may have moved your bon-bons out of reach.
C) You’re a polite southern gal who knew that she’s have to send thank you notes to the 482 comments sending you well wishes from your adoring fans.
Yeah, we all know it’s C.
Oh I have been there – the first time was on my honeymoon. Talk about learning about life together when you have to have your husband of 18 hours help you off of the toilet.
you’re hilarious, even in pain. i sure hope you’re better.
i loved the part about your son running his cars up your back. that was so cute.
Girl, I am so glad you are better. I know that feeling of not wanting to straighten out your back. So, so glad you are better!
Please be careful so you don’t do it again.
Oh just the thought of injury that can keep us from blogging is enough already! Glad you got a weekend by yourself and glad you’re healing up well! :)
Oh that’s icky about your back. I’m sorry you missed out on Labor Day festivities, although you probably enjoyed the time to yourself…Sometimes God will put us on our backs to give us what we need, eh?
I’m so sorry about your back. Take advantage of some alone time. Sometimes that can be a good thing.
Blessings,
Trixi
So sorry you were injured & unable to take your trip. I hurt just reading about it. A couple of years ago, I tripped over a parking strip at the Safeway store & broke my left Humerous, & how that bone in one’s upper arm got that name, I’ll never know, because it sure wasn’t funny & hurt like the dickens. God Bless
ruth
Oh, Boomama! Ouch! I’m glad to hear it’s getting better!