It Hurts When You Break Your Nose
Last Wednesday night, when I was home alone except for Katie Cat and Sassy Dog, I tripped over a rolled up carpet runner I’d left in a stupid place, fell face-first into the hard arm of an easy chair, and broke my nose. I scrambled up and made a mad dash to the bathroom — all I could think about was the imminent threat I’d be anointing our brand new carpet with my own blood.
I’m happy to say the neighbor was home to run me up to Urgent Care, I did not damage my facial bones or skull, and the carpet is fine. When my husband got home from his bridge game, expecting the usual relaxed and happy Pat and pet crew to greet him at the door, he couldn’t believe what I’d done. I think from now on, he’ll keep his cell phone on when he’s gone for the evening.
My face still is a purple mess that makes me look like I’m wearing warpaint, but I don’t think I’ll end up with a hook or a hump. The bridge of my nose still hurts and I still ice it to relieve the intense aching. And I try not to sneeze. Sneezing is bad.
Those Other Facts of Life
1. In my lifetime, the dietary rules of healthy eating have changed so many times that it’s no wonder we give up and eat whatever we want. Are you old enough to remember when eggs, coffee, and butter were considered deadly? Now they’re considered good for us, and the things we used as substitutes are bad, bad, bad.
2. Pneumonia is a killer disease for the elderly. The worst part is that it’s often asymptomatic until it’s too late. The factors that contribute to such a scary illness are immobility, existing congestive heart disease, and poor nutrition. And for the elderly, poor nutrition is not necessarily related to the availability of a good diet. Often it’s the result of a decreasing appetite, foods no longer tasting good, and the lack of energy to go to the table or dining room.
3. Other things that might not be good for your health: exercising outside on these really hot days, watching the RNC and DNC conventions too long at a time (can affect both your physical and mental health), and constant monitoring of your phone or tablet.
4. Things that are really good for you: walking (while being careful not to trip and fall), stretching, massages, and meditating. I’ve been reading up on meditation and have discovered 5 or 10 minutes of meditation at a time in a comfortable chair works just fine for me without using timers, tapes or CDs guides, or rules. I sit, relax my muscles, focus on breathing in and out, gently bring my wandering mind back to the breath, and I stop when I feel like it. No pressure meditation.
5. And finally, don’t forget the Goodreads giveaway of 5 signed hardcover copies of Dead Wrong will end on July 30th. Sign in to Goodreads and then click here to get to the Dead Wrong page.
Ouch! I’ve fallen on my face before, but I didn’t break my nose. Got an impressive black eye and a split lip, though. I was fighting a tiger …. Okay, I was walking across a parking lot.
Fighting a tiger sounds so much more adventurous than falling in a parking lot….or in my own living room. I guess we need to be more careful, Marian.
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!. I broke my nose once, pole vaulting. Still have a bit of a patrician hump to show for it. And I do hate that we get all these dietary warnings that change from year to year.
Hi Maryann! I wish I had a great story to tell like pole vaulting or mountain biking or something athletic. Pure clumsiness is not nearly as impressive.
I’m so sorry to hear about your fall! Glad to hear you’re on the mend. Bet you look like a prize-fighter. 🙂
I either try to get up and out early to walk or bike ride, otherwise I keep my exercising to the indoors with the a/c cranked.
Like a prize-fighter indeed. I wish I could say “you should have seen the other guy” but the chair wasn’t damaged at all. 😀
We bought a recumbent exercise bike before my total knee replacement and it has been a life-saver. I have it placed in front of the TV. I found I’ll ride longer when I’m distracted by a show I like.
I’m so sorry. That sounds like something klutzy I would do. No breakage though. I major in the minor injuries. (I tend to be one big bruise.)
The basics of eat more plant-based food and less meat-based food still apply. The protein diet always annoyed me though. Cut carbs, eat protein – and put your body into an unhealthy state of ketosis. 75% of my calories are carbs and I’m a size 2. Explain that one, protein nuts.
Now that made me laugh! I bet you eat healthy carbs though, not empty carbs. My favorite carbs are blueberries and my favorite fats are avocados and almonds.
And rib eye steak. 😀
Hope your nose continues to mend well, Pat. So sorry to hear about the fall. Sometimes the simplest little thing can lead to such serious accidents. I can’t keep up with what’s supposed to be good to eat and what isn’t. It changes so fast lately. We’re having temperatures in the upper 90s with the heat index around 107 degrees and some people don’t seem to realize just how fast heat stroke can hit. Take care.
Thoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
Today we have a little cloud cover, Mason, so the temperatures are staying somewhere in between ridiculously uncomfortable and almost bearable. There’s no breeze, though, so still not comfortable enough to take a walk. Guess I’d better spend some time on the exercise bike today.
Oh, no!! So sorry to hear about your broken nose, Pat!! I hope you’re on the mend soon! Rest up and take it easy. And research 100% supports your point about the ill effects of too much time in front of electronics. Wise of you to monitor that. As to diet? You’re right; it’s hard to know exactly what to do about that any more. Basically I just do the best I can…
At least I’m reminded to get up and walk around for a while every hour or so because wearing my glasses makes the bridge of my nose ache. Crazy way to set a timer…
Sorry about your nose! Glad you didn’t mess yourself up bad.
I see people outside jogging in the heat of the day and only one word comes to mind – idiot. Sure way to get heat stroke.
So true, Alex. I even read cautions recently about taking dogs for walks when it’s this hot. Very bad idea for the poor doggies. And here in Colorado we’ve been having some problems with air quality because of wildfires in the west, so those with allergies or asthma have an extra concern. Talk about your long, hot summers….