On my way to the library earlier this week around 7am, I had the pleasure of meeting a really nice lady.
Not under the best circumstances.
I stepped out in front of her car and got hit.
This is totally on me. I just didn’t see her. Thankfully, she wasn’t going fast at all, but trust me… it still hurt like a bitch.
I never saw her coming. I’m blind in my left eye from cataracts, which is exactly the direction she came from. I know I looked right, and I usually turn my head to check left.
This time, I didn’t.
Not seeing her, and not anticipating the hit, probably saved me from something worse.
But this old man… yeah, that’s me…
Is 66 and still bounces.
I’m already back on my feet and sitting in my favorite place.
The library.
Now, I’m not saying that I didn’t get hurt. That would be a lie. The first words out of my mouth as I lay on the ground were, “F*&^, that hurt.” But everything after that is pretty funny. At least I think so.
I was still laying there trying to get a grip on how I felt, with everyone standing around me telling me not to move. When I went, “F&^%, that hurt,” I actually felt bad and apologized for swearing. The lady who hit me said, “You’re fine. I’d be cussing a lot more if I just got hit by a car.”
Of course, they called 911, which brought the ambulance, the EMTs, two cop cars, and God knows how many other city services. They closed down the whole block on a major street.
And the thing is, after I lay there and moved my legs, my neck, and my back… which I got yelled at for… I had someone help me stand up.
Everyone was worried because I was bleeding pretty badly from the head, which didn’t hurt then and still doesn’t now. But the rest of my body… especially my legs and thighs… oh hell yeah, those suckers definitely hurt. I could hardly stand and hardly walk.
So off to the hospital they take me. Now, I’ve really heard bad things about this hospital ever since I moved here. But let me tell you… some damn good-looking nurses. Seriously, all of them. Wish they could prescribe that for pain instead of the bloody narcotics they gave me.
Sorry… drifting off subject. Still have this image in my mind of one nurse leaning over in front of me.
They did the head scans and checked my lower body where I got hit. Everything came out fine. Gave me a couple of pain pills, which were narcotics.
Which, by the way:
- I didn’t want narcotics,
- they didn’t do squat to dull the pain.
Needless to say, I was released from the hospital, or I wouldn’t be here posting. They gave me a script for a mild muscle relaxer, which does help.
I still hobble when I walk, but I refuse to just sit and do nothing while I heal. That does nothing but let your muscles tighten up, which just means a longer time hurting.
I’m not pushing myself, but I still carry my 40-pound backpack to the library and walk some. I take the bus more than I ever did, but that’s just making sure I don’t overdo things.
What blows my mind… I had to get staples in my head, and it didn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt now. No headaches, no double vision. Do I just have a hard head? Must be.
Here is the thing that does piss me off, though. And the more it happens, the more pissed off I get.
Everyone wants me to sue the lady.
Yeah, I know… that’s insurance. But as long as the medical bills are paid, I’m fine with the outcome. Sorry, that’s just not who I am. I’m not someone who’s going to take advantage of a bad situation just to make things worse.
Could I use the money? Sure. But I’m not going to push it.
If they say they’ll give me a settlement without me asking… eh, maybe. We’ll see.
I was going to say that I might not be posting for a while… but this doesn’t stop me.
This old man may be 66, but don’t underestimate me. I
There’s a blues song I really like… you can knock me down, but I still get back up.