“She’s only eight months and incredibly pent up after five hours in the car,” she said.
I’d initiated a conversation with the twolegs whose muscular, black and white mixed breed was racing around the dog park with Henny.
“We drove up as a surprise this morning and will be heading back tomorrow…came to visit this one at college,” she said with a big smile while motioning toward a younger woman—her daughter.
Inquiring about which school she attended, our conversation came to an abrupt halt when my right leg was swept out from beneath me. The left followed and I landed on my right Sitz bone with a thud. Without thought, I extended my right arm to break my fall.
“Are you okay?” the women immediately asked as the dog who’d collided with my calf and knee carried on with her game.
As has been my habit for as long as I can remember, I immediately hopped up, said, “Oh yes, I’m fine…don’t give it another thought.”
Was I fine?
I hadn’t even given myself time to investigate.
My heart rate was up as I nonchalantly twisted wrist and ankle. I flexed the fingers on my right hand. I bent my knee a few times and then while fighting my internal fluster I called, “Enjoy your time together. It was lovely to meet you.”
“C’mon Henny,” I said, “let’s go to the top field.”
Can’t say if I was astonished, shocked, or delighted that Henrietta listened at first call as I was wrapped up in the emotion of being shaken.
Here is where I tell you I’m fine…nothing broken or sprained. I did have some tightness in my hip ankle and knee following the fall. To my great benefit, I had a conversation with my friend Michelle who is a body worker the next morning. She suggested I might try shaking my ankle as the action sends healing lymph to the area. Throughout the day I shook, shook, shook my leg like Henny does when she’s trying to remove autumn’s seed hitchhikers. This morning I feel great!
Leashed and loaded into truck, I told Henrietta we were taking a trip off our beaten path to see an old stone house begging to be photographed.
Can you believe other people had the audacity to be there photographing their kids?
I parked, smiled at their wary looks, and explained a friend had suggested I visit the old stone house.
“It might spark a story,” he said. :)
The family and I gave each other space. I snapped photos outside while they encouraged scary expressions on little faces for a Halloween shoot inside the walls.
Philosopher David Hume argued that reason should be a slave to the passions (emotion). He also insisted “we must distance ourselves from the violent passions if we don’t want to remain at their mercy.”
And how do we accomplish this distance?
Habits of the mind.
Gail, I'm easing back into life and your title caught my eye. I have a similar story of a strange dog charging at me, and, although I was shaken from head to toe, I assured the owner I was fine. What do I shake to heal from my stuffed-inside words?
Thanks for the nice boost Gail! And I am thrilled that the shaking helped your ankle! Great post, as always...