Monday, May 11, 2009, Fort Worth, Tx., 5:38 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Steffi here.  Sorry I haven't written; have been busy with classes and trying to get over this darn fall.  As you know from my last entry (and also Tank's), I fell about two/three weeks ago, and I fractured my hip.  I have been using a wheelchair, and still have at least three weeks to go.  I will then start physical and occupational therapy, to help me get back on my feet.

It's been a real joy:  NOT!!

I was in a hurry to get to one of my classes; I didn't watch where I was going, and I fell, head over heels, down the stairs.  Booma-boom-boom-da-boom, CRASH!!  That's how I went.  OW!  When I went to get up, I knew I was hurt:  I couldn't move without excruciating pain.  It was awful!!

They called the meat wagon (ambulance), which carted me to the hospital.  That's when they discovered I had a hip fracture. 

Nice!

Ever since, I have been sitting in this chair, on a pillow; it still hurts bad if I move wrong.  I have to be so careful!  Trying to transfer myself to bed to my chair (or vice versa) or from a chair to the wheelchair is the worst! 

I still can't walk now, but as I said, once I start therapy, that should come back.  I hope so; I hate sitting around like a bump on a log!

Now I know how some of my wheelchair-bound brothers and sisters feel!  Not fun to sit down on the job all the time!

(Although it is kind of nice to get preferred parking privelages, or good seating arrangements at concerts!)

And people look at me with pitying looks on their faces.  That part I don't care for, but more often than not, people have been extra helpful to me lately, ever since this happened.  :)

Tank's been a real trouper during this time:  he helps me without complaining, and he makes sure I have everything I need.  He's very thoughtful; I think I'll keep him.  :)

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  I tried to call mom, to wish her a happy MD, but I forgot they weren't home.  I left a message on her cell; I hope she knows that I was thinking of her!  (They're in Louisiana as I write this; they should be back sometime by Wednesday.)

I miss mom and dad, also my brothers and sisters; we've been through a lot together, and I often wonder what is going on with them.  I pray and hope nobody's been sick or in the hospital; I always worry about that.

I also miss the animals, and wonder if they've added to their menagerie.  I do know they have a new bunny rabbit, a black dwarf bunny they named "Sooty", but I pray and hope the dogs don't decide to eat him for a snack! 

I have yet to see a piccy of "Sooty"; I bet he's cute!

The weather's been strange here lately:  threat of storms just about every day, but most of them have been above us, like around the Red River.  Some places have gotten dumped on from wave after wave of storms, while other places haven't seen nary a drop.  I will be glad when this pattern changes:  I'm ready for some warm sunshiney weather; I'm sick of these cloudy, dreary days!

They say later in the week, it could heat up to the upper eighties to lower nineties.  That's a bit too warm for me:  for me, the weather has to be in the middle seventies to near eighty degrees.  Not too warm or too cold:  just right!  :)

I'm from Canada originally:  I've never done heat all that well.  The summers in Tennessee about kill me; but Louisiana's a lot worse!  Whenever I'm in Louisiana, I'm about to die from the heat!  It's horrible!!

Well, I am going to go.  Hip's starting to pain me again.  I will lie down for a while, perhaps go to sleep: only have two classes today, one at 11, and the other at two.  An easy day today; I love Mondays! :)  I will write in here again soon; maybe by then, I'll be back on my feet again!  Hope so; this sitting down all the time is for the birds!  Until later, this is Steffi saying so long!  God bless and have a super day!

~Love, Steffi. :)