I started this entry right after the “incident”, but work has not permitted me enough time to finish writing this post, so, pretend that you’re reading this on Tuesday, the 17th of April, 2007…
Damn! Yesterday, I figured I’d have a nice relaxing start to an otherwise tough week, as I was planning on getting myself back into the gym and running regularly. It seems the universe had set things in motion that didn’t allow for those same plans. Here’s the scene: I awoke a little earlier than usual, got myself dressed immediately into my DCUs (Desert Camouflage Uniform) and decided that I’d take a restroom break on the way to the bus-stop — normally, I’d get dressed into my PT Uniform and take care of morning business before getting into DCUs and heading to work. I’d decided, that day, of all days, that I was going to ride the bus because I’d planned for a pretty good workout at the gym, “…Might as well save my strength,” I said to myself.
As I was descending the steps to the restroom, air-drying my hands (this is where you can picture the half-frantic arm-waving so often displayed in cartoons by characters as they’re about to fall down, often with hilarious results), I reach the ground level and BAM! Down I go. I hear a pop, my ankle twists and I find myself in a near Muslim-style praying position on the ground. With that popping sound came pain, but we all know the first thing to go through my mind was, Did anyone see me? I’m beginning to wonder if this “response” to an injury out in the open is more of a primitive self-defense mechanism, as being wounded out in the open leaves one open to attack from predators. It would follow that after an injury, the first instinct would be to make sure the injured individual wasn’t in any apparent immediate danger. Then again, it could just be simple vanity or embarrassment. 
I quickly (as quick as one can with an injured ankle and wearing a 40-pound backpack) looked around and only saw one female in view, and she was jogging, so my embarrassment was limited (until this post, of course). I swore a little at the pain and then a little more because my freshly-washed hands were now in the dirt, brushed myself off and pushed myself into a sitting position on the steps and was praying (in a non-religious manner, if that’s possible) that I didn’t seriously injure my ankle. I got to my feet and slowly hobbled my way over to the bus stop, which was about 90 feet away.
After reaching the bus stop, I massaged my ankle a little and was pretty sure I’d injured it, but wasn’t sure how bad it was. The fact that I could put weight on it was a little comforting, though the pain and the aforementioned ‘pop’ had me a little worried. The last few times I heard ‘pops’ were associated with extended periods of bed rest due to the extent of the injuries (torn meniscus in R knee and severe sprain in R ankle). So, there I was, sitting at the bus stop, treating my ankle a little gingerly and wondering what the Captain and female SrA that were at the bus stop were thinking about this TSgt with a huge backpack that just limped over to their comfy little stop. Why is it that we’d even care about such things? Anyway, I limp my way up onto the bus after it arrives and take the nearest seat. Now I’m thinking that if we were to get into a head on crash, it’d be a race between myself and the bus driver to see who’d go through the windshield first, though I’d probably get more distance because I had the backpack on and that’d give me more mass, so I’d pass through the windshield more easily. What an awkward thought!
Arriving at work, I inform my supervisor and anyone else that cares to listen to my silly little tale, about my injury. I wonder if I should embellish a little? You know, throw in the occasional ninja or rogue Al Qaeda member into the mix but go with full honesty, instead. Yeah, I’m a klutz and I should learn how to take steps better, is what I was thinking. Actually, some of the guys that I work with were describing how this was a plot that they’d set in motion, ages ago, to injure me, describing in no great detail how they’d made their way over to the latrine I mentioned and buried the rock with just enough of it showing to cause a twisted ankle, specifically meant for me. Yeah, I wasn’t buying that story, either. LOL
Luckily, I have a boss that really cares for her troops. MSgt Ricker actually gave me a ride to the clinic, voluntarily, I might add, and helped me out throughout the rest of the next few days while I was hobbled. This may sound funny to some, but let me tell you, last time I seriously injured myself, it was like asking for a spare kidney to get some help or compassion from my last supervisor at the time. That dude was a horse’s behind! Anyway, we got to the clinic and I signed-in and only had to wait about 15 or so minutes before I was actually seen by a doctor–that’s a record. It could have been longer, but it didn’t seem that way to me, though I was trying to keep my mind off of the throbbing in my foot and present a cheery attitude. When the doctor stopped by my little privacy-ensured curtain and examined my foot, she was quite optimistic and sympathetic of my condition. “Yeah, a lot of people are coming in with sprained ankles from the Cadillac’s,” she said, probing my ankle and asking me to push and pull as she pulled and pushed before continuing with, “getting up so early in the mornings and being sleepy seems to be a major contributor.” I just nodded and winced as she found the injured tendon and made her pronouncement that it’d be better in 5-7 days, prescribed some Naprosyn, and sent me limping on my way.
Sure enough, a few days later I was up and walking about with my mobility steadily improving each and every day. I think that I’ll be running by the end of this week, but in the meantime I’m sticking to the cross trainer and weightlifting. I’ve included some pics of my ankle, post-accident, and the scene of the crime…
Here’s my co-worker, Aslam, and me, at work. Not pictured is Aslam’s characteristic “Thumb’s Up!”
Here’s my ankle, two days after the “incident”.
And here’s the scene of the crime… I brought the Holey Rock along for protection…
That other rock on the step was just a bystander…
Oh, did I mention that I’m about 3 weeks out from returning home? Can’t wait!!!
My next post should be by Friday of this week and will be about some of the places I’ve gone and things that I’ve done while here…
