One final event of 2009 that I wanted to document (in words, not just in physical appearance) was the scar-resulting injury I received on the fourth of July. I was preparing our home's interior--last second, as usual--for the arrival of Gallman guests. I ALWAYS use guests coming as a catalyst to get things done. Usually I barely have time for cleaning, but sometimes my brain gets confused and thinks that I have time for all kinds of projects that have gone unaccomplished for years.
I had recently (meaning a few months in "Susan time") gotten this sign at a garage sale and wanted to place it...as inspiration for our coming visitors, I'm sure (by the way, read it and soak it in).
I have this particular wall in the family room that was a family joke for years....that would be because it took YEARS to build it, and many people have questioned it's beauty. BUT, trend-setter that I am, I have refused to give into their mockings (not to mention that I have received compliments from several people I admire for their decorating prowess). Anyway, it STILL remains incomplete; several of the small shelves that run horizontal have yet to be screwed in. Part of me likes it this way, because then it is easy to adjust the shelf to the height of the decoration I want to put on it. So the routine is just to place the beam in a position that it catches hold in a spot that is a little more narrow than other parts.
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| The infamous wall |
The fourth of July arrives and I intend to make a larger space for this sign to go in. I begin by placing my hand over a large picture above my head so that it doesn't topple over as I do my deed, pounding the beam upward an inch or two. After a few pounds, the beam was nearly level when I was pummeled by something above. My head felt like it had been hit by a 300 lb. boulder and I felt like I was about to pass out. I screamed out in pain, covering my face with my hands to try and ward-off some of the extreme pain. One of my children announced to me that I was bleeding. I figured it was my upper head, but then noticed blood all over my hands.
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| The culprit |
Turns out this little beauty...a stone frame, had been even higher up on the wall and I hadn't noticed it. It, along with its' shelf had fallen on my head. The frame had landed on my face and put a 1 inch slice right above my lip. Luckily Dr. Gallman (the one I was putting the sign up for ;) ) ran over and attended to me, inquiring if we had any super glue in the house. Ahh, super glue, one of our new best friends; we have used it two times on facial wounds since that time (once on Nathan's dog bite, and once on Aaron's).
All in all my would has healed well. I swear it will get progressively worse as I age; but then again, maybe the wrinkles will cover it.
The moral of the story? Art thinks it should be "never place heavy objects above your head"...he had already warned me many times before this event, you know. remind me that he has warned me about several times. Have I taken it to heart yet? Lesson learned? No. I am sad that I will forever be scarred on my face and because of it my smile is a bit crooked and I think it will just look worse over time (as I get old lady wrinkly lips). Hence, I write for your benefit...could it be any more ironic that I bash my lip open while trying to hang a sign that says, "
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| The results |
The moral of the story? Art thinks it should be "never place heavy objects above your head"...like he had to remind me that he has warned me about several times. Have I taken it to heart yet? Lesson learned? Sorry Art. No. I am sad that I will forever be scarred on my face and because of it my smile is a bit crooked. Maybe I need the sign to say, "Learn to see in
your calamities, the ills which you should avoid." Could it be any more ironic that I bash my lip open while trying to hang a sign that says such a thing?
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| Even the inside was super beat-up |
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| Here it is one year later. |
