Watch Out For That Tree!

wow.  Has it really been so long since I have posted?

Sorry!

You have probably given up on me altogether.

I actually think of post topics all the time... when I am driving my car... when I am teaching a class... when I am working out... just about all the time except in the evenings when I can actually sit down at my computer and write one out.  When I do finally sit down, I can't remember all the witty, funny, or insightful things I thought about earlier in the day.  Harumph!

I will tell you about my weekend, then; even though I haven't downloaded the photos from my camera and/or cell phone yet to illustrate the posts.  I'll do a follow up post with the photos later.

Alright, then.

Friday night is date night, so when I got home from work I was surprised to see Bill's work truck at home, but no Bill.  A call quickly verified my suspicion that he was on a mountain bike ride with a buddy.  He had gotten off work early to ride since the day was so beautiful.  He assured me that he would be home in time for our date, however.

I waited and waited.  I finally heard from him at about 7:30.  He was still on his way home (being brought back by the friend), they had decided to go just an extra 5 miles more, but he had crashed and 'messed up his shoulder' and had scheduled an appointment at the after hours medical clinic.

Uh-huh.

When he got home, he was in shock.  Every muscle in his body was twitching!  He showered (I had to help him out of his shirt) and I drove him to the doctor.  They x-ray'd it and the doctor pronounced it a 2nd degree shoulder separation.  From what I understood of what the doc said, first degree is a strain of the ligaments that hold the shoulder together.  Second degree is a partial tear of the ligaments.  Third degree is a complete tear of the ligaments.  Second degree is pretty bad, but doesn't require the surgery that a 3rd degree separation would.  WHEW!  The doc recommended a few days of complete rest, then physical therapy once it feels healed enough.

After that cheerful news (and a prescription for some pain meds), we finally got to go eat.

So, how did he hurt his shoulder?  He was coming down the mountain (a little faster than he should have) on a single track trail.  Suddenly, there was an uphill rider in his path, so he swerved to avoid the other cyclist and slammed his shoulder full force into a 10" diameter aspen tree.

All things considered, it could have been much worse!  I second the doctor's opinion that Bill behaves like a 16 year old (meaning he is much harder on his body than most men his age).  One of Bill's riding buddies is also his physical therapist (who just finished helping him heal his other shoulder), so he'll just have to keep going back, I guess.