One Arm Wonder

Tumbling, rolling, landing, sliding, stopping. Pain and disorientation. Help on the way. Foot restraints pried off. Goggles gently removed. Pain to levels previously unknown, or at least forgotten.

The time: about 12:05pm on 12/23/09. The location: Copper Mountain Ski Area. The participant: Me.

I caught an edge funny on my snowboard as I tried to make a turn near the bottom of the run. My left arm got caught (extended) between me and the ground as I tumbled. Once in the clinic, confirmation that I had messed it up. My left elbow was dislocated (not even close to where it should have been) and I had rediscovered what a pain level of 10 really is.

Thanks to my great friend John for driving Linda to get us (Daniel and I were taking a day together) through the very nasty weather and icy roads. Five and a half hours after the initial pain we were finally on the road back home. Today it is very stiff, but an x-ray confirmed nothing is broken. "Just" some torn ligaments and a whole bunch of swelling.

So, this year for Christmas, Santa in our house is a one arm wonder and I can't type to well either. Percoset, do your thing!