Since the accident one thing I hadn’t done was go out to a bar with large amounts of people and actually DRINK. This is scary to a newby on crutches for lots of reasons. 1) What if someone is drunk and knocks my leg? 2) What if there are stairs and its hard to get around? 3) What if my leg starts to hurt? Thankfully, last night I decided to do it anyways. As usual, I learned alot.
What can you do at a BAR on CRUTCHES?
1) Conquer the stairs before you have your first drink. And then it will go smoothly. Once you're settled, stay on one floor of course.
2) Your awesome friends can save you a seat, so when you get there you can immediately sit down
3) You can “crutch dance.” Takes all the awkwardness of dancing away because you look like a complete fool with your crutches anyways. Went the most smoothly to the song “push it”
4) Play the “What do you think happened?” game. Everyone, even strangers, asks. I get pretty sick of telling the sob story. I’ve started to make people guess. I always win.
5) Make other people carry your drinks. Note the picture.. he's not double fisting.
6) Take breaks from the crowds if you start to hurt a bit. Actually turned out to be a great opportunity to have a intimate conversation with whoever stepped away from the crowd to help you (I think we all know is that is)
7) Leave before closing when the rush of people leave to. Gotta be out there to get the first cab so you don’t have to hobble around searching.
8) Of course, don’t do it alone the first time. Have that person there to make sure you’re ok with it all before your try it by yourself.
6 weeks ago when I was in the ambulance on the way to the hospital all I remember saying was “how long is the recovery? how long is the recovery?” Apparently the complete disarrangement of my leg didn’t seem to matter at that point, just the recovery time. The paramedic never answered the questions of course. But I can guarantee you if he had said “ you won’t be out with your friends for 6 more weeks, and even then it will be big struggle” I would have started to cry. Heck, at that point I was still wondering if I was going to run my 20 mile training race that upcoming weekend.
As upsetting as that would have been to hear, no one could have ever explained the fulfillment and happiness I felt once I did it.
I love you so much Sarah and I am so proud of the way you are handling everything. I know you will make it through all of this and come back even stronger. As athletes, we are used to putting up a good fight - this is just a different kind of fight. I know you'll win.
ReplyDeleteLove Lauren