Save the Boots!

Ever just KNOW the direction something is going to go?

Years ago (yes, this was before cell phones), having a home phone was a privilege, one of which I could not afford. My neighbor had graciously permitted me to give her phone number out for emergencies or as a callback number for doctors and such, and one day she came over to let me know the doctor was on the phone for me.

I threw on my boots and raced over to her house through about eight inches of snow, to take the call. Well, unbeknownst to me, there was a shallow hole under the snow where irrigation sprinklers were placed to water the lawns in warmer months, and my left foot went into it. I heard as well as felt the pop and instantly felt the pain in my ankle as I went down into the snow. I turned over right there in the snow, sat up, and immediately took off my boot. My ankle was already swelling and it turned out I tore something like six ligaments in my ankle.

Reminiscing this morning and thinking, “Silly me,” my concern at the time was not that I tore ligaments or broke anything, my first thought was that if I left my boot on, they would have to cut it off my foot and “them was some really cute boots!”

I had to be on crutches for almost eight weeks (and was still able to prepare Thanksgiving dinner all by myself with some creative kitchen mods), but I saved the boots!