All morning Saturday and part of the afternoon, I had been running around to prepare for that night's Ingress party to celebrate an awesome in-game operation that required world-wide cooperation. I kinda went a little overboard on cupcakes (2 kinds -- Funfetti with blue icing and pineapple upside-down cupcakes -- around 70 cupcakes total). As I was baking, I simultaneously did 4 loads of laundry.
By the time I got to the bar, I was thirsty for a beer and a chair. I drank my first beer while flitting around the room and introducing myself to the people who had come in from out of town to hang out and celebrate (DelaWHAT? Delaw[h]ere? Okay, I guess you had to be there.) I had just purchased my second beer and saw a free seat at a table. Ah, sweet feet relief.
With my right hand on the table, and my left hand holding the beer, I approached the bar stool and shifted my weight over my left leg so I could get my right butt cheek on the chair and slide on in.
WRONG
My left leg went numb and weak. It gave out under me.
In my milliseconds of panic, I realized that I was still holding my beer and that if I didn't do something, it would get everywhere and on everyone. I tilted it toward myself and made the sound of what can only be called a dying egret. I landed on my ass with a thud and beer soaking my shirt and jeans.
My back injury always catches me at the most in opportune times (ahem, in the shower). But this was the first time that I actually lost feeling in my leg and fell in around friends. (Once in college the same happened, but it was during taekwondo while throwing a roundhouse kick)
I'm so very lucky that my friend E was nearby. He and I have discussed my injury (and his injuries) quite a great deal. He knew to wave people off from trying to lift me up immediately (until I knew that everything was working and until I caught my breath). He stood guard as I gathered myself and took stock of what happened, and when I finally got myself vertical.
The next day, E posted this on his G+ page:
It was a good reminder to me that although I may have had people in that room happy/amused to see me fall, that I always get up. I've been dealing with this injury for 17 years (at varying degrees) and never once have I just laid on the ground and pitied myself. I've never asked for special considerations (other than just patience) and I've never asked for people to do for me what I could do for myself (though, I'm always grateful for assistance when I can't do for myself).
It reminded me of New Rule #8: Even on your worst day, you can be someone's hero.
And maybe there needs to be a corollary to New Rule #8: Even on your worst day, a heroic friend will be there to either help you up or be there when you get yourself standing under your own power.
