“Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
No, really! Help!
In my younger, less older days, I laughed when I watched that commercial with the old lady lying on the ground next to her knocked over walker with the tennis balls on the feet.
But years later, I can tell you that when this eventually happens to you (and it will) it is no laughing matter.
So I discovered the other night when I slipped and fell while my daughter was in school and my husband, who is recuperating from kidney-stone surgery, was rooms away with the television blasting and the door closed.
The refrain of “I can’t get up” was the first thought that ran through my mind as my bare foot slid on the wet tile and I went flying across the floor landing on my funny bone (which ain’t so funny) and my hip.
Thank god I didn’t break anything, but for the moment the wind was so knocked out of my sails that I could barely take a breath let alone yell for help. Like the lady in the ad, I was out of luck. Eventually I was able to get enough air into my lungs and I screamed loud enough for Bob to hear.
“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”
He rushed in. After a quick “Did you break anything?” He gave me a chair, helped me to my feet and provided a few dozen ice packs for my bruised and battered elbow and side.
He was very solicitous at first, but after he was satisfied there was no serious damage, his finger-pointing finger began to wag in earnest and he punctuated each statement with a jab.
“I always tell you to be careful. Wear slippers. Don’t rush. Why is the floor so wet? Why did you slip, didn’t you look where you are going?” He demanded answers.
“If I’d known the floor was wet I wouldn’t have put my foot in it and I would not have fallen,” I said. But my point was moot because he was on a righteous tirade and nothing was going to holster that finger.
After a while, his finger quieted down, my bruised elbow and hip responded to the ice packs, and two Motrin’s later I was able to laugh at myself.
But Not for Nuthin,™ the next time I see that commercial on YouTube, I won’t laugh as hard as I did in the past.
Nuthin’ Note: Last week the world lost a bit of it’s sunshine when Louis Principato suddenly passed away. He was my best friend Donna’s brother. Through all the years I had known him, I never heard him utter a negative thought about anything or anyone. No matter what life threw at him, he always had a smile on his face. He shared his joy and love of sports with his friends, his family (especially his niece Janine and nephew Adam), and he taught everyone who knew him an invaluable lesson: to be joyful no matter what and live your life on your own terms. Rest in peace Lou.
Follow me on Twitter @JDelBuono.
