My wife and I decided we didn't want to have children, we opted for pets instead. Most days I'm very happy with this decision. Yesterday, however, was not one of those days. Our pets, particularly our two dogs, caused yesterday to be a very PAINFUL day for me.
As I've reported to you in past posts, I have an ailing right shoulder. At some point in the past, I completely tore one of the four ligaments that holds my shoulder in place. I've seen two specialists and both agree that the injury is too old to repair. So, I need to baby my right shoulder to insure it doesn't pain me too much.
Because yesterday was the 4th of July and in the US this means people shooting off fireworks all day long, both of my dogs were on edge. At one point in the late morning, my little dog, Princess, indicated she needed to go outside to relieve herself. When it came time to let her back in, my larger dog, Jaz, tried to dart out the front door. Instinctively, I tried to grab her.
If she had darted on my left side, there would have been no issue, but she was attempting to escape on my RIGHT side. As I tried to grab her, the quick lunging movement sent excruciating pain into my injured shoulder. I immediately dropped to my needs amid a bit of cursing and gasps for air. The intense level of pain only lasted for 30 seconds or so, but the residual ache lasted for the rest of the day.
As the day wore on and the incidence of fireworks increased, my little dog became more frantic. She tried hiding under my wife's bed for a while. When I decided to come upstairs around 10 p.m., she nervously decided she was coming with me. Well, that's not entirely true.
She started up the stairs, but quickly changed her mind. Of course, her change of plans occurred at the very moment I started up the stairs. Needless to say, she got tangled up in my big feet and, since I have balance issues anyway, it caused me to stumble. I crashed into the wall to my right and, for the second time in less than 12 hours, excruciating pain shot up my right shoulder. The sudden jolt of pain caused me to lift my head and I clocked myself on the low overhang at the beginning of the staircase.
I howled like an injured dog. My wife rushed from the living room to find me on my knees, alternately clutching my shoulder and my head. "What did you injure?" she asked. I was in so much pain I couldn't answer coherently for nearly one minute. I finally told her that I had banged both my shoulder AND the top of my head.
Since I incurred several concussions as a child, this necessitated that we both had to stay awake for several hours to look for signs of another concussion. I don't think I suffered a serious injury, but I have a definite knot on me noggin and, even now, still a bit of a slight headache. My poor shoulder is aching like you wouldn't believe.
The moral of this little tale is that, if any of you out there are contemplating obtaining one or more dogs to join your family, it is a wonderful idea. For the most part, you will find it to be a good decision...except on the 4th of July and New Year's Eve!
As I've reported to you in past posts, I have an ailing right shoulder. At some point in the past, I completely tore one of the four ligaments that holds my shoulder in place. I've seen two specialists and both agree that the injury is too old to repair. So, I need to baby my right shoulder to insure it doesn't pain me too much.
Because yesterday was the 4th of July and in the US this means people shooting off fireworks all day long, both of my dogs were on edge. At one point in the late morning, my little dog, Princess, indicated she needed to go outside to relieve herself. When it came time to let her back in, my larger dog, Jaz, tried to dart out the front door. Instinctively, I tried to grab her.
If she had darted on my left side, there would have been no issue, but she was attempting to escape on my RIGHT side. As I tried to grab her, the quick lunging movement sent excruciating pain into my injured shoulder. I immediately dropped to my needs amid a bit of cursing and gasps for air. The intense level of pain only lasted for 30 seconds or so, but the residual ache lasted for the rest of the day.
As the day wore on and the incidence of fireworks increased, my little dog became more frantic. She tried hiding under my wife's bed for a while. When I decided to come upstairs around 10 p.m., she nervously decided she was coming with me. Well, that's not entirely true.
She started up the stairs, but quickly changed her mind. Of course, her change of plans occurred at the very moment I started up the stairs. Needless to say, she got tangled up in my big feet and, since I have balance issues anyway, it caused me to stumble. I crashed into the wall to my right and, for the second time in less than 12 hours, excruciating pain shot up my right shoulder. The sudden jolt of pain caused me to lift my head and I clocked myself on the low overhang at the beginning of the staircase.
I howled like an injured dog. My wife rushed from the living room to find me on my knees, alternately clutching my shoulder and my head. "What did you injure?" she asked. I was in so much pain I couldn't answer coherently for nearly one minute. I finally told her that I had banged both my shoulder AND the top of my head.
Since I incurred several concussions as a child, this necessitated that we both had to stay awake for several hours to look for signs of another concussion. I don't think I suffered a serious injury, but I have a definite knot on me noggin and, even now, still a bit of a slight headache. My poor shoulder is aching like you wouldn't believe.
The moral of this little tale is that, if any of you out there are contemplating obtaining one or more dogs to join your family, it is a wonderful idea. For the most part, you will find it to be a good decision...except on the 4th of July and New Year's Eve!
I hope your pain goes away, and that you get better soon.
ReplyDeleteMy dog also goes crazy on the 4th, and New Years Eve. She wants to go out and chase the sound of the fire works. The same holds true with thunder and lightning. And we are getting ready to enter the monsoon season here in the S/W. I love dogs more than people at times. We are planning on moving to S/Korea in 2 years. But their canine cuisine habits will weigh very heavy on me. It might be silly to some, but that is one of the main reasons I do not want to move there.
Glad you are Ok. Those falls can be nasty. Our cats have leveled me more than once. Not their fault.....
ReplyDeleteBruce
RZ,
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to move there, why do it?
Bruce,
You're right. It isn't their fault. I too often get mad at them as if it is!
My wife is Korean. Even though she is an American naturalized citizen S/Korea will take back. Me being her spouse they will obviously take me. lol.
ReplyDeleteWe were in S/K IN 10/08 and I liked it very much. Every country has its ups and downs. I always put everything on a scale. If it is too uneven then a change needs to be made.
I do not like it that they eat dog, and or whale meat in Korea. There are a few other customs that are not to my liking but they are no big deal.
I am 60 y/o. Because of this re-depression our business is worth less now. My wife is diabetic, and we do not have Health Insurance. My Soc. Sec. at age 61 will be a pittance to survive on in the U.S. S/K does have health care that we could afford. Their cost of living there is much more reasonable than here.
My wife having family there will make the transition easier.
There are a lot of expats living all over the world. That number is rapidly growing.