TWTWTW

It has been a week since my last post when I described catching a branch in my tractor’s roll bar and pulling the tree over. It severed at the root and the branch struck my neck, compressing my torso, and landed on the tractor fender. I have searched for a word to describe this past week, unsuccessfully. Perhaps there is no single word, so let’s just call it tumultuous.

It may have been a stretch in the last post to connect the incident to the Labors of Hercules and the theme of impenetrability. However, I will leave it be and wrap myself in that impenetrable lion’s skin and pray the next eleven Labors are nowhere as difficult.

The back pain did not ameliorate the next couple days and I returned to Houston to pick up son Jack who was flying in from Oakland on Sunday. I was able to get an appointment with my GP on Monday and get some X-rays of my cervical and thoracic spinal bones after which Jack and I took off for the wranch. We explored the property, shopped for boots and rifles, and had a swim at the Wilmot ranch. Wednesday morning I got a message from my doc who said my T-12 was fractured and I urgently needed a head scan, cervical and thoracic MRIs, bone density test and referred me to a spine doctor. Jack and I had one last adventure in the Gator driving along the south fence line when I drove into a ditch and nearly flipped the vehicle. We walked back to the workshop, removed the brush hog from the tractor and drove back to the catywampus buggy and pulled her free. After that little escapade we decided it was best we head back to Houston before another misfortune struck.

Jack drove me from one medical appointment to another. The little miracle was that it all got scheduled within a two day period: a CT scan of my head (spoiler: I have not lost my mind), 40 minutes in the MRI cacophony machine, a bone density test and a visit with the spine doctor. The big miracle is that I had probably the best outcome for what might have been a much worse injury: I must rest, wear a back support brace and lift nothing heavier than a gallon of milk (of which I believe a pint of beer is much less). The fracture was stable and there was no herniation of the surrounding discs. I think I also lost about an inch of height.

Yes, I am extremely thankful. To my family who were concerned and prayed for the resultant outcome, to friends who were angry that I would do something so foolhardy and reckless, and to the spirits who watch over us. I am thankful too that Jack was here, both for his cheerful companionship and helping me in many ways to get through this past week.

While on this note of thanksgiving, I must make amends for neglecting an important item at the beginning of this blog, which is to give my thanks to all of you who read these meanderings. They are directed primarily at my future self, but happily shared with all, like guests at a feast.

One final note: the foundation was poured today, the first major milestone in the construction of the JP Wranchhouse!