Pandemic Road: The Going Gets Bumpy

You’ve seen her before. This is my cat, Hannah. Isn’t she beautiful? She’s 15 years old, but doesn’t look it. Suffice it to say that I love this cat. I would do anything for her. Risk life and limb? What exactly is meant by “risking life and limb”? Let’s consider, the events that took place two weeks ago when Hannah was having a bit of a medical emergency.

After several days of intestinal distress which was stressful for both Hannah and me, I decided it was time for a trip to the veterinarian’s office. So early on a Thursday morning, I put Hannah in her carrier and began walking towards my car. Since this in the middle of a pandemic, I no longer carry a purse. I was carrying the cat carrier, sunglasses, mask and water bottle. Of course being in the middle of a Houston summer, my glasses fogged up as soon as I stepped outside my home.

As I neared my car, things started going out of balance. I was trying not to drop anything.…most of all the cat carrier. My glasses were still fogged up. Next thing I knew I was headed down over the cat carrier. Yes, I went head first onto the concrete floor of the garage. When I stopped falling, I realized that my glasses were broken and there was a certain amount of pain coming from various parts of my body.

Now please keep in mind that I am the same person who grew up in the South with a mother who spent lots of money for years while I took dancing lessons at the Jane Bischoff School of Dance. Nine years worth of tap, ballet and jazz so I could turn out to be a graceful and dainty Southern Lady. Oh well, some dreams just don’t work out.

I got myself up and was grateful no one witnessed my uncoordinated and very ungraceful tumble. When I stood up I realized that no bones were broken in my legs, arms or ribs. I put Hannah in the car and drove her to the vet. After depositing my cat, I returned home and surveyed the damage. I had small cuts over and under my right eye. The skin around my eye was beginning to turn various shades of purple. I could see out of my eye and I could move my eye. Both good signs. I guessed I would have a black eye for a couple of days so I laid down on the couch with an ice pack over my eye. Except for picking Hannah up from the vet’s office Thursday afternoon, I stayed on the couch with the ice pack to combat any swelling as much as possible.

Except for feeling a little achy all over, I was amazed at how much pain I didn’t feel. There were no signs of a concussion and I was grateful that the fall was not any worse than it was.

Then Saturday happened. I blew my nose. The skin under my eye blew up like a balloon and my eye was swollen shut. A quick call to my Dear Friend and we were off to the Elite Care Emergency Room. A cat scan later showed that I had broken one of the bones under my right eye. After following up the next week with a surgeon, I was delighted to discover that I did not need surgery. Just time to heal.….and go at least a month without blowing my nose or sneezing.

The trip to the vet was a total cliche. One old broad takes her geriatric cat on a road trip and damn near kills herself. The most important outcome from this adventure? The cat is doing just fine. Is she a fur-baby or a four-legged- supervisor? Yes.

Until next week.……