Musings on birthdays and helicopter rides

You feel like it should be profound when you haven't posted for months. But too bad it's just...well...random.

I found out Betty whom I've known was a kindred spirit since I first met her is my birthday buddy. Betty is 91 this year, I hope I'm as spunky when I'm that age.

When I told Ethan yesterday that today would be his half birthday he got all excited and said, "So I'll be 5 and a half?" Yes... "Then I'll be going to school shortly".

I love how he phrases things.

And speaking of other things...

You know, $25,000 for a helicopter ride when your feet are up and your head is down is not really a good deal. It was $12, 000 for the helicopter to just be...and $140 per mile...96 miles to my destination.

And small town hospitals are quite the crack up. With only curtains to seperate us, you'd think people would think before they spoke. But no, those walls must be like iron and nothing would get through.

One guy had a piece of sheet metal in his eye. And had had it there for 3-5 days (he wasn't sure) and it came out on his own in the waiting room. He made rain gutters. The doctor now has a quote for raingutters along the backside of his house. This may be a visit well spent for this guy.

One girl, had to give back her flute to her band teacher and she was mad that her grandma would not buy another. Her grandma...apparently....is not made of money and she missed her chance when they spent $300 on her prom dress. BUT THAT IS NOT FAIR, because music is her life. That and going to Lagoon and THEN deciding to go to the ER after for a wrist that has hurt for some 6 weeks. It is related to her flute playing...by the way which IS HER LIFE. And now she has no life because Grandma won't buy her a new flute. Grandma suggests selling her prom dressES yes plural. But that is not an option...well maybe 3 or 4 of them. ?!?!? or maybe some video games. Because after all playing the flute is HER LIFE.

One had a shoulder injury from rollerblading and hitting a bump in the sidewalk. She had been in pain for a couple of weeks but was worried as she was supposed to go 4 wheeling on the weekend. She knew her injury had happened on May 16 because that was the day her kid got bitten by the dog.

I had been feeling really lame for 'going to the ER' fully conscious, smiling, in little pain and just unable to walk...but after a couple of hours I felt quite legit and mostly sane.

I still don't think a sandwich, a room (with entertainment) and several cups of water really warranted the $1600 charge though.

At least if I was going to be injured it was doing something 'cool'. I now have a cool story to tell each new Physical Therapist I meet. That is handy, because nothing is quite as humiliating as telling your PT tech that you were rollerblading backwards down the sidewalk.

It is also handy when you plan to blow both ACL's to have to legit Military guys on your team. First the shear strength to play crutches for and second a good healthy dose of macho...nothing like getting your downed buddy out alive. They are good for finding an excellent landing spot for the life flight helicopter and the scouters around will definitely have a mirror for signaling. All important aspects of getting yourself out of one of the most rugged parts of the state. All in all a very memorable day.