My Dad's Fall from Grace
My Dad sent my sister and I the following e-mail yesterday afternoon. I enjoyed his so much I couldn't resist posting it here. Great story Dad - get well soon!
Subject: A Fall from Grace
Hello my children,
My nights at the gym have paid off. While beginning to remove the
solar panels I lost my situational awareness and stepped backwards
off of the dormer. I'm bruised, but not broken anywhere. I can
forget about this bone spur and rotator cuff healing real soon
because that's the side that hit first.
I have a natural ability to
land on my elbows without breaking them when I fall; so, that's what
took the brunt of it. When falling at 32 ft per sec. for 8 ft. I
didn't have much time to think about it and prepare for a hard
landing. I did notice after the side of my head hit the roof and my
glasses and hat headed for the gutter that I was apparently doing the
same.
As like the time I started to slide down a steep snow bank on
Lion Creek working on the Trail Crew early one spring I was looking
for an anchor. There happened to be a vent pipe sticking up that I
was able to grab with the inside of my knee.
While I was wondering
what I broke I heard a voice say from below "Are you alright?" It
was my neighbor who was out on her porch kitty-corner from us having
a cigarette when she noticed my fall from grace. I asked her if I
bounced and she said that it looked like I hit pretty hard. Later, I
considered myself lucky that I didn't impale myself on either of the
vent pipes sticking out of the roof.
Figuring that I wouldn't be able to walk the next day I decided to
finish the job. It went fairly well and I shouldn't have to go up
there anymore; altho, the moss will need to be removed when we try to
sell the place. Maybe my fears of early onset are grounded as I will
be for the next month. I am sore; but can walk. Later this afternoon
I'll see if I can carry any weight on my left side.
Love,
Dad