My First Ever (and I hope last) "Ambulance Ride"

You really can’t make ironclad plans for each day,

Fate often steps in and your plans fly away.

Last Tuesday I finished, at A.C.A.C.*,

Water exercises, refreshing and energizing me.

Then---Out in the lobby there arose such a clatter,

With folks running there to see what was the matter.

"Get some ice!" yelled one man. "Get the nurse!" someone cried.

As so many were staring, I just wanted to hide.

I could feel my face swelling; the ice felt SO good.

I had stumbled, flown forward, smashed my head on hard wood.

Three ambulance guys soon rushed in there to get me –

I wanted to leave, but they just wouldn’t let me.

So off I went riding to UVA’s E M place

To check all my reflexes, head, eyes and my face.

Two resident docs practiced questions, and chatted.

After 20 minutes of that, I felt I had had it!

The main doc arrived, again checked out my head.

"Are you nauseous?" he asked. "No, I’m starving." I said.

Soon he brought me cold juice and a great turkey sandwich.

Then, my dear Sandy came and I left, - with no bandage.

My face had turned purple, red, green and soft yellow.

Bruises on knee, hip and shoulder, now mellow.

The moral of this story, I must daily repeat:

"Pick up your feet, Marilyn! PICK UP YOUR FEET!"

*Albemarle Country Athletic Club