Splitting hairs

This morning I was able to part my hair by myself.

What? You think that requires more explanation? You've always thought I was self-sufficient enough to take care of my own grooming needs, to the point where I wouldn't have to point out my ability to comb my own hair?

Yeah, you're right. Except for yesterday...

Saturday we had a lovely picnic in the park with some friends. Afterwards, we all played a little baseball. 4 adults, an 11 year old, a 5 year old and a 4 year old. It was great fun.

At one point, the dad in the other family was running the bases. I was stationed on third base and got the ball just as he headed home. I gave chase, realized I wouldn't catch up, and while in full run wound up to throw the ball to my son, who was at home plate. Apparently the momentum that I was creating while running and the momentum I was creating to throw the ball, while still running (why would I do that?) propelled me forward (I couldn't tell you what happened to the ball). I did a belly flop slide across the hard dirt of the baseball field. My glove went flying; I went flying. I got up, laughing with embarrassment, pain and amusement over the whole incident. When everyone saw I was mostly okay, we all got a good laugh out of it. Our friend was surprised that I hadn't slid my face across the dirt, so that was a plus. I was a little sore on my right side in the ribs, but not bad.

The game continued. I went to pick up the ball at some point, and realized there was pain in my ribs involved in bending over. I took it a little easier after that.

After we got home, I got a little more sore. When I woke up yesterday, a little more sore. In the shower yesterday, a little more sore. I thought I might not be able to rinse my hair, but I managed. I got out of the shower, tried to towel dry my hair and...um...nope. Couldn't reach up at that angle with a towel. I tried several times, because really, who wants to call up their husband who is downstairs cooking some eggs to ask him to towel dry their hair? Unfortunately, that's what I had to do.

He helped me, then ran back down to save the eggs. My hair was still dripping slightly, because boys with hair so short it doesn't require a comb don't know anything about towel drying hair. I still appreciated the effort, and really couldn't do anything about it. I got dressed and attempted to comb my hair. Nope. No can do.

I went downstairs, with the comb, and asked hubby if he could help part my hair. The man has probably never parted hair in his life, and went at it backwards and pretty much upside down with the comb. I tried to show him, the best I could as someone who could not lift her hand higher than her forehead. My son came in the room to see what all the excitement was. He cheered on hubby's efforts by saying "No! That's not how you do it." That put a smile on my face, through the pain and the mild embarrassment of having my hair combed for me.

Throughout the day I adapted to the situation and figured out which things were going to hurt the most and made every attempt to avoid them.

This morning and I am still sore, but not as sore. I was able to towel dry and comb my own hair, which is a lovely step in the right direction. I am surprising myself at work with some things that hurt that I didn't expect to, such as lifting my arm up after it has been resting on my desk using the mouse. Oddly, that pain almost seems to be more in my upper arm that my ribs, so I really can't explain that. It also hurts to answer the phone. That pain is in the ribs.

Anyway, the weekend really was lovely, in spite of this play by play commentary of an injury. The injury didn't keep me from enjoying the first weekend of spring, or even from enjoying the end of the baseball game.

My son has been kind enough to provide some pointers to avoid future such injuries:

When running and you come to an area where you might trip, jump.

When trying to catch *friend's* daddy, don't slide.

If *friend's* daddy is chasing you, stay behind him.

He also suggested that I use his ice pack bear to soothe my injuries, which was very sweet and helped.