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TODAY'S WORD:
luxer (loox-ay)
: to dislocate
AUDIO FILE:
Listen to today's word in context: Download MP3 or Download Wave file
En promenant Smokey en laisse, Kristi s'est luxée le coude droit.
While walking Smokey with a leash, Kristi dislocated her elbow.
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A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
The night before I was to leave on a three-flight, four airport journey home I dislocated my elbow!
I should have listened to my daughter when she said, "Reste à la maison!" But no, I wanted to watch her and her father play tennis our last day together! I had packed my suitcase and was ready for my 3:30 a.m. wake-up call. A little exercise before the long journey would be good! I would bring Smokey along and, after a brisk walk around the tennis club, the two of us would watch the father-daughter match.
I had a strong premonition as Smokey and I wandered forth into unknown territory. Looking around le voisinage that circled the tennis courts I noticed the houses, each with a tall fence enclosing its yard. What sorts of dogs lived behind those fences? What if one of them began to bark? My gut told me to turn back, but it was a pity to miss this chance to give Smokey some needed exercise.
Approaching a cul-de-sac at the top of the road, I was relieved to have an excuse to turn back. But wasn't it strange that not one of the houses we'd passed had a dog? What a quiet neighborhood! A little too quiet. I wound my wrist around Smokey's leash, to tighten my grip and to assure my unquiet mind….
No sooner had I secured the leash than Smokey began to bolt, taking me hurtling towards an angry dogue de bordeaux–or what some call an English Mastiff! The dog was barking like mad from behind a tall fence.
My first thought was how am I going to land? Currently I was hurtling towards a wire fence, the gravelly ground below me getting closer and closer. This was going to be a painful meeting. Would I land face first?
A split second before the face-plant, Smokey made a hairpin turn. Because my wrist was wrapped so tightly around the leash, I made the hairpin turn right along with him! No longer was my head in danger, given my new direction (still downward!), I might break my hip–and never make tomorrow's flight!
Instinct kicked in and I threw out my arm to break the fall. Only, when my hand hit the ground–followed by the rest of my body–something snapped. I looked up to find my forearm twisted gruesomely away from me!
It was surreal to see my arm so deformed. Given the unusual angle in which it rested, I thought, It must be broken! In my current state of shock my brain overrode my usual tendencies. The tendency to depend on someone else! Besides, there was no one else! No one around to ask "What do I do? How to fix this? Help!"
My body seemed to know the answer. Quickly, my left arm grabbed my right forearm and flung it back toward my rib cage. That's when I heard the pop. The elbow snapped right back into place!
Cradling my arm I scooted across the road like a snake. And when I reached the fence I began to began to moan. Smokey ran up and I managed to used use my free hand to lace his leash through the fence opposite the mastiff (who was safely behind his own fence).
Once my elbow and my dog were secured, reality hit: something was very wrong with my arm and this meant I would not be travelling to see my family tomorrow!
NO! NO! NOOOO! I shouted, wailing from the pain and the loss. NOOOOO!
A neighbor, who turned out to be the dog's owner, ran up and began to assist me. Her husband arrived next.
"Réspirez! Réspirez!" the kind-faced woman said, when I complained of nausia.
"Je crois que je vais vomir," I said. The woman's husband ran inside to get a down coat, returning to lie it over me. Crying from the pain and apologetic for the chaos, I tried to tell them how to reach my husband. The rest was babbling: vous êtes gentils. merci. désolé. mon chien! aïe! ça fait mal… qu'ils arrivent vites!
I could now hear the speaker on the tennis courts, just behind the couple's house: "Monsieur Espinasse. Vous êtes demandé à la reception…." But when Jean-Marc arrived the question remained: How to transport me to the emergency room? What to do with Smokey? We couldn't all four of us ride to the urgences!
The tennis court manager, who had accompanied Jean-Marc, suggested calling les pompiers. "It's a bumpy road all the way to the hospital, better for her to ride in an ambulance…."
Three fireman arrived next. They placed what looked like a deflated raft beside me. On the count of un, deux, trois I was lifted into the "raft" (located on a gurney). One of the firefighters began pumping air into the contraption which began to hug my entire body.
"There. Do you feel secure now? Can you move your hand?" The pompier wanted to know.
Entombed inside the inflatable body-brace, only my front sticking out, I felt like a swadled baby. Looking down I tried to wiggle my fingers and saw that they could move.
At ER I was wheeled to the x-ray room where nurse asked me to lift my arm up onto an x-ray table and I informed her I could not move it.
"Well I don't know the reason for which you are here!" she said, in her defence.
The rest of the staff were just as sympathetic, and when my x-rays finally arrived on the attendant-doctors desk I watched, in amazement, as she tossed them across her desk!
"I don't have time for all this now!" she complained.
From my gurney in the ER entry, facing the giant window behind which the doctor and colleagues processed the paperwork, I watched her storm off.
Seeing my son walk into ER was a great soulagement. Then came the tears. The sum-total of this freak accident hit me. I looked at the clock which crept toward the dinner hour. I should be getting up 8-hours from now… getting on my flight.
"You have a flight tomorrow?" the doctor said, when she finally arrived with the x-rays. "Well, your arm is back in place, but you shouldn't be travelling like this. Is your trip for business or for pleasure?
"I'm going home to see my family…"
"Well, it's up to you but I would not recommend it," the doctor concluded, with a reminder that I should be seeing a specialist the next day, one who would review the x-rays and examine my arm–beneath which my tendons were flairing from pain. (The codeine only made me more nausious.)
After stopping at the pharmacy to buy a sling, or un gilet d'immobilisation d'épaule, Jean-Marc and I rode home. On the way, my husband kept assuring me I'd be just fine, each time I voiced my doubt about flying with an elbow of frayed tendons and a giant sling. But the constant encouragement to go ahead and fly tomorrow was beginning to sound suspicious.
"Do you happen to have any plans this week?" I asked, fishing for an answer to my doubts.
"No," Jean-Marc said. "Apart from seeing all my girlfriends," he joked.
" Seriously, you seem intent on getting me on that flight tomorrow. Are you sure you don't have any plans at all this week?"
"No, there's nothing in particular…"
* * *
(To be continued… Dear Reader, please excuse any mistakes in today's edition. I just arrived home and am catching up on a lot of stuff… but wanted to be sure an get this post out to you!
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FRENCH VOCABULARY
reste à la maison = stay home
le voisinage = neighborhood
réspirez! = breath!
je crois que = I think that
je vais vomir = I'm going to vomit
aïe = ouch
ça fait mal = it hurts
qu'ils arrivent vite = (I hope) they hurry!
soulagement = comfort, relief
les urgences = ER
les pompiers = firefighters
un, deux, trois = one, two, three
un gilet d'immobilisation d'épaule = sling for dislocated shoulder
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I am celebrating the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us!
Blaise Pascal once wrote, “The incarnation shows man the greatness of his misery by the greatness of the remedy he required.” Christ became what we are, that He might make us what He is.
“Il est ne, le divin enfant…”
Alleluia!
Joyeux Noel!
I am celebrating the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us!
Blaise Pascal once wrote, “The incarnation shows man the greatness of his misery by the greatness of the remedy he required.” Christ became what we are, that He might make us what He is.
“Il est ne, le divin enfant…”
Alleluia!
Joyeux Noel!
I am celebrating the birth of Jesus, family and all that is to come ! Merry Christmas all 🎄
I am celebrating the birth of Jesus, family and all that is to come ! Merry Christmas all 🎄
My husband and I are celebratting our 51st wedding anniversary on the 27th.
My husband and I are celebratting our 51st wedding anniversary on the 27th.
Sorry about your accident with Smokey. I also have a dog I walk on least everyday. And when she gets it in her head to run at a rabbit or mouse I’m like a rag doll. I try to be very careful and alert at all times as she has pulled me down a couple of times but luckily I haven’t suffered as you. I am celebrating Christmas, my brother’s birthday and a cousin’s birthday. Thanks for offering this giveaway.
Sorry about your accident with Smokey. I also have a dog I walk on least everyday. And when she gets it in her head to run at a rabbit or mouse I’m like a rag doll. I try to be very careful and alert at all times as she has pulled me down a couple of times but luckily I haven’t suffered as you. I am celebrating Christmas, my brother’s birthday and a cousin’s birthday. Thanks for offering this giveaway.
We are celebrating Christmas with our family, one granddaughter’s birthday, and remembering her uncle with whom she shared a birthday. We lost him in 2013, but he is always in our thoughts and our hearts.
Sandy
We are celebrating Christmas with our family, one granddaughter’s birthday, and remembering her uncle with whom she shared a birthday. We lost him in 2013, but he is always in our thoughts and our hearts.
Sandy
Celebrating the birth of Christ who came to earth to be the fulfillment of the scriptures. His birth, death, burial and ressurection paid the price for my sins. By my acceptance of His gift of forgiveness I am saved by his grace alone. Praise you Lord Jesus !
Celebrating the birth of Christ who came to earth to be the fulfillment of the scriptures. His birth, death, burial and ressurection paid the price for my sins. By my acceptance of His gift of forgiveness I am saved by his grace alone. Praise you Lord Jesus !
The wonderful new man in my life!
The wonderful new man in my life!
Christmas! Time with family. Another month to improve my never ending acquisition of the beautiful French language. Too many wonderful things to list.
Christmas! Time with family. Another month to improve my never ending acquisition of the beautiful French language. Too many wonderful things to list.
We are celebrating the birth of our dear Lord Jesus. Christmas! Hallelujah!
We are celebrating the birth of our dear Lord Jesus. Christmas! Hallelujah!
Celebrating LIFE and everything BEAUTIFUL it has to offer; family, friends, life experiences; the good, the bad and the magnificent. The reality and that fantasy, being very GRATEFUL along the way.
Celebrating LIFE and everything BEAUTIFUL it has to offer; family, friends, life experiences; the good, the bad and the magnificent. The reality and that fantasy, being very GRATEFUL along the way.
My birthday, my grandson’s birthday, and Christ’s birthday.
My birthday, my grandson’s birthday, and Christ’s birthday.
I’m celebrating the holiday season and plans made for a trip to Paris and Bordeaux October 2015!
I’m celebrating the holiday season and plans made for a trip to Paris and Bordeaux October 2015!
The holidays, the end of the semester and some time off of work to read and relax, and capping off a great year with my great family.
The holidays, the end of the semester and some time off of work to read and relax, and capping off a great year with my great family.
Christmas! Completion of radiation! A new granddaughter! The wedding of a nephew! Licensure of ma beau fis! So many blessings!
Christmas! Completion of radiation! A new granddaughter! The wedding of a nephew! Licensure of ma beau fis! So many blessings!
My 75th birthday. Oui, ç’est vrai. Je devain soixante-quinze!
My 75th birthday. Oui, ç’est vrai. Je devain soixante-quinze!
I am so sorry to hear of your accident. I learned years ago to heed the voice in my head instead of forging ahead with what I thought was a good idea. I broke a bone in my spine on a toboggan ride trying to “make myself like winter.” I still dislike cold. Take care of yourself and do the exercises the doctor recommends. I am celebrating Christmas with my family.
I am so sorry to hear of your accident. I learned years ago to heed the voice in my head instead of forging ahead with what I thought was a good idea. I broke a bone in my spine on a toboggan ride trying to “make myself like winter.” I still dislike cold. Take care of yourself and do the exercises the doctor recommends. I am celebrating Christmas with my family.
I am celebrating my retirement after 45 yrs of a nursing career, with 32 of those years taking care of our veterans. I look forward to traveling in France with my husband and spending time with my kids and grandkids.
I am celebrating my retirement after 45 yrs of a nursing career, with 32 of those years taking care of our veterans. I look forward to traveling in France with my husband and spending time with my kids and grandkids.
I am celebrating the change of the season, finally! (it takes a while to change in Texas!) and my husband’s birthday. I’m so lucky to have him!
I am celebrating the change of the season, finally! (it takes a while to change in Texas!) and my husband’s birthday. I’m so lucky to have him!
I’m celebrating the Hanukkah & Christmas season with good friends! (I follow you on Instagram & my RTing Twitter & I was aware of this awful mishap, Kristin. I’m so glad you’re okay & home now.)
xoxo
Susan
I’m celebrating the Hanukkah & Christmas season with good friends! (I follow you on Instagram & my RTing Twitter & I was aware of this awful mishap, Kristin. I’m so glad you’re okay & home now.)
xoxo
Susan
Kristin,
You poor thing! In so much pain, and the hospital staff’s attitude couldn’t have helped. I know you did go on that trip to see your family…hope your elbow is healing nicely. Bet the dogs were overjoyed to see you back home again!
Sandy
Kristin,
You poor thing! In so much pain, and the hospital staff’s attitude couldn’t have helped. I know you did go on that trip to see your family…hope your elbow is healing nicely. Bet the dogs were overjoyed to see you back home again!
Sandy
I am celebrating Christmas, with family and friends.
I’m sorry to hear about your accident – on the mend, I hope?
Best wishes to you and your family, including Smokey and his Mama!
I am celebrating Christmas, with family and friends.
I’m sorry to hear about your accident – on the mend, I hope?
Best wishes to you and your family, including Smokey and his Mama!
Une petite foute – “devien”!
Une petite foute – “devien”!
We are celebrating Christmas, a season of advent, the end of a very challenging year and the beginning of a new one filled with hope.
We are celebrating Christmas, a season of advent, the end of a very challenging year and the beginning of a new one filled with hope.
We celebrate several things:
– Advent
– Lights (candles and fire in the fireplace)
– Christmas TWICE (on the 24th in honor of my Danish heritage, and the 25th in honor of my American husband. LUCKY kids… )
– My oldest daughter’s birthday on Dec. 31.
We celebrate several things:
– Advent
– Lights (candles and fire in the fireplace)
– Christmas TWICE (on the 24th in honor of my Danish heritage, and the 25th in honor of my American husband. LUCKY kids… )
– My oldest daughter’s birthday on Dec. 31.
We are celebrating family and friends and the warmth of the hearth when cold winds blow outside during the holiday season! Bonnes fetes!
We are celebrating family and friends and the warmth of the hearth when cold winds blow outside during the holiday season! Bonnes fetes!