People were being called out one by one and then returned; first to give blood pressure and weight, next for Xrays, if needed, then finally, when a room became available, to be admitted into the hallowed halls of Emergency. Next thing that happened after the third woman with injury from ice fall told Leore and I to get ice, was I was called in for my X-ray. While there I asked for ice, for myself and another person. “I’ll have to go into the catacombs to find ice packs,” the staff person responded, “but I’ll bring them to you.’

20 minutes later, we both had ice, cementing our bond.

Meanwhile, a man sitting out in the main area of the waiting room next to a college age young man with a broken ankle (I had noticed how solicitous he was of the one who turns out to have been his son), got up, walked over to our hallway, and said that his son had also slipped on the ice last night, late, after being out to a bar with friends. That because of his fall neither of them could attend some kind of ceremony that he had driven for five hours south thru the storm for what’s usually a two hour drive. At this point the woman who hurt head and neck from her fall chimed in, said she had driven the normally two hour drive up from Louisville, again, took her five hours, to attend orientation for her only beloved daughter, a freshman at IU. But that was out too!

Thus does a sense of community arise!

(to be continued)

Went to a gigantic shoe store today with friend Marita, at her suggestion, to get some “sketchers.” I had no idea what they were: walking shoes that slip on easily. So now I won’t have to struggle five minutes to get on the boots that make me feel like a platypus, sloshing along, for the daily three miles with puppy Shadow. Also, can now floss my teeth, thanks to new splint that leaves more of fingers exposed. And, figured how to zip up my favorite sweater. If I have to spend 6 to 8 weeks compromised, want to do it with as little help as possible.