July Joys

July 1, 2009

I am once again going to try and focus on organizing my new "blog". I chose the word "gambit" because it means a remark used to open a conversation. Hopefully, Gail's Gambits will be a vehicle for conversations and exchanges via the internet. I also like the alliteration of the "g's" as in Go Gail @ gmail to get Gail's Gambits. For those who would like to know, alliteration is a poetic or literary effect achieved by using several words that begin with the same or similar consonants, as in "Whither wilt thou wander, wayfarer?" Oh, oh, I wonder if the bump on my head has caused me to regress back forty years to when I was a high school English teacher?

I considered several titles for this blog, e.g. "Angels we have heard on high" seemed appropriate after my attempt at flying. But alas, I had no wings and could not fly, thus the "Fall". Read on to hear more re: the "Fall." Perhaps the "book of Job" might also be relevant as a title.

I have had numerous trials and losses (loss of my left thumb joint in November, two root canals in December, one more root canal in January, another root canal in February and emergency tooth extraction all due to a "dentist's mistake", loss of husband in February, a nice hiatus in March, April and May and finally the Fall in June). My life does not qualify as Job's, because I have not lost my friends and family. Rather, I have been so blessed and so much love has been shown me through all these bumps. Scarcely a day passes but what some act of caring and kindness is offered. I have felt greatly humbled by such generous acts and deeds.

I am continuing to recover from "the Fall." Everyone has been so kind and so helpful. I still experience episodes of vertigo especially when I look up. I can bend over and look down without any negative effects. Most of my activity is limited to bending over and extracting weeds from the ground. As I still cannot drive, my shopping activity is curtailed immeasurably. Think of all the money I am saving!

June 13, 2009

It is catch-up time in Lindon, Utah. We have had a wonderful spring, climate wise. We have over 200% of the average rainfall for June and it isn't even the 15th, yet. Everything is so wonderfully green. My ferns are almost five feet tall. The roses think that they are in Oregon. Rain can cause much consternation; however, when the neighbors have planned a garden reception. We had a massive thunder and lightening storm at three o'clock this afternoon. The reception was scheduled for 6 p.m. The Chapel was the alternative plan. About two dozen of the neighbors converged on the ward house, and we all helped decorate. It wasn't as nice as outside, but at least it was dry. The last three weeks have been very hectic and chaotic.

On May 30th, I joined the Hebers at the Conference Center. Tiffany, Rebecca, Daniel, and Jacob performed in the Oquirrh MountainTemple Youth Celebration Saturday, May 30th honoring the completion of the Oquirrh Temple. Tiffany danced and the others sang. Their Stake participated in the Pioneer Celebration. About 7 thousand youth participated. It was outstanding.

On Sunday, I drove out to West Jordan for Tiffany's seminary graduation. Congratulations, Tiffany! Monday, Colleen and Regan came to play with Great Grandma and for lunch. What a cute little guy.

At this point in time life gets a whole lot more complex. I had been getting the master bedroom ready for painting. I have textured the walls with a very heavy brick pattern. In the bathroom, I sculptured stones over the door and made vines to twist down the doorway. Carolyn Murphy came down one day and helped me peel the masking tape off the walls. It was buried under a heavy coat of spackle and was impossible to find! Carolyn suggested that we sand off some of the texture in order to get to the tape. Excellent suggestion! I got a bid from a painter; however, he wanted $1800 to just paint the room. This did not include any of the trim. I said, "Thanks, but no thanks." I went down to Home Depot and got all the painting supplies. In the meantime, I got another bid from Steve Jackson who has done work for me before. We began painting on Tuesday morning. I masked around the door frames and molding. I had been texturing, taping, etc. for several weeks without any problems. At about 4 p.m., I was on the bar stool in the bathroom, masking above the door frame. I was leaning forward slightly in order to reach above the door. I don't know what happened, but the next thing I remember is Steve leaning over me and saying that he was calling 911. There was a fair amount of blood around, I had a terrific headache, and I was slumped backwards against the bathtub. I knew I was in trouble! Remember, my dissertation was on sequela of head injuries. I was terrified that I may have broken my neck and would be a quad! I gingerly moved my fingers and toes. They worked! I counted backward from 100 by 7's. I could do it. I could speak! Left temporal lobe and right temporal lobe intact. My vision was blurred but that would be expected from a blow to the occipital lobe. The EMTs, paramedics, etc . arrived. They asked me if I had been unconscious. I answered, "No." Steve responded that I was unconconscious for about 3 minutes. Does anyone remember if they are unconscious? (contradiction of terms). I was attached to a neck brace (I later found the packaging that said "Pediatric size") and back board and off to the hospital with all sirens blaring. I first had X-rays of my back and neck. Nothing broken. Next I had a CAT Scan of the brain...no subdural hematomas or subdural bleed. Three weeks later I still have a tremendous epidural hematoma (bruise) I asked the nurse what my Glasco Coma Scale was. A perfect 15...no cognitive impairments. Whew! What a blessing that I had survived a six foot fall relatively unscathed. I did have a scalp laceration that required 5 staples. The kids say I look like Frankenstein. By now I was experiencing concussion symptoms; i.e. throwing up and vertigo if I even moved my eyes. I still have no recollection of the events that culminated in my falling backwards onto the back of my head. My only memory is of leaning forward. We have a really wonderful ward, and as soon as I returned to E.R. from X-Ray many people had arrived in order to help. The bishop and my home teacher gave me a blessing that I would recover completely as I yet had work to do for my fellow men. After an I.V., I was allowed to return home. I couldn't be alone so Kim Scott stayed with me for the next three nights. The R.S. organized a team of women so that someone was with me every minute. Thanks to all my family and friends who have been so kind. Sherri Penrod stayed with me Thursday night. Carolyn Murphy came down and stayed with me for the next few days and on Monday, we went up to Ogden to her place. Don was in California visiting his sister. Carolyn and I had already planned on being in Ogden and working on her family reunion. Thursday night I returned home and was able to say alone for the first time. I am rapidly recovering except for the vertigo. I have 10-15 episodes each day. I am unable to drive; and I am very careful in walking or going down stairs. I am still on meds for the vertigo. Doni, Craig, Josh, Jordynn, and Dax came down Sunday with tomato soup and video entertainment. Jordynn took second place in regional gymnastics...Good Job, Jordynn!!

I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that I was not seriously injured. I know that the Lord was with me and protected me from massive injuries. My first purchase when I can drive again is to get a step stool that is safe. Thanks to all of you who prayed for me and put my name in the temple.

Prior to "the FALL", I had completed planting my garden of Weed'n. With the help of the Scouts (service project) we had actually pulled most of the weeds. With the constant rain, all the tomatoes, peppers, etc are doing really well. Now we need some sun so the tomatoes will begin to set on.

All my "baby sitters" also took very good care of my garden. I didn't lose a plant.

G