FEAR OF FALLING

I knew there would be problems when I decided to live in a third world country. There were lots of fears and questions.  How would I manage on a day to day basis, not knowing the language?  How would I adjust to the food and the culture?  How would I manage my finances with no mail?  Would I be able to meet and make new friends?  How would I handle my medical needs?

After living here for just a few days, I realized what my greatest fear was.   It was not a fear of being blown away by a drug lord (I don't deal in drugs).  It was not a fear of being kidnapped (no one would pay more than $100.00 to get my out of "hock").  I wasn't even afraid of eating food from tacos stands.  My greatest fear was falling.  A broken hip would be disaster for me.

All the side walks have surprise levels of concrete.  There are cables bracing telephone poles that are bolted to hooks in the middle of the sidewalks.  Some sidewalks suddenly end in a drop of a foot or more.  I have never seen so many people on crutches or canes as I have here (of course the population is pretty old).  The cobble stone streets are difficult even with out pot holes.

Last week I went to Apache's (one of my favorite bars) and had two margaritas from Endra.  I knew if she made them, they would have very little alcohol in them (Andreas' margaritas are lethal).  Next to the bar is a cafe that had painted the side walk.  This makes it very slippery even when dry.  They had just mopped it and sure enough I fell.  As I went down, I instinctively put out my hand to break the fall.  All my weight landed on my wrist and left side.  Several people rushed up to help, but I limped off.  I was sure my ego was more bruised than I was.

The following morning I awoke with a sprained ankle and wrist, a badly bruised hip and ached all over.  I went to my masseur (who is also a licensed chiropractor in the US).  I guess I felt a little better but my back still hurt. The following day, I awoke feeling better and it was Christmas Eve.  I decided to take a walk down the Malecon at sunset to see if I could get some good photos.  To my surprise there was very little going on (most Mexican families celebrate at home on Christmas Eve) and the sunset was not much.  Many of the establishments that I knew were closed, so I headed back.  Since I had not found a bar open that I liked, I was headed for Frida's.  In front of the Plaza Cardenas the side walk slightly slopes down.  Suddenly I lost my balance and could not regain it.  I managed to stagger for a few feet then saw the concrete sidewalk coming up.  For an unexplained reason, I did not try to protect my head with my hands and I went down hard on my head (maybe I thought of my already sprained wrist).  Many of you must think by now, that I am some hopeless old falling down drunk.  You would not be entirely wrong, except this time it was 7:00 at night and I had not had a single drop of alcohol.

Again several people appeared to help me up.  I knew I had hit my head, but thought that if I just sat down and rested for a while I would be fine.  Then a vendor ran up with a bag of ice for my head.  As soon as I put the bag to my head, I knew I was in trouble.  Not only was it very painful, but I could feel a bump the size of a small egg.  I decided to take the offer of two strangers to help me to a hospital.  I was still confused and directed them down the wrong street, but finally found the hospital.  They left and I called my friend.  He came immediately.

The nurses spoke no English at all, but a very nice doctor appeared who did.  The hospitals by the way, are very nice here.  You would not know one from any in the United States.  After taking my blood pressure (110 over 190), he gave me something to put under my tongue (it tasted awful).  My friend looked horrified and I told him that I had not seen myself yet.  He told me it was best I did not, but he did take a picture.  They wrapped my head in a large ace bandage and after my blood pressure was down to 90 over 140, they let me go.  Richard called a cab and took me home.  He had people waiting for him at a restaurant so he left.

After a few glasses of wine and a sleeping pill I went to bed and slept for 10 hours or more.  I am very surprised and amazed, that I am not that sore.  I removed the ace bandage and got a look at what I had done to my head. I decided to put it back on.  I will buy one of those trendy head bands the "jocks' wear when I go out again.  I have now lived here for over one year and the only times I have fallen happened within one week.  Let's hope 2012 is a better safer year for all of us.  Don't expect Christmas card or letters from me, but I do wish you all "Happy Holidays"

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