February 19, 2005
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Half-kneeling, half-sprawled in the grass by the side of my road, still clutching the leash, I thought: Ego gets you every time. I looked over at the ledge of blacktop my ankle had teetered over and the drop was miniscule. I don’t even know how it could have happened. Well, I do. I believe I had been just a little too pleased with myself, “being in my body” and all.
My ankle is black and blue, wrapped in an Ace bandage. I’ve done this to the same ankle before but it was Halloween and I was walking back from a neighborhood party, a little tipsy, wearing clogs. Marcie, if you’re reading, you remember those clogs? I threw them away the next morning, deciding I was too old to wear them. They were dangerous. After scolding myself about ego, I thought maybe I should have kept the clogs. If I can fall over wearing tennis shoes, there’s really no hope for me. In my defense, I was looking over at the puppy, keeping her at a perfect heel. She was doing great.
I was so pissed and in so much pain. I put the dogs in the car, the older one was back at the house, extremely hurt that I had left on foot without her, choosing the puppy instead. So I went back for her, and we drove over to my brother’s house. My brother had just wrecked his ankle at Christmas so I thought they might have a bandage. She had a cream that sounds like Antarctica and it’s supposed to aid healing. Then she and I went for a drink at the bar up the street. My brother was working late.
As I parked and hobbled through the back door, in my sweatpants, I could see what’s become of me, living over here. Hey, when in Rome. Speaking of which, –And I can’t remember who told me this– she advised me early on that using clichés (I call them idioms but my teacher used “cliché”) is bad form. She said something to the effect that it’s okay in a comment but maybe not in a post. And I’ve tried to cut back, really I have. My teacher backed her up.
We are on our second drink, (I can’t even feel my foot now), and she asks what I was thinking about right before I fell. Then I had to explain about my idea for the belly-dance class. She has a bizarre theory that our bodies try to sabotage our soul’s attempts to self-actualize. Our bodies want to keep a status quo (woops) and our minds want to push ahead. She thinks I should do it.
Her theory sounded off to me. I said, “What about the whole ‘listen to your body’ thing?” I answered for her when I thought about how my body had told me the night before, at ten o’clock, to get in my car and go get a Hershey bar with almonds.
So, I think I’m gonna gear up to go into the club and pitch my idea, right after I can walk without a limp.
Comments (9)
I guess our bodies can be as confused as our minds sometimes! Sounds like the puppy is coming along well and responding well to your new positive attitude you mentioned. Praise does wonders for all of us!
I think your idea is most fab…of course when healing permits
and I think also you were so caught up in thinking
that your foot just slipped…I love that ; to have an idea so
full of life that it consumes my thought process…thanks for the mail
and thanks for bieng you…
I missed reading you..I *smile*
Hm…perhaps your ankle turned so you could go have that drink and work on some affirmations for your idea? Stranger things have happened… I’m sure by the time you’re all healed and ready to pitch your idea you will have thought about it long enough to make a great case for the class. And I would go! I saw something on TV about a couple of women who teach belly dancing. They were talking about isolating the muscles in your sides and abdomen to do the correct movements. Since I saw that, I think I can consciously wiggle around in something approximating a belly dance. But don’t hold me to that! lol
You can’t use cliche’s? I think that would be as hard as not using the word “the.” I understand the whole mental work necessary to do that, but this is Xanga, Baby. You should be able to relax here. Hm…now that I think about it, I do try to find other ways of saying plain ol’ stuff… I’m not a status quo type person anyway.
Your entry made me smile…sounds like Antarctica…and of course wince. I’ve had the health stuff to deal with lately, so I can completely sympathize.
Much peace and love…GFW
lol- like all rules- “some are made to be broken”- cliches are a common understanding between ppl- like short hand or im speak.. (lol/irl/ryc etc) and there may be times when you want to use them to bring a sense of comprehension to a piece- like an interpreter- but since they are so over done and abused- they usually weaken a piece of writing that would be quite strong otherwise. my sweet editor circles everyone i use and notes- “you are better than this!” next to them! not using them often actually makes them stronger when you do- notice above that you didn’t need to finish the cliche/idiom above. that’s part of my point!
i don’t think your body was telling you anything- but then i can fall off a pair of sneakers walking on a smooth street. Weak ankles, a couple months of therapy, a zillion x-rays and a couple shots to decrease the swelling- and i twist it again…. but that’s just imho!!! lol!!!
Why is it when we have an accident or get a cold or something we always try to blame some untoward part of ourselves? My friend broke her ankle stepping off a small curb, and it took like half a year to heal fully. It was an accident, you were focussed on the puppy, you didn’t see the tiny ledge of blacktop. I doubt that it has anything whatsoever to do with teaching bellydancing or not teaching bellydancing. But that’s just my take on it. Though I do hope it heals soon! Sending healing energy to your ankle…. xo
I just sprained my ankle a little while ago too, make that three times within 2 months… not fun.
Just read your comment in my guestbook… which piece of my writing are you referring to, I wasn’t sure, therefore am not sure what exactly your comment refers to…
oh ok
That comment must have been eaten, because I didn’t see it! Thank you 
LOL- so are you listening to your body or not?!
Hope your ankle heals. Re; The book, Jesus Mysteries is a good one on the history of the other myths and their comparisons to the stories of Jesus. I esp. enjoy why the stories came about- that you are supposed to use it to model your own life, to be Christlike, not idolize him…
I agree. My mind says YOGA, my body says NAP
I turn my ankle almost every week. Sometimes it just won’t support my weight. Maybe my ankle is also saying YOGA. Except it’s saying YOGA please YOGA.