Today will be short. I am taking a break today and tomorrow. Tuesday after uke practice I was walking to my car when I hit the deck, the paved deck. My face hit the ground first. I just laid there not moving because of the injury. People came out and immediately took care of me. They helped me sit up, provided tissues for the wound and called 911. I was checked in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. One of the guys took my picture with my phone for posterity.

While I was being wheeled into the emergency room, every person looked.

My nose has lost a layer of skin and is so red Santa could have me lead his sleigh if Rudolph needs a rest. My upper lip is missing a bit and is still swollen, and there is damage to my teeth. The doctor couldn’t stitch because of the lip. Nothing broke. I was in the hospital until 1.

The first night was tough, but last night was better. I am heading to the dentist today and my doctor tomorrow. My face is still scary, and it hurts. My friends have rallied. One friend stayed with me at the hospital and drove me home. Another brought ice cream, and he and his wife brought my car home. Today my hospital friend is driving me to the dentist. I’m figuring I can drive tomorrow.

My face is still a bit scary looking, but it does feel better each day. I am on the mend.

The morning is drab, cloudy, windy and chilly. Showers are predicted. But despite the ugly weather, I don’t get to stay close to hearth and home today. I have to go out later as it is shot day again, pneumonia and shingles this time, the last of my shots. I also have uke practice tonight. Our first Christmas concert is tomorrow. Tis’ the season!

When I was kid, snow was an opportunity. Lots of snow meant sitting around the kitchen table listening for the fire station horn to blow to announce no school. We didn’t have it streaming on the TV back then. We had the horn. After the celebration for no school, we’d layer to go out into the snow. I wore a shirt, a sweater and my winter coat. I would cram my shoes into my boots. I’d grab a hat and my mittens then I’d haul my sled out of the cellar, but it was easy to carry, not like my bike. I lived on a great hill for sledding. It was tall and steep. About midway down, my sled would gain speed. At the bottom of the hill there was a road, and we’d post lookouts watching for the cars. A good run meant crossing the road onto the field across the street where the sled would stop in a pile of snow. I’d stay sledding until my mittens were caked with snow and my lips were turning blue.

After sledding all day, a cup of cocoa was the best warm-up. My mother used to put the cocoa in the cup, add milk, stir them together then add hot water. On the top she’d put a spoonful of Marshmallow Fluff. I remember it would melt a bit then spread and cover the whole top of the cocoa. It would also cover my upper lip.

My sister and I have discussed our Christmas trees. She is the slave of three cats, two of whom would love the challenge of the tree. I have Nala, enough said! My sister has decided to decorate her tree with only lights. I’m thinking I’ll put baubles, colored round ornaments of little value, on the bottom of my tree. I’m hoping Nala will might leave them alone, but I could be wrong. She is the consummate thief.