Sudden Impact
Yesterday afternoon I had a meeting across the street from the United Nations. I went through the security procedures when I arrived. I was instructed to remove my jewelry in order to avoid setting off alarms. While taking off my watch, necklace and bracelet, I thought to myself that this "rite of passage" would be highly amusing if I sported a navel ring. I figured with my luck, the alarm would sound anyway. Going through this was no different than passing through the security at the airport, so I was used to it, but it made me chuckle anyway.
My meeting lasted for two hours and I soon found myself back in the lobby, passing through the security doors yet again. This time I passed back through the security doors, again thinking of the navel ring I could have been sporting in my midsection. My thoughts then moved to hailing a taxi, and as I was passing through the lobby, one of the security guards said that he hoped I was on my way home. I replied that no, I was returning to my office as my day does not end at 4 p.m. He shrugged, and I walked toward the door leading out to the street. Once outside, I looked to the right, as I caught a glimpse of a taxi, and strained my eyes to see if it was empty. The next thing that registered in my brain was the sudden impact of steel smashing into the front of my face.
You know that moment when something unexpected happens and you are rendered dazed and confused? I was in la-la land ... rendered dumbfounded and suspended from the world ... my brain rushed to think and register what just occurred ... screaming inside my head, "what the HELL happened?" All I could think of was the security guards behind me in the building I just left, and when I finally realized what happened, I wanted to get to the corner, walk around the block away from the building I was in just so I could collect myself. I began to feel faint, and summoned up the strength inside myself to march to the corner, make a left, and walk. When I accomplished this, I was able to come to terms with the sudden impact. I'll explain what happened in the next paragraph.
It seems that when I walked outside, my desire to hail a taxi was top of mind. While turning my head to the RIGHT, the rest of me was headed LEFT as I continued walking. I did not STOP first and turn my head, but instead KEPT WALKING. I walked right into one of the steel supports that holds up the building. You can easily visualize the suit, lightweight coat over that, high heeled business woman making a complete ass out of herself in front of this building. I can only guess that this provided end-of-the-day humor for the guards who watched me exit.
My next thought after collecting myself was whether or not I was bleeding. Did I have a head wound? Would I require medical attention? Damn, the blood will be all over my face and on my clothing. Must I find a hospital? My head is glowing with a white-hot heat ... I reached up to touch my forehead, and didn't feel and liquid spewing out. Thank god, I thought. At least there's no blood. Thought #2 was the realization that an egg could be protruding from my forehead, mustering up thoughts of Herman Munster. Would I no longer be a female but rather some creature with a head wound? What will my mother say when she sees me? Argh, so much for being clumsy.
I talked myself into walking to the next corner, ordering myself to stop thinking and start moving. I was still feeling faint but chose to ignore it. The next test came when I arrived at the corner and had to look RIGHT for a taxi. Here we go again. I stopped first, turned my head to the RIGHT and put my left arm up in the air, managed to get a taxi and hop in. Once I settled in, I began to feel a little better. Of course this little episode was terrific material for this page and I managed to share my story with my colleagues. Of course they laughed. Of course they asked if I was okay. Of course I felt like a moron, but hey. Don't we all walk into supports of buildings?
How am I this morning? Well, I made the mistake of phoning my mother last night and inquiring about concussions. Should I sleep? Should I stay awake? My head hurts. She told me to either go to a doctor or immediately call a car service and go to her house. I didn't do either one. I figured that as long as I wasn't dizzy (well, feeling faint anyway) that I was fine. She told me I'd have a black eye (now isn't THAT an attractive thought) and I should 'ice' my forehead. *shudder* No ice is going on THIS forehead. If I touch the bone right above my left eyebrow, it hurts. It's a reminder of how clumsy I am, and reminds me of the taxi story and how I'm most likely the only human being who can cause bodily harm to herself while seated in a cab. *grin*
P.S. If this story seems incoherent and all over the place, well sorry. I have a head injury, and what did you expect, Shakespeare?