Important Notice: Accidental break
I don't know what else to call it!
Telling you my summer break is going to be different than I expected without telling you. [Photo: My hand peeking out of a black sling.]
But, of course, I’m also going to actually tell you. It didn’t happen doing anything fun or fancy. It wasn’t during a tiny hike or out on the trail. It was simply me walking vertical one moment and landing in a horizontal plank/push-up position with my arms catching me so my face didn’t hit the ground the next. That’s the good news!
My face didn’t hit the ground.
The bad news? My shoulder popped out of its socket upon impact instead. My RIGHT shoulder. [Yes, I’m right-handed.] See where I’m going with this?
Eh, even that wasn’t so bad. I don’t know if I learned it from my husband who has a bad shoulder or a reality show, but I knew I needed to calmly pop it back in to make the hurt go away. I relaxed. I breathed. I got it back in. It felt better. Then it came out a few more times and I got it back in a few more times.
This all happened last Sunday night. On Tuesday, I found out it wasn’t as “better” as I’d hoped. An x-ray showed my shoulder is fractured and surgery is scheduled for next week. It’s been a slow process this week of learning my limits, to function left-handed, buy elastic-waisted shorts so I can pull up my own pants without buttoning, and figuring out how to do the normal stuff when stuff is not normal.
I wanted to send this special notice, just so you know things might be modified a bit around here over the next few weeks. I’m not planning on going away or giving up, but I honestly don’t know how the recovery is going to go. I’m already so thankful to family and friends who have fed us and even taken on some driving duties!
I might have MORE time to work since I can’t drive or run errands or lift anything — which will make my chore list lighter? Or I might be able to share more on Instagram rather than Substack because it’s easier to text rather than type on a keyboard?
Thanks for understanding. I hope you are hanging in there.
In play,
Michele
How Is This Going to Work with Payments?
Right now, your paid subscription gives you continuous access to the archive of mini trail guides plus extras in the paid section of the email each week.
I’ve decided NOT to put a pause on payments, because it means no one NEW can subscribe to get access to the trail guides archive. Since I don’t want that to happen, it’s up to you whether you want to continue payments.
I’m working to get first week of Summer Play Trips out by Monday + annual subscribers will get a version of this printable Summer Play Guide. Don’t worry - I am taking care of myself! This distraction helps.
Your options:
Stay subscribed and payments will come out as usual. You’ll be supporting me at a time when I can’t work up at the level I’m accustomed and you should still be getting value each week!
PAUSE your own individual subscription. This is an option! Go in to the settings and you can not get charged for a few months. Here are the instructions.
Cancel your subscription.
For monthly subscribers ($5/month), this will take you to the end of your month.
For annual subscribers ($39/month), this will cancel at the end of your year. But if you request it, I’m happy to go in and gift you an extra month or two! Or give you a pro-rated refund, but you will have to request it.
Please make sure you contact me with any questions. I want to make sure you are getting the value you expected when you invested in your subscription! You can email me at play@funorangecountyparks.com or just reply to this email.
Hi Michele, sending you all the best and wishing you a speedy recovery.