Sometimes things can change in an instant. One moment I was watching the U.S. market wind down, and the next…
The phone call came in at about 12:45pm today. A woman who identified herself as the manager of (a major retailer of home goods) said my mother-in-law (MIL)–who is in her 80’s–had fallen from the top of their escalator to the bottom floor. I knew the store and that the escalator was tall and steep with many moving jagged metal sharp-edged stairs.
She quickly added that my MIL had cut her hand and was in a wheel chair, but seemed to be otherwise ok, but would I please come drive her and my father-in-law (FIL) to an urgent care facility or to their home. (My MIL still drives, but my FIL stopped driving several months ago. My MIL was too shaken up too safely drive home.)
I rushed to the store and found her in a wheel chair and him sitting in a folding chair next to her at the bottom and slightly to one side of the escalator. The store was above them but they chose to stay where they were in the lobby until I arrived.
Considering what she had been through, my Mother-in-Law seemed to be in remarkably good shape and spirits. She’d been very lucky because she’d been wearing a puffy down coat and protective shoes, both of which apparently absorbed much of each impact on the way down.
Three hours later, the urgent care facility had bandaged her hand–it hadn’t needed stitches–and said that she appeared to otherwise be perfectly fine.
We all laughed at the adventure as I drove them home. I cracked, “You bounce well!” and she said, “I guess I do!”
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
Glad she is ok
Thank you, Boomie.
Russ
Good Heavens! Thank goodness she ‘bounces well’ and thankful for you and your humor adding some much needed comic relief along with the drive home. Wishing her a speedy recovery. ~Gina
Thank you, Gina. She has a good sense of humor, and that certainly helps on days like to today.
Russ
I had my heart in my mouth – so glad she’s ok,
Thank you, Mimi.
Russ
good news is always welcome…
Thank you, bulldog. I agree. Good news is always welcome with me too.
Russ
I’m glad she’s ok! you’re a good SIL!
Thank you, Diana, for both of your comments.
Russ.
Whew! That must have been a scary call. She is very very lucky.
It was, and I agree that she was very,very lucky.
Russ
Wow, when I first read what happened I thought she would be a lot worse off….thank goodness she was well padded….Diane
Me too. If this had been summer when everyone dresses lighter, this could have been much worse. I count my blessings were I find them and it is a big blessing to me that it happened in mid-winter.
Russ