I was probably only 8 at the time and I hollered and fell to the floor. Mom came along and told me to cut it out. Stop being a baby.
I sucked up those tears. One learned never to cry in front of mom. She wasn't exactly Miss Empathy.
That toe turned purple and I limped around for part of that summer. But oh gosh, that pain!
After being up most of the night with Fred, the mule, I decided to take a nap. I had been thoroughly chilled and thoroughly exhausted.
I was sound asleep when I heard pounding on our back door. No one pounds on our doors. No one except maybe a delivery that needs signing by UPS. But I always track packages. I burst up out of bed and flew towards our bedroom opening...
Oh, you guessed it. That same little toe decided to go up against the frame. I hopped and continued to the back door. There was the neighbors from across the ridge with their annual Christmas bag of treats. Incredible dried apple slices and some candies!
I guess I was bleary eyed with no glasses and my hair probably sticking up all over the place...
"Oh did we wake you?" I tried to smile politely. I'm sure it looked like something between a frightful grimace and a crooked sneer.
I explained and they decided not to stick around and chat. Besides it was still below zero out.
I must have looked a fright, trying to peer at their blurry faces and be pleasant while I was really tempted to just start screaming at the fire in my little toe.
I waved goodbye with a mental reminder to text them thank you for the treats and then sat down on the kitchen floor and rocked back and forth holding my foot.
All the ruckus woke up Rich and he walked in wanting to know why the heck was I on the floor? Charlie licked my face.
I cannot believe what incredible purples a toe can turn! So pretty!
I admired the different hues of purple and red as I iced it that evening. Putting that toe into a boot for chores was even more fun.
At least the weather was cold and I didn't have to go anywhere.
Rich was ever so helpful. He suggested I sit outside and stick my toe in the deep cold snow. Yeah baby, it was -12 F that night.
At least he still has his wicked sense of humor.
It's the small things in life that make
you smile
or
cry.