Temper!                                                                                September 26, 2014    

     Lost my temper the other night.  Some folks said they did not know I had one, everybody does.  I, for example lose my temper or my head over small things.  When big issues show up, I am able to confront them squarely, head on.  The other night, it was a very small thing that evolved into a multi-sided nuisance.  I stubbed my littlest toe on the way to the bathroom, in the semi-dark, in the middle of the night.  The pain was momentarily bone crushing,  I reacted quickly, thoughtlessly, I hit the offensive wooden stool as hard as I could, I retaliated and broke my hand, dislocated my smallest finger.  It is a good thing that the person who moved the innocent stool into my path, was absent!  I will repent for five weeks while my hand recovers in its plaster cast, covered in fancy blue netting.

     I am grateful…I am learning, have learned, how kind people can be. The spirit in the doctor’s office was unbelievable.  I was afraid I might need surgery, Urgent Care warned me. Dr Patel made it very clear immediately, it was MY decision, there was an alternative.  His technician was kind and funny, Rafi helped neutralize my fears and raise my spirits.  It is hard to believe that I had a good time despite three shots in the hand and a lot of twisting and manipulating of my small finger.

     A friend said that he was glad that I did not fall, also happy that at my age, I could still demonstrate my ability to get angry.  I do not recommend fighting an offending piece of furniture as I did, next time I will use my voice instead of my fist!   Five weeks in a cast should teach me, once more, to repent and learn to use my left hand.