Lees in France

After our sunny fun lunch we headed out of the castle ruins.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, Two roads diverged down limestone rocks 

And sorry I could not travel both. And not wanting to retrace my path

And be one traveler, long I stood And be one traveler, out of eight pairs of socks

And looked down one as far as I could I asked advice from strangers with locks

To where it bent in the undergrowth; If the passage would cause us some wrath;

Then took the other, as just as fair, Then took this new one, just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim, Without yielding to my husband’s claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Because I wanted new sights and no care;

Though as for that the passing there Headstrong to see new land and share

Had worn them really about the same, We ventured straight down w/caution all the same,

And both that morning equally lay And at first we navigated well

In leaves no step had trodden black. On mini boulders not in tack.

Oh, I kept the first for another day! POP!, went my left ankle and down I fell!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, Yet knowing this was bad I did yell,

I doubted if I should ever come back. They doubted, not me, I could make it back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence: Somehow five firefighters came

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— Rescued, carried, delivered oh my-

(to the hospital)

I took the one less traveled by, I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.   And that has made all the difference.

During my four and a half hours in the ER I watched a lot of interesting things happen. Although I did not understand the French being spoken, yelled, cried, or repeated over and over I could read expressions and people’s eyes despite the masks. My texting of these scenarios to a few close friends brought a new live comedy show to our phone screens. It also kept me occupied. Finally around 11pm I came out on French style crutches to meet Randy. X-rays were negative for a break. The sprain requires an air-cast for 3 weeks, medicine for pain and PT. Stick to the facts is all I can say.

Facts going through my head are… I thought it was only a sprain 8 hours ago, I am thankful for the diligence of our French friends who knew what to do for us Americans, thankful for strong firefighters, the medical staff who tried their best English with me, for Google Translate, and for Randy who met me when he was allowed and took me home.

I am not worried and am resting. By the way, I was telling Marie, my friend, about this poem on our hike before the fall.