Learning Gratitude

As I flew the short distance from my falling bicycle to the mud splattered paved trail below me, there was just enough time for three thoughts to race through my head.

1. No!! how can this be happening!
2. 'Lil! she should be safe in the trailer
3. Noise! make some noise so Hubby will hopefully hear and come back to help

Isn't that an interesting order? First, denial that I was in the predicament in the first place. Then worry for my child, and finally a bit of worry for myself.

The mud came out of no where - And on such a steep incline, there was little chance of me getting stopped safely, even if I hadn't had 50 + pounds of trailer and child pushing me faster. But, 'Lil - who, with a 7 month speech delay instead of the needed 9 month one and therefore won't receive speech services  (grumble grumble!)- was  perfectly safe inside that trailer.

After much thought, I'm grateful for many things that have occurred about the entire incident.
I'm grateful

• That the same rains which made the mud, made the slides at the park very wet. So wet that I had packed a towel to dry them off with. That exceptionally wet towel was wonderful to clean my hands off so I could at least grip my handle bars without slipping.
• That, out of the 3 days in a week I take this bike ride,this was the one where Hubby came too.
• That my grunts were loud enough to alert Hubby to my predicament.
• That, at the time, the worst of my injuries was having the wind knocked out of me.
• That the whole thing occurred only 1 mile away from my house so I could quickly get home.
• That I thought to put the whites in the dryer before I left and actually had clean dry underwear to get into.
• That I hadn't started any other laundry so my mud covered clothes could go straight in the washer.
• That my shower is literally feet away from my washer, so the distance I needed to streak wasn't far.
• That there was plenty of warm water, which felt so soothing on my now skinless patch of forearm.
• That my cute Hubby was there to take care of 'Lil - and even hosed all the mud off my bike and trailer.
• That my biggest plan for the day was to fold laundry, so I could take it easy.
• That 'Lil still takes 2-3 hour naps so there is even more rest time for me.
• That, as I came to realize just how beat up my knee, back, and shoulder actually are, all I need is some painkiller and a few days of taking it easy instead of something much, much worse.
• That here, on my blog, I can tell of my stupidity and you won't chew me out for it. Yes, I was probably going to fast, but I bet anyone coming off that hill with a trailer would have been going at the same speed. And instead of telling me how stupid I was, you will commiserate with my stupidity, and let me know that I'm still a decent person instead of a complete idiot.

That last one is really big to me. Thank you for reading my ramblings. Thank you for keeping judgments to yourself - I've never had a mean comment on my blog. Thank you for putting up with my craziness.

Thanks for helping my gratitude day.