Life in the Bristolwood

You know the kind….where you probably would have fared much better had you pulled the covers up over your head and just told everyone to stay *far* away so they don’t catch whatever IT is that is troubling you!

A few days ago….on the terrifically windy day to be exact, Ben decided to go for a little stroll in the woods. He had disappeared out the door while I was preoccupied, and as I saw him vanish from sight, I told Mark I had better hunt him down before a branch or tree crashed down on him! The wind was blowing at about 30-35 miles per hour, sustained, with gusts of 50 miles per hour!

I went upstairs and changed from a skirt to a pair of jeans, then got out my ATV and drove up into the woods along one of the trails. After going probably about 500′ back, a very large Ash tree was lying across the path. The wind had blown this tree to the ground.  Undaunted, I diverted to the right as the left side of the path was muddy and wet.

I crawled through the woods, as I was now on the neighbors’ property and they had a stand of young saplings helter-skelter everywhere.  I had to drive over some, and I ducked my face as I saw some heading back up in a whip-like fashion. Getting snapped by one of those would *really* hurt…I just had that very thought when a branch hit the side of my head so hard, I thought I was going senseless for a few seconds. I stopped and sat atop the ATV, feeling like screaming….or crying, but knowing neither would help!

After professing aloud that *really* hurt, I continued on, making my way back to the safety of the trail. I would drive a bit, then stop and call out Ben’s name. I finally caught up with him and he climbed on the back of the machine and we headed down the hill.

The place where the branch snapped me left no marks. I have a tendency to bruise quite easily so I expected a black eye. I was hit across my left eyelid and on the side of my face right next to my eye. Needless to say, my eye was closed and was miraculously unscathed.

The next day, everything felt fine. No problem at all. I had no bruise or anything to show.

Yesterday, however, my eye hurt so badly when I got up, I could hardly stand the pain, but I discovered that by lying down, the pain dissipated. This morning, however, the pain was so intense…..even while lying down, it hurt! The only way I can explain the pain was it was like having a “headache” in my eye. Something seemed to be telling me to relax!

I popped in the hot tub while stuffed shells I made for lunch baked in the oven. I stayed out there for about 45 minutes, not wanting to get out as the pain subsided.  I finally decided I had better get out before I shriveled up! The good news is that the pain in my eye went away! I have no idea what the medical explanation would be for such a recovery….psychosomatic? Anyway, by about 3:00 this afternoon, my eye was better. It no longer hurts to move it, nor does it hurt to focus on objects…..yesterday, it hurt terribly when I moved the eye!

Well, sorry to rant about such a ridiculous circumstance! It was just very strange. And, it makes me realize the wisdom of wearing a helmet and eye protection….even in the WOODS!