Slow Down, Hoss!

[Stinky The Clown]

Four weeks ago today I started a four day ER stay and embarked on a 6-12 week recovery.

Sparkly and I were on our way to a sundown cruise leaving from Annapolis, MD. We were a few hundred feet from the boat at City Dock and close to the time we were to meet our group and board. I told Sparkly I would run ahead and let them know we were on our way.

I crossed a street on the run, intending to turn at the sidewalk and get to the boat. It was slightly downhill. At full tilt, I started to lose my balance. Heading to the curb, I ran between two parked cars.

I lost my balance, and, at a full run, went head down into a telephone pole. I rolled to the right and dropped. I fell to the pavement at the edge of the curb, stunned but conscious.

With Sparkly calling to me, five or six USNA midshipmen having a beverage after a run ran out from a restaurant to help me. They called 911, tried to roll me over, got a chair, ice, water and kept me talking.

I was pretty bloodied.

The ambo came and fetched my sorry ass off the ground and away we went.

Result after exam: Brain bleed. Concussion, skull fracture, two fractured cervical vertebrae, two fractured shoulder blades (from the fall) and a fractured lumbar vertebra.

I am now four weeks into a six week stint in a cervical collar and a back brace.



I am well on the mend, mostly pain free, walking easily. Looking forward to a full recovery and time at the gym to restore myself after physical atrophy.

[mwmisses4289]

1. Keep on recovering!

[Stinky The Clown]

40. thanks! One step at a time

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Oh, my. Here's to a speedy, full recovery.

[Stinky The Clown]

41. thank you. Fingers crossed

[Gore1FL]

3. Glad to hear you are healing well.

Sounds like quite the unexpected adventure!

[Stinky The Clown]

42. It was an adventure I could have done without!

[hlthe2b]

4. NO kidding! Slow down, indeed!

So glad you are on the mend, but that is a lesson for the ages! 'Sorry about the cruise, but returning to good health is so much more important.

[Bayard]

5. Holy Crap, Stinky!

I feel for you. Many broken bones over the years, and its not much fun.

Hope you continue to feel better.

[Stinky The Clown]

48. I was reflecting on that

I only had one broken bone - an arm when I was a kid. So why not six all at once!

[Bayard]

66. Yeah, just get it all over with

[Solly Mack]

6. Yikes!

Hoping for a speedy and full recovery!

[Stinky The Clown]

49. Thank you!

I had a full set of x-rays today and it seems I'm on schedule

[malaise]

7. You take care - that's an order

Heal well

[yellow dahlia]

44. I second that emotion.

[Stinky The Clown]

50. Aye!

[livetohike]

8. I'm so sorry this happened to you. What a painful

Last edited Fri Nov 21, 2025, 06:36 AM - Edit history (1)

ordeal . Hope your recovery is swift and you get back to all of your normal activities soon.

[Stinky The Clown]

51. Thanks!

I'm an active guy. Being in the cervical collar is the hardest thing right now.

[mountain grammy]

9. Pretty sure that fall would've killed me

So glad you’re recovering and not in pain. You must be in good shape.
Keep on healing and getting better. Gotta love those midshipmen!

[Stinky The Clown]

53. I plan to send a letter to the Superintendent of the Naval Acadamy. . . .

. . . in hopes my thanks will ultimately filter down to those fine young men.

[2naSalit]

10. Good grief!

Glad to hear you survived it all and are on the mend, jeez.

[Stinky The Clown]

54. "survived it"

When I met with my doc about two weeks after the event she made clear I had a very close call

[cachukis]

11. Sounds like your hard head met its match. Get well.

[Stinky The Clown]

57. I failed too mention . . . . . .

. . . . . . . that after it assaulted ms and I fought back they had to add steel reinforcements to the telephone pole to keep it standing!!!

LOL :::ducking:::

[nocoincidences]

12. Just thank your luck that didn't happen on the cruise ship!

[Stinky The Clown]

58. Indeed!

It was a small 50-60 foot harbor boat

[MustLoveBeagles]

13. Holy crap

I'm glad that your pain isn't too bad.

[Stinky The Clown]

59. Thanks, the pain was manageable in just a few days

The telephone, I am told, suffered significant impact splintering that may be career ending.


^ that's a lie ^. LOL

[SheltieLover]

14. Healing vibes on the way to you

Last edited Fri Nov 21, 2025, 09:55 AM - Edit history (1)

[Stinky The Clown]

60. They got here and they're working!

Thanks!

[Grumpy Old Guy]

15. Ouch!

I'm glad to hear you're recovering.

[Stinky The Clown]

61. Thanks! . . . . and by the way . . . .

I often wear a T shirt that says "Bringing Frumpy Back" over a picture of a certain dwarf of the same name!

LOL

[mcar]

16. Holy cats!

So glad you are on the mend.

[Stinky The Clown]

63. : tapping head :

Yeah, I think I am!

[ms liberty]

17. Holy Cannoli!

No more running for you!


Happy you're doing better!

[Stinky The Clown]

64. Let it be known that I am unable to resist running to a cannoli or a

sfogliatelle

[MiHale]

18. Dude!...that read like a horror story for someone in my condition...

Hope you fully recover…fully!

[Stinky The Clown]

65. Thanks!

It lived like story, too!

[cate94]

19. Holy hell

That sounds horrible. I’m glad you are on the mend.

[Stinky The Clown]

67. Thank you!

Holy hell is wearing this C-collar 24/7

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Wow!

Glad you're on the mend.
As we age, we don't bounce the way we used to!

[Stinky The Clown]

68. Ha! I feel . . . .

. . . . . about a bouncy as a marshmallow

[a kennedy]

21. Damn......prayers, positive vibes, fast and total recovery.

[Stinky The Clown]

69. thanks!

I have been getting prayers from family members.

I use humor as a tool but this was very scary for those closest to me.

[erronis]

22. Not sure how old you are, but at 24-28 you should recover well.

Fortunately at my age (about 3 times those numbers), I couldn't even try to do your crazy moves. And if I did there wouldn't be anything for the EMTs to worry about.

Glad you're here to recount!

[Stinky The Clown]

70. About the age as the orange Pig of Pennsylvania Avenue

[slightlv]

23. Damn! If that'd been me that had gone through all that,

I'd be 6' in the ground by now! I'm amazed at how you're recovering... and am sending bright healing energies your way. Go easy on yourself next time! (LOL)

[Stinky The Clown]

79. Thanks for the good wishes

[1WorldHope]

24. Bloody Hell! One minute you're on your way to a lovely vacation and the next...

you are laid out bleeding. We just can't count on anything going how we expect sometimes. I'm glad you are on the mend and will keep your experience in mind the next time I'm in a hurry. Take care of yourself I hope the pain is behind you. 💙🎈💐

[Stinky The Clown]

80. Thank you!

The pain was bad the first day or so. It is now way, way down, with no meds

[Warpy]

25. Gym? Uh, no.

With multiple fractures like that you're going to need at least a couple of weeks in rehab to make sure you don't reinjure yourself. The problem with the average gym is that the instructors aren't geared toward rehab. A couple of weeks with qualifioed PT people will identify which muscle groups need strengthening first and which might be counterproductive. Plus, there is nothing like a week or two of intensive, in patient rehab to get you started off right.. That's first hand experience talking.

Then you can sue thqat telephone pole for not getting the hell out of your way.

[Stinky The Clown]

81. Hey Warpy!

About the gym, that won't/can't start until the c-collar is off and the doc says yes. My initial intend is low speed/low elevation treadmill time to recondition my legs.

PT and OT therapists come to the and have been for the last three week

[Warpy]

89. Sky, big difference between in hospital PT and intensive PT at rehab

Talk to the doc about a week or two of rehab.

Yeah, I know you want to get home, but your injures were extensive and I guarandamntee you're not as ready as you think you are..

Besides, the rehab will have several elliptical machines that will gently work your upper body while building some stamina in your legs, the latter being very useful when you get home, trust me.

Treadmills are OK for perfectly flat surfaces but the world aint flat. PT will exercise those muscle groups that will help you cope with that. It's harder than you think after a spinal injury.

[LoisB]

26. Goodness gracious! I'm glad you are on the mend.

[Stinky The Clown]

82. Thanks!

(Too) Slow and steady

[Dave Bowman]

27. Ouch! Get better soon.

[Stinky The Clown]

83. Workin' on it, my friend!

[Fla Dem]

28. Ye Gods Stinky, so very close to going on a forever cruise.

It does sound like you took a near fatal fall.

I am so glad you escaped the last call, but with some serious damage. Someone was definitely watching over you,
Please be careful. We need you here.

All the best to you and Sparkly.

[Stinky The Clown]

85. Thank you!

[redwitch]

29. Ouch!

Don’t do that anymore!


Glad you are on the mend!

[Stinky The Clown]

86. I promise to avoid assaulting telephone poles!

[KPN]

30. Holy moly! Glad you are recovering ... and definitely

“Slow Down, Hoss!”

Thanks for sharing. There’s a great lesson in it — at least for me at almost 74: Be careful, don’t act/behave like a 24 year old; things break easier, important things.

[Stinky The Clown]

87. I shall try to act my age!

[hamsterjill]

31. Stinky, that's a helluva way to try to get some attention!!!! (Just kidding!)

So sorry this happened to you. Glad you are on the road to recovery. Please take the utmost care of yourself and get healthy.

Wishing you all the very best!!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

94. thank you for all that. It means a lot

[gademocrat7]

32. Oh my goodness, Stinky

Glad you are on the mend. Take care.🤗💙

[Stinky The Clown]

95. I will, indeed, take care

Thank you

[Faux pas]

33. WOW

So sorry that happened 😢 and happy you survived

[Stinky The Clown]

97. Than. Surving right now.

Soon to be thriving

[Sparkly]

34. He also got two amazing black eyes

and bruising on his forehead that looked like a second set of black eyebrows. For Halloween, I suggested he could be a panda bear, then my brother-in-law (who came to help us) suggested he put a lightbulb in his mouth and go as Uncle Fester.

We all decided anything would frighten children too much! So he was kept away from the door.

[Stinky The Clown]

98. My love!

Sorry to have put you through this

[question everything]

35. What an ordeal! Glad that you are on the mend. Take is slowly, please

[Stinky The Clown]

99. thank ou.

I have been chanting "slow" but it is hard to apply it to me

[NH Ethylene]

36. How horrifying!

I'm so glad you are recovering and will soon be back to normal.

[Stinky The Clown]

100. thanks for your good wishes

[KT2000]

37. Holy cow!

That was an incredible accident! Glad you are healing and will be ready for all future elections.

[Stinky The Clown]

101. You betcha!

Vote early and vote often!

Ooops! Can I say that here????


LOL

[Exp]

38. Aw geeez. Man oh man! Glad none of the cars were moving. Good luck! Still have your sense of humor! nt

[Stinky The Clown]

102. Thanks!

Decades ago, Readers Digest had a column called "Humor is the Best Medicine"

The fact is it is!!!

[CrispyQ]

39. Ouch!! That's a helluva a fall!

Glad you're on the mend! Take time & don't overdo it.

[Stinky The Clown]

103. Thanks so much.

Unfortunately for me,i have a long history of overdoing things

[JohnnyLib2]

43. Ye gods! So glad you are recovering well.

What an ordeal. Best wishes for the next stages.

[Stinky The Clown]

104. Thanks, trying to be a good patient

[struggle4progress]

45. I really would tell ya shouldn't oughta do that -- but guessin might be you ain't need be tolded

Ow ow ow!

Hope ya feelin lots better now!

[Stinky The Clown]

105. I ain'tI

But I damn sure shoulda!!!!

[Liberal In Texas]

46. Man. What a freak accident.

I hope you have a rapid recovery.

[Stinky The Clown]

106. Thanks! That's what I'm hoping for!!

[MLAA]

47. All the best to you as you wrap up the recovery!

[Stinky The Clown]

107. Thank you!

Let the wrapping upping commence post haste!

[3catwoman3]

52. Sheesh - sounds like you are lucky to still be here!

May the rest of your recovery be uneventful.

[Stinky The Clown]

108. You're correct!

All my joking aside, it really was a close call.

[dlilafae]

55. Stinky the Clown

Oh my heavens! 🪷 Rest, and yes, do your therapy. What a horrible thing to have happen. Sorry, for these strange occurrences. ☘️ Heal quickly.🍀

[Stinky The Clown]

109. Thanks. Doing the therapy will be welcome, even if only

for the diversionary qualities!

[Cha]

56. Wow... I noticed you weren't around, STC..

Glad you're on the mend but Geeze.. what a Trip you've had

Welcome Back

[Stinky The Clown]

62. Thanks Cha!! Its good to be back!

[Cha]

71. lol.. I can imagine... You and

Sparkly are the Best! 💙

[yonder]

72. Holy Cow! what a nasty surprise.

It sounds like you're mending quickly. Positive waves are headed your way for a complete recovery.

[Stinky The Clown]

111. The waves are rolling in already

Thanks for sending them

[electric_blue68]

73. Holy sh!t! SCARY! Glad you had help right after, and are recovering!

[Stinky The Clown]

112. Thank you

Kudos to midshipmen where there seconds after I hit the ground!

[canetoad]

74. Best wishes Stinky

Glad you're on the mend. Take it easy bro.

[Stinky The Clown]

113. Thank you, my friend

[mucholderthandirt]

75. Ouchies! Speedy recovery energy sent.

[Stinky The Clown]

114. Thank you much

[Duncanpup]

76. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Stinky The Clown]

115. Thank you

We're hoping for the best

[democrank]

77. Glad you survived your fall

Sending strength

[Stinky The Clown]

116. Strength will sure help

Thanks!

[babylonsister]

78. omg, so many ouchies!

So sorry that happened, Stinky, glad you're on the mend!

[Stinky The Clown]

118. Thank you Sis

A bit better each day

[Kid Berwyn]

84. Hope you learned a lesson.

You matter infinitely to everybody who knows you and to good people you just met.

[Stinky The Clown]

119. So true

I very much appreciate each and every post.

What you just said is part of why I am taking the time to answer post.

[Emile]

88. Sorry you had to go through this. Hopefully

you'll have a speedy recovery.

[Stinky The Clown]

120. Thank you

[Ilsa]

90. You know, I hate it when that happens,

even to people I don't know. Make your recovery be as awesome as you!

[Stinky The Clown]

121. Awwwwm thank you!

[Joinfortmill]

91. Omg! Glad you are on the mend.

[Stinky The Clown]

122. Its a good thing the Hunan body makes its own glue

[LudwigPastorius]

92. Damn

That really sucks, but at least some people helped you instead of standing around with their phones out so they could submit an entry to America's Painfullest Videos.

I hope they gave you some good drugs. It's just a drag to have to use good drugs non-recreationally.

[Stinky The Clown]

123. They gave me a bucket of oxy

I'll stick with a good Pino or Cab - and buckets of it right now!

[bluescribbler]

93. Don't do that again, OK?

Dammit man, we can't afford to lose you.

[Stinky The Clown]

124. I shall endeavor not to do that again

a number of years ago I rolled a small tractor onto myself while mowing cross-hill. I now mow that section diagonally or vertically.

[essaynnc]

96. Dang Man, that had to have been scary !

Congrats that you're on the mend, l hope your healing continues on schedule !

[Stinky The Clown]

125. What was cary was the realization of it all while in the ambo!!

Thanks for the good wishes

[red dog 1]

110. I hope and pray that you have a speedy recovery.

[Stinky The Clown]

126. Thank you!

We share that wish!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

117. Get well

[Stinky The Clown]

127. Thank you.

I'm working on it!

[Stinky The Clown]

128. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I am deeply and sincerely appreciative of all the comments in support of my recovery

I also want to thank the DU community for indulging my days long kicking of this thread as I replied to person who took the time to wish me well.

Next week is Thanksgiving. I am thankful for each and every one of you.

Thank you!

and goodnight