20 more days

So much to look forward to here when Summer arrives, as it finally did a few weeks ago. We endured a long Winter this year and it was difficult to imagine the heat, as today it is difficult to imagine pulling on a second pair of trousers as a brace against the freezing cold. But a part of this Summer has been put on hold and tempered by the fact that our youngest child, the (not-so-small) small one, fell off her bicycle and broke both bones in her right arm.
She knew, we all knew, just by looking at it.

We took a tearful drive to the hospital and then had to make a longer journey to Perugia, as the nearest orthopaedic specialist was there on duty that afternoon.
The afternoon soon became the evening and we finally emerged, bleary eyed and blinking into the dark carpark, one of us wearing a heavy plastercast all the way up to the shoulder, set for 40 long days. Our little girl had no idea at the time what lay in store as the Summer began to take it's toll, but as we have now arrived at the 40th day, we are all at the end of our proverbial tethers.

I have been fortunate to have been otherwise preoccupied of late. Not surprisingly, things of a building nature are my immediate concern and it's a little like firefighting as I lurch from one emergency deadline to another. The stress of that is, though, tempered by allowing myself time every so often to go out in the car and 'discover' new and interesting places to draw and paint.
I call it research, and it is, but it also gives me a chance to stop for a time and focus on something other than power tools.

I just do quick sketches or small paintings to get a true sense of what it would be like for a group, then move on. So far I have a little 'library' of good places for morning painting, good places for afternoon painting, and loads of good places for lunch.

I've been busy.

For the patient back at home, unfortunately it's not quite as simple as just 'taking it off' today. You see, the bone hasn't quite set correctly and we will have to wait for the results of a final x-ray to confirm that she is now free to swim, ride her bicycle, draw, and do homework with her right hand. Our supportive, collective family-ban on all such activities seemed like a good idea at the time, but 40 days is a long time for anyone, certainly long enough for our wheatfields to turn from vivid green to golden brown.

So today has been a long time coming and, hopefully, the real Summer will start, for one little girl at least, very soon afterwards. We'll see.

The stupidest thing I did today;

I said, rather foolishly, as we went in to see the specialist, "I'm sure it'll be alright, then we can go swimming this afternoon!". Not according to the doctor.

He simply shook his head and said, "...ancora 20 giorni..." Aaaaaagh!

Comments

[rc helicopter reviews]

Impressive blog! -Arron

[Judith in Umbria]

I am really really sorry to hear about this. I once wore a cast and a brace to hold it over my head for a year. Believe me, I can sympathize!

[joe@italyville]

poverina! I hope she is back swimming and riding her bike soon.

[somepinkflowerss]

so happy to see
sponge*bob
is on hand to help with the healing!

:-)

not the same a swimming in the sea
but
from the healthy & used condition of the cast
it looks as if your youngest
has gone on with her life.

here in florida
a summer cast is the kiss of death
to social activities.

[Paolo]

My son broke his femur so I feel your pain. He was in hospital for over 3 weeks. It was hard for us all. He is fine now and swimming. Mind you, he nearly drowned in the pool so perhaps it is good not to be able to go in the pool!

[Antonina]

I winced when I read of the poor child's broken arm, my own little girl now eighteen one summer age 5 broke her wrist when she fell, 6 weeks latter got cast off be careful the doctor said yes she nodded and came home ran out side 5 minutes later and broke the other wrist, called family doctor because if I taken her to hospital family services would have been called , all things take their time to heal, hopefully the summer weather will last till late into October for her.As she British and stalwarts she may get her swim in yet.

[My Mélange]

Aww, poor thing. Another 20 days of her summer. I dislocated my elbow on the monkey-bars 5 minutes after we arrived at a family picnic when I was 9. Talk about ruining a party!

Your paintings are delicious. They are dripping Italy :)

Bravo!

[anne]

Oh poor thing...40 days is a long time, not to be able to do things..love your drawings :-)

[Sally]

Is that Sponge Bob along with your architectural sketches?

Get well soon Piccolina.

[Maryann]

awww..well one good thing is that the cast is very cool! I hope everything is mended nicely now and you all have a beautiful summer. I love your drawings :)

[pinklunamoon]

Beautiful pictures indeed, what an artist! :) i take pictures with my camera instead =)
Feel free to visit us in Narni, I'll give you the address, we have a room that i called mercatino bits and bobs where there is stuff for sale that i make (bags and purses etc.) and other new and used things. We are in the countryside :)

[erin :: the olive notes]

oh no! Non ancora 20 giorni!?! Da quando commencera'' estate?

Those paintings are amazing...I can't wait until your classes start!

[Michelle]

My nephew broke his arm a few summers ago; I was "lucky" enough to break mine in the winter :(