Saturday, September 08, 2007

Foolish

A little more of the story.

Anyone in my family would tell you I could never leave well enough alone, could never be satisfied until I’d gone too far. Must have been true. This time I pushed myself so far into the tube I was out of control from the moment I let go of the sides.

I struggled to keep my arms over my head and my legs together, but the force of the water was too strong. I flopped and wallered around, knowing I needed to either get straight with the current or right with the Lord.

My right foot flew out and smashed the edge as the tube spit me out. I felt the jagged metal slice through my heel, felt the meat gap open. Tumbling downstream, head over hind end, I was helpless to do anything other than hold my breath and hope.

Some would have prayed, but I figured God had bigger fish to fry. After all, black men were being beaten to death in Mississippi, Mr. Johnson was fighting a War on Poverty, and "that damn Barry Goldwater" was running for President. God didn't have time to waste on one foolish little girl cutting her foot off on a bridge culvert in the backwoods of southern Missouri.

7 comments:

Amber said...

I think it is funny she knows all the other bigger fish God has to fry. Charming. makes me wonder if she listens in on adult talk, like kids do.

:)

The Geezers said...

The last paragraph is just great.

Found your voice again on the bike ride, it appears.

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful Jerri, really, really wonderful. Keep going and keep riding that bike!

Carrie Wilson Link said...

Love that God had bigger fish to fry, perfect, "that damn Barry Goldwater," so much is said in those few short words! Dialogue is so efficient!

Deb Shucka said...

I'm amazed that as a child you had an awareness and belief that you weren't as important to God as the bigger problems in the world. It's awe-inspiring and so sad all at the same time.

kario said...

I hurt thinking how you must have felt after finally getting some approval from your mother. I can hear you blaming yourself and taking responsibility for things in a grown-up way when you were just doing something any other kid would have done.

Love you.

Michelle O'Neil said...

Oh God. My stomach clenches at the cut foot. Great description but OWWW!