So, I did a number on my neck. I know that those of you who know me are thinking this was definitely horse-related. Of course, it was horse-related, but only tangentially. During the last cold snap this winter, on my way out to the pasture to open the gate, I slipped on the ice which had built up around the automatic water-tank, fell back and knocked myself out. When I came to, my clothes were soaked from the snow and I couldn’t move anything but my eyes.
Gratefully, the paralysis — though terrifying and clarifying — was temporary and the damage was fixable, thanks to a talented surgical team and the miracle of modern medicine. In a few more weeks I’ll be able to resume most of my normal activities. But I’ll have to avoid things that frequently invoke gravity-induced impacts, like horseback riding, which has been an integral part of my life in Montana, my mental health and even my identity.
