A three-siren day

About a week ago, I was in a meeting with my boss, and I told her how disconcerting it feels to constantly hear sirens. On most days, I hear two or three pass right outside my classroom. Matt and I generally notice a couple either while we sip our coffee in the morning or when we snuggle up for the night. I wondered aloud to Sherre if all these sirens cause a backdrop of anxiety for our students -- and for the residents of our city. My students insist they don't notice them, but I am startled every time I hear one.

Until this past Monday, that is, when I strained with all my might to hear the siren coming for me.

I was lying on the floor of my principal's office. I was so faint with pain, I would not have been surprised if someone told me I was soaking the floor with my own blood.

Tweet version: Rain on stairs, fell, stumbled into principal's office, tried not to pass out.

Poetic version: The world looks odd from the floor. I distinctly remember the scent of our French teacher's jacket as she folded it beneath my head. Pete, another teacher and former marine, kept his hand right between my shoulders until the paramedics put me on a back board ... and then he held my hand for a long, long time. I saw my backpack, my phone and ID being pulled from it.  And there was a styrofoam cup by my head, but I vaguely wondered how I could drink from it.

Mostly I closed my eyes and hoped the room would stop spinning. And I listened very intently for the siren.

I broke my coccyx. That's one of those words my nephews like to say because it sounds naughty, but technically, it's not. I've been in a lot of pain since my fanny connected with the stairs. And I don't know how long I'll be home not sitting, not standing, and not lying on my back.

I believe the universe, God, Allah, a higher power -- whatever you want to call it/him/her -- feels perfectly at ease teaching us through life's circumstances. I'm not sure what the lesson is. Melissa, you are not your job? Melissa, don't be such a pain in the butt? Melissa, slow down? Melissa, update your blog?

Speaking of blogs, in the time it took me to write this one, I heard two sirens. I'd like to say they didn't startle me, but that would be untrue. Honestly, I'm glad the siren is not for me. But I am grateful that help is on the way.