It happened both slowly and all of a sudden.
Sharp and piercing at first.
Then I caught myself thinking – no big deal.
For a brief moment I was calmed.
That could have been a whole lot worse.
Then the throbbing started.
No – throbbing is too soft a word.
Then the constant pounding started.
No bandaids in sight – I reach for the duct tape.
I don’t need no stinking bandaids.
What am I, 12?
Oh hell no – I’m a grown ass man.
A little spit to clean my wound and some black duct tape and I’m good to go.
But nope.
The wound must be tended to first.
Need better lighting,
Wait – what is that?
Did I get …..?
Did I get …… shanked?
I’m not in prison exercising in the yard – but I definitely got shanked.
It’s a wooden shard buried in my flesh.
The duct tape will have to wait.
This is serious.
I look for my phone.
Perhaps a 911 call is in order.
But will the ambulance arrive in time?
OH MY GOD – IS THERE STILL TIME?
I’ve been in similar situations like this before.
I know not to panic.
Panic leads to rash decisions.
NO – NO !!!
Stay calm.
STAY CALM.
Oh who am I kidding?
I have a shard in my flesh.
I have a wound.
Yes – I am wounded.
I am mortally wounded.
DO I lay down and accept my fate?
Is this the end?
How could I have been so careless?
I knew the dangers.
I knew how to protect myself.
How could I have let this happen.
I choose time over caution.
I rushed it.
Jim – you know better that that.
Now look at you.
Bleeding.
WHAT?
Yeah, BLEEDING.
You had to be in such a hurry and now look.
LOOK !!!
Okay – bring it back down Jim.
Get a grip.
Be a man.
For once – BE A MAN.
Just reach down and yank it out.
One quick motion.
Grab – then pull.
Grab – then pull.
Deep breaths.
Deep breaths …..
Okay – I got this.
Eyes closed.
Gentle soothing breaths.
Fight through the pain.
Fight through the pain.
It was just then that a calmness overtook me.
It seemed the clouds parted and a ray of sunshine poked through and clarity came to me.
I looked down, no longer afraid.
I steadied myself and with the courage of a hundred warriors – NO – it was with the courage of a thousand warriors that I brought my wounded appendage up and reached down and pulled out the wooden shaft that had penetrated my flesh, piercing me, as if going into my very soul.
And that is the story of my splinter.
My Take on Life and Events 