Well, I had another fall. Diane is always telling me that falling is not an option.

She’s right. The last fall I had was in March of last year. That’s when I fell in my backyard and fractured one rib and dislocated three others.

The fractured rib healed nicely, but I re-injured the dislocated ribs reaching for a pot at the Men’s Club while cooking dinner. I heard three distinct pops, but I didn’t feel any other sensation until I woke up the next morning and had a large hematoma on my left side, from my underarm to my waist.

I was in the hospital five days, four of them in the intensive care unit. I had low blood pressure and was dehydrated.

Since that time I have been taking a drug called Medodrine to keep my blood pressure under control.

On Friday, August 12, I fell for what I thought was no apparent reason. I woke up in the morning, felt fine, and I did my movement routine that I do each day. I walk across the bedroom 10 times, followed by stretching exercises. On that particular morning I finished walking across the bedroom, opened the drapery to look at the morning sunrise, turned around and took a look at Diane sleeping. The next thing I knew, I had fallen against the fireplace and was lying on my back on the floor.

Diane jumped out of bed and came to my side. I said to her, “Just let me lay here for a bit.”

I got up after a while and my lower back was sore, but I didn’t feel that bad. I went to work that day and went out for dinner with my mom, brother, his wife and Diane to a restaurant in Phoenix.

On Saturday I attended the Italian dinner fundraiser for the museum and on Sunday we met a friend for dinner in Mesa. I still didn’t feel that poorly.

Monday morning I felt weak and had Diane get me an appointment at Mayo Clinic with my doctor. He ordered me an x-ray and it showed I had fractured the L1 vertebrae in my lower back. I saw a physical therapist on Wednesday for the first of what will be eight sessions.

We have had a trip planned for some time to Palm Desert to stay at our timeshare with daughter Holly, her two girls and daughter Toni, her husband, Jason, and their son, Camden.

The physical therapist said I could take the trip as long as I felt up to the drive.

We left on Sunday morning and plan to be back on Wednesday.

I was given a list of things you should do to lower your risk of falling.

I thought I would pass this list on to you. They are:

*Have regular hearing and vision checks.

*Have regular physical exams.

*Learn about good nutrition. Healthy body and healthy bones are important.

*Learn about your medications.

*Avoid alcohol.

*Get up slowly. Sit on the side of the bed for a few minutes before you stand to reduce any feelings you have.

*Keep your balance and footing.

*Wear the right clothes and shoes.

*Exercise regularly and improve your sense of balance.