Well...I've just about cried all I plan to about this. But I know I haven't yet shed my last tear about it.
As some of you know I broke my ankle on Thursday night. Yesterday my appointment with the ortho went well and she's scheduled me for surgery today (Wednesday) at 2 p.m. ET. I'll be getting a plate of the outer ankle area and a few pins on the inner ankle. Apparently, I don't half-ass anything I do. I broke the thing in three places and did a pretty efficient job of it!
She also says, no travel for me until after the 22nd. Which means, I will miss Netroots Nation. (I tried bargaining with her but she's...all concerrrrned about my ankle and shit). /s
I'm trying hard not to think about missing this conference I've had my heart set on for over a year now. Because I'm heartbroken. And pissed.
My husband will be there, though at booth 502 (right as soon as you walk into the Town Hall from the registration desk).
Isn't he adorable?!
I made a big assed banner for our booth:
And I even made some handouts. One featuring my beloved Grumpy Cat (of which I feel a special kinship these days).
Take a look. Here's the one with Grump Cat.
And other one I made. They're coming in the mail probably tomorrow. Which will probably make me cry again.
I made a ton of business cards to hand out and even have a display monitor we were going to hook up! I was SO ready to be there and to meet all of you that I've only known by name on this site for the last 7 years. And now, I'll be home unable to hug you and smile (and drink with you).
Hubby has suggested that we do a "FaceTime" a couple times a day so I can at least see what I'm missing and maybe say "hi" virtually. I like that idea but I'm not sure there's enough "juice" in the town hall area so we'll have to test it out on the 20th and see if it works. If it does (I hope!) then maybe I can at least see some of you if you wander through. I'd have to figure out the best times to do it since the panels are going on all day. But...I'm getting ahead of myself.
The GOOD NEWS
I've got a bit more time for finish up and polish the premier issue of the magazine. So that's great. Also, I don't have to leave my dog here with my dad. My dog can be a bit of an attention junkie and my dad, bless his heart, is 83 and shouldn't have to worry about a demanding spoiled dog like mine (alone) for a week.
Also, I'm trying to take a really positive approach to this. I'd thought that traveling while handicapped would be a learning experience. And I'm sure it would have been. But I still plan to use this experience to better understand the challenges faced by people for whom this is not a temporary inconvenience. (Interestingly, we already ad a story in the magazine featuring a facebook friend who did a video to show exactly how inaccessible her small town is).
Also, I'm going to use this incident to strengthen my resolve to make waves during the the Sabotage States campaign - the campaign to highlight Medicaid Expansion rejection states. Though I will only be able to start work on in earnest on it after the conference, I have some time now to really think through the best way to approach this - perhaps some ideas i wouldn't have had before this indent. Because the bottom line is: accidents can happen to anybody and if it weren't for the insurance I have that is covering 100% of this accident, I'd be ruined (or near so) financially as a result of this boo-boo. EVERYONE needs access to affordable, predictable health care that won't devastate them financially for life. I plan to use this accident to amplify that truth.
That said, I still get a bit weepy every now and again. Please, if you're at NN13, stop by the booth and say hi to my husband and tell him to start a FaceTime so we can wave at each other virtually.
Peace.