It’s probably kinda weird but I love having shelves in the garage for the things I don’t use every day. Even things I use almost every day, like the Instant Pot, I prefer to keep on shelves in the garage.
I love having things where I can see them and get to them, even if I have to rinse things off before using them. I first started doing this when we had the little house in town in Kentucky. The kitchen was so tiny and I kept bringing gadgets over from the other house so I had to put things on these shelves in the garage. Then in MO the first time, the garage was huge. The kitchen was big too but it was so nice to have things like the canner, extra jars, big soup pots, etc. on those shelves. In Texas, the shelves ended up upstairs in the shop. I was always afraid I’d fall down the stairs going up and down them carrying a load but I never did. Guess where I did fall! Here. Today!
I had taken out two cake carriers and my pie plates. I was carrying three skillets out, turned the corner with my hands full and tripped. It was a pile of shoes there on the floor. Thankfully I had left the door open so I yelled for Vince and he came out. I hurt both wrists, both knees and my right elbow. I haven’t ever fallen like that but it was like super fast but in slow motion. I knew I was going to fall face first and I was thinking “don’t break your only glasses” and “don’t chip a tooth”. I fell on my right elbow but my wrists were injured when the pots I was carrying hit the concrete. There’s a knot on my left knee but I was super lucky not to break anything. I was also lucky that Vince was here to help me. I’m imagining I’ll be moving quite slowly tomorrow.
That’s all that got carried out today. Maybe I’ll do more tomorrow . . maybe not. But, I am happy to have those shelves up.
Here’s a funny story. My mom called and we were talking and I told her about it. She’s 86. She said “Judy! Only old ladies fall!” I wanted to say “Mom, I AM old!” But, I figured that would make her feel really old so I didn’t say it.
Dottie Newkirk says
Hope your boo-boos heal quickly – I feel for you.
Liz says
I can relate to the fast but slow motion fall – I was carrying my laptop from the office to another room and bumped into something and fell. I rotated my body so the laptop didn’t hit the ground. My ribs were another matter. After that, I realized that some of my carrying baskets were too large and rigid, required both hands to carry, and obstructed my view of the walking path.
I switched to 11 gal plastic tubs that I can put stuff in and still grab both handles with one hand – “tubtrugs” from Gardener’s Supply, also on Amazon. There are other versions, but it is important that they be flexible to be able to carry with one hand. I use them for laundry, gardening, recycle stuff, and just carrying stuff since I have a free hand to open doors or brace myself if falling. I may have to make two trips to carry laundry, but at least I am safer. More steps is good.
I tend to carry my cell phone in a pocket, especially outdoors. I even carry my car keys since if I fall, I can push the panic button and hope that someone on the street will check it out. Eventually, I get one of those emergency alert buttons. Anything to stay safe in my home.
Hope you heal up fast and take care!
Liz says
Who left the pile of shoes in the way? Someone needs to realize the danger in trip hazards.
Judy Laquidara says
It wasn’t me and it wasn’t Addie!
Deborah Stokes says
Thanks, Liz for info on that tubtrug. I found that 11 gal size and ordered one. I need one hand on the stair rail for sure (& other places as well) – this will do the trick!
Judy Laquidara says
I love the tubtrugs for laundry baskets – to carry clothes out to the clothesline, and to bring them back. When Speck was a puppy, we kept losing socks. I would sometimes find them in the weirdest places but one day, I found about two dozen mismatched socks in his crate. I realized he loved playing tug o’ war with socks and pulling them through the holes in traditional laundry baskets. I switched to the solid sided tubtrugs then and have used those ever since.
Susan says
Oh no! I’m sorry you fell and hope you’ll feel better real soon. Like you say, you were lucky nothing was broken but it’s still too bad it happened.
Chris Miller says
Oh no–hope you don’t feel too bad tomorrow!! I don’t laugh at the “Help, I’ve fallen!” ads anymore. . .
Judy Laquidara says
So true. It’s real now!
Jenny Benton says
I had a fall too a couple of nights ago after stubbing my toe and have big bruise on my face to show for it. The trouble is, once we start falling there isn’t anything we can do about it, except hope we dont break anything, teeth, glasses, bones. One of the Joy’s of getting older I guess, not so agle anymore. Hope your bumps heal quilckly
Judy Laquidara says
Oh, no! I hope you’re ok. I’m hoping that since I fell because there was stuff in my way and I tripped, that this won’t be a recurring thing . . not yet anyway. You’re right though – breaking my glasses or a tooth was the first thing that went through mind as I was going down. We’re both lucky we didn’t break anything, including a bone. I’m really surprised I don’t even have any bruises this morning. My left knee is still swollen and sore, but not nearly as swollen as it was last night, and my right elbow is sore but also not as much as it was last night. I think I’m good . . I can start cooking Thanksgiving dinner today!
Amy Frances Makson says
hope you feel better very soon. These things happen so fast, even in slow motion.
Ruth says
I thought that Liz’s comment about realizing that when carrying her tubs they blocked the view of her path, was very astute!! We should all follow her example and switch to smaller carrying containers. Let’s be sure that we can see our path is clear as we walk, hands full or empty.
May you have a pleasant Thanksgiving and may all your bumps and bruises fade quickly! (I hope Vince realized the error of his ways in leaving a pile of shoes in the walkway.)
Judy Laquidara says
I was only carrying three small pans with me – just wasn’t looking. I could have seen what was in the way had I bothered to look so it isn’t always that you can’t see but sometimes, you just don’t expect a pile of shoes to be in your way! You can bet I’m looking now but I’m sure in time, I’ll get careless again. As we get older, we do have to be more careful and pay more attention.
When we lived in the house with the basement in MO, I kept a folding cart downstairs and upstairs and would use those to bring things around to the upstairs or downstairs doors instead of carrying things up or down stairs (like a case of jars or a roll of batting). I need to start doing that again too.
Teri says
Hope you are not sore today. Did Vince find a safer place to put all of his shoes?
Judy Laquidara says
Last time I looked, they were still there. Trash man comes Friday. Hope I don’t have to intervene! 🙂
Nelle Coursey says
About 2 years ago we went to Llano to see the World Wide Rock Stacking. It had rained the day before and the sand and water made it very slippery. I was holding my camera in my hand and I thought I was being careful. But I slipped on one of the big granite rocks and landed on my left elbow. Really hurt my pride and my elbow hurt a little also. I landed mostly on my right elbow and butt. A few days later I was trying to raise up in bed using my left elbow! I had a bad pain. It felt like a piece of bone might have chipped off. I didn’t do anything about it but every once in a while I do get that pain again. Getting older is not for sissies!! Take care!
Judy Laquidara says
I remember when you did that. I don’t think I hurt anything but my knee is the worst. When the weatherman said go to the lowest level, Addie and I ran down the stairs – never thinking that coming up them wasn’t going to be easy. I don’t think I’ll go downstairs again for a few days.
Nelle Coursey says
Where did you find your shelves? I have been looking for some and I have looked at Home Depot but I am not sure of what I would be getting. These look very sturdy and what I need to replace some old shelves in the pantry. How tall are they?
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve had those shelves for 20 years. I think we bought them at Sam’s and I think they still have them. The poles are probably 6′ tall but the shelves can be put anywhere. We probably have 20 sets of those things and love them so much. We were talking about them as we were putting them together in the garage. They’re starting to show that they’ve had some rough moves – they’ve just completed their 7th move and Vince says . . no more moving so they’ll be someone else’s responsibility if/when they get moved again.
Seriously, they are super nice and can hold a ton of weight.
Sandi B says
Let’s hope you don’t fall again. But, may I offer these suggestions? (I consider myself a “professional” faller!)…if you start to go down again when carrying something, heave it out of your way QUICKLY. Then proceed to “tuck” anything in to a curled position – close your fists, curl your wrists in, curl your arms into your chest. Fall as flat as possible. Try not to land on your knees. I rarely get hurt when I fall. If I’m falling to the side or backwards, in addition to tucking, I roll. I’m still working out how to fall forward without getting hurt. (My Dad had issues with falling. I think it’s genetic.)
Stay upright!!
Judy Laquidara says
I need to practice for the next fall! 🙁
Thanks for the advice. It all makes sense.
Sandi B says
Hopefully, it won’t be necessary. I have to be extra careful that I not break anything when I fall. I’m allergic to the trace amounts of nickel that are in titanium and stainless steel. So, most doctors don’t know how to repair broken bones without screws and plates…I’d be in trouble! Henceforth the “planning” for how to fall.