SHORTLY AFTER SCRAMBLING out of her sleeping bag, before she got dressed for the day and wolfed down two slices of toast smothered in peanut butter and strawberry jelly, my 6-year-old granddaughter was already asking, “Grandma, when can we play BINGO?” It was only 7:15 a.m. and her brother was still sleeping. I was in my PJs, hadn’t had coffee or breakfast yet and needed to toss clothes in the wash.
But Isabelle was singularly focused. Her love for BINGO was sparked by playing the game at the annual Helbling family reunion six days prior. Young and old alike gathered in the shelter at Palmer Park in central Minnesota to try their luck at this time-honored game of chance. The prizes ranged from kitchen gadgets for the adults to ring pops, play dough and more for the kids. Nothing costly. Just simple prizes. But, more importantly, time together making memories.
With that backstory, Izzy was delighted to find BINGO balls, a cage, cards and tokens inside a box at Grandpa and Grandma’s house when she and Isaac, 3, arrived for an overnight visit. That first evening we played plenty of BINGO with Izzy as the caller, then Grandpa, then grandfather and grandson. I was content to play. The kids were happy to win small coinage.
Given her enthusiasm, Izzy asked to play BINGO again the next day. I promised, but did not expect game time to commence at her requested 7:15 a.m.
Finally, by 9 a.m., we gathered around the dining room table for our first round of BINGO. Except the start was delayed again…because I got up to do something and on the way back to my chair, while skirting around Randy, stubbed my little toe on the peninsula baseboard. Not just the type of stub that stings for maybe a minute, but rather a serious “insert a bad word I thought but couldn’t say” type of pain. Randy remarked that he heard a snap. Not good.
I assessed that I’d likely broken my little toe based on the #10 level of pain—enough to make me cry—I was experiencing. I am not inexperienced in the pain of a broken bone having broken my right shoulder and shattered my left wrist in recent years.
“Better call Amber to come and get the kids,” I advised Randy as I moved to the sofa so I could elevate my foot. Already I was feeling bad about BINGO and ruining everyone’s day. While we waited for our eldest to arrive from the south metro, the trio played BINGO, enough for the kids to win quarters. Randy also hung laundry on the line and I sneaked in a few comforting hugs from Izzy and Isaac.
By that time the siblings realized their stay with Grandma and Grandpa was ending prematurely. The 3-year-old plopped himself on the living room floor and emphatically declared, “I don’t want to go home! I want to stay!” Finally, I called Isaac over to look at my smartphone calendar to see when we might plan his next overnight visit. That, thankfully, placated him.
Once the grandkids were packed and on their way home with their mom, we focused on getting me to the clinic. I knew not much can be done for a broken toe. But I didn’t want a misaligned toe and future problems if I didn’t get it checked. Randy made calls and was advised I needed to be seen in urgent care since the clinic had no open appointments. Alright then. It was Friday and I expected a long wait awaited me.
But that wasn’t the worst. Randy dropped me off at the door and I hobbled inside…only to learn that urgent care didn’t open until noon. And it was only 10:45. The check-in staff apologized profusely for the failure of the metro-based call center to tell Randy of the noon opening. Their frustration was clear as they advised me to return around 11:45 to register and then wait.
So I limped back out, trying to walk in a way that minimized my pain. I uttered a few words that I wouldn’t want my grandkids to hear.
When we returned to the clinic, I queued number nine, eventually made my way to x-ray and then got the diagnosis. Much to my surprise, my little toe was not broken, but rather badly sprained. I felt thankful for that mercy. I left with a walking boot and instructions to ice and elevate. Over-the-counter meds manage the pain, which is minimal now. However, my little toe and the adjoining toe plus half of my foot are swollen and bruised.
So that’s my BINGO story. Not one of luck, but rather of unintended bad luck and a whole lot of guilt about sending Isabelle and Isaac home too early. Way too early for this grandma.
© Copyright 2022 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
aw, I’m sorry that happened. I know how very painful that can be. I’m glad they gave you a walking boot to help until it’s feeling better. no need to feel guilty, it actually was a good lesson, that sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and we might be disappointed, but everything will be okay in the end. you are a wonderful grandmother and obviously an exciting bingo player!
Thanks, Beth. Yes, I guess I am quite an exciting bingo player.
Oh-oh! Glad it wasn’t broken. Take care !
I am thankful for the “not broken,” also. Thankfully I’m experience only minor discomfort.
Oww!! Oh, Audrey! A sprain is so painful! Take it easy and feel better soon! ❤
Thank you, Penny. The initial pain was pretty intense. But I’m doing fine now with only some minor discomfort and annoyance with wearing a boot rather than a “normal” shoe. The doctor also said, “No wearing flip flops for awhile.”
Oh no! Ouchie 😦 I do a lot of mat work for exercise so I have been extra careful with my feet over the years and usually wear house shoes when puttering around the house. A few weeks back I was in a hurry and backed the vacuum cleaner right over the top of my foot and like you stated a few choice words – thankfully I had shoes on or could have done my big toe in seriously. Take it easy – take care.
Oh, my, that could have been awful. I just saw a friend whose foot was run over by a back hoe. Now THAT would hurt. I’m actually doing fine with only minimal discomfort. In cold weather months (which are most of the year in MN), I, like you, wear house shoes. But not in the summer. Then I’m primarily barefoot indoors.
I am so sorry! I am no stranger to broken toes, unfortunately. I have broken pinkie toes at least 4 times. The first time I did go to the clinic and got the same response—really not much you can do for it. I now just buddy tape it to the next toe and wear sandals or something until I can walk in a shoe again comfortably. The time I went to the clinic was when we were moving and I did get a boot then which helped protect it a lot during all the move stuff. They hurt like *&@^ for sure.
Glad you can reschedule bingo and get more grandkid time later on. Heal quickly. It is definitely an inconvenience.
I thought I remembered you breaking toes. You definitely understand given your history. Like you, should this happen again, I likely will not visit the clinic.
Hope you heal quickly.
I’m actually doing well with only minimal discomfort. That said, my little and neighboring toes are black and the top left part of my foot is also badly bruised. Pretty ugly.
Feet are always bad to get an injury.
This injury really is minor, although it certainly didn’t feel that way initially. Now it’s more of an annoyance, although this morning I stepped on that foot wrong and pain jolted through me. The bruise also seems to be spreading across the tops of more toes, which I find interesting.
Isn’t weird how we find the smallest things interesting when it comes to our bodies and how we heal?
Yes.
So sorry about your toe.!!! My little toe on my left foot was injured years ago, and there are times when the pain is excruciating. One would think that something so small would heal, but this little thing brings tears!! Not a constant pain, but oh, such a tear jerking pain!!! I hope your toe heals properly!
Norma, I’m sorry your little toe injury still causes you pain after all these years. The doctor I saw told me we don’t really need our little toes, not in the same way we need our big toes for balance. I’m doing fine, really. Only minimal discomfort.