Trisha, this is such a wonderful story! Thank you so, so much for sharing it on HHH - and a huge 'thank you,' too, for the beautiful shout-out and share of my 'little voice' piece that inspired it! That was so lovely of you.

I really love the insights in this piece, and as you said, "Don't not go" but be safe about it. I love how you balanced your thoughts with your fears and you made choices that made sense. As you said, it's about being smart and cautious.

Especially regarding medical issues. It's not just about some crazy maniac who will rape or kill us, it's about the possibility of a heart attack or a broken bone etc.

I'm not like most people who have their phones glued to them and take them everywhere, even within the house they pick up the phone and take it from room to room. I can't be bothered. I never did that 'back in the old days' with a corded phone! Couldn't, of course, but we survived!

So when I was outside shovelling snow and then went the half block to check mail, I didn't bother to take my phone with me. And there I was, lying on the sidewalk unable to move my leg because the muscle had been ripped off the bone. I couldn't even drag it or myself to get back home.

Had anyone else been in the house, they'd have eventually come looking for me, but I was alone, staying with a friend having just moved back here from England, and he was off in Scotland at the time.

Your story highlights the need to consider possibilities when it comes to safety, and because we do have the option of having phones we take can with us, we ought to be sure we don't leave the house without them, even if it's just a half-block mail check!

Thank you for sharing your important message. Great story! I was on the edge of my seat when I read this, wondering if something awful was about to happen to you!