One weekend, while not paying attention as I was playing a game of football, I collided with a friend. My hand puffed up immediately, and a visit to the doctor confirmed what I felt: It was broken.
I was working as a field cable technician. With a broken hand, there would be no climbing telephone poles, no lifting cable reels, and no hammer-drilling. My boss helped me activate short-term disability and gave me instructions to keep him updated as I healed.