The Bigger You Are…

This past week, we had a fun overnight trip to Columbus with a couple friends to hear the amazing Rob Bell on his Drops Like Stars book tour. We arrived in plenty of time to check into the hotel and have dinner. We learned that because the theater was within a 3-mile radius of the hotel, the complimentary shuttle could take us. That sounded great because it would keep us from having to park by the theater, and then re-park at the hotel. City life. On a nice night we would have just walked – it was only about a mile from where we were staying. But it was not a nice night. It was about 15 degrees and with the wind chill, around five. No joke. So a shuttle it was.

The talk was, of course, amazing. Without getting too cerebral, it was about the correlation between suffering and creativity. Afterward, we called the hotel to have them come pick us up, and the young guy who drove us said they had misplaced the key to the shuttle and we’d have to call a cab. Ugh. We figured by the time we called/waited on/rode in a cab we could just walk quickly and get to the hotel faster. So we took off. It was cold. Maybe the second coldest I’ve ever been. But it was a safe part of town, and really not that far of a walk.

About 2/3 of the way back I totally tripped on the sidewalk. And because my hands were stuffed in my pockets for extra warmth (my magic mittens weren’t cutting it), I had no way to catch myself. So it went something like this, although admittedly it’s a little hazy:

• Knee
• Butt
• Elbow
• Shoulder
• Face

That’s right. I was a goner.

The worst part, honestly, is that my glasses broke into about three pieces. We picked them up and my husband kindly super glued them together for me once we got home. I only need them for reading/working, and our insurance will pay for a new pair once 2010 hits, so I’m going to get by with cracked glasses until then. (See above photo for the missing little piece).

I got back to the hotel, and fortunately nothing was broken. My knee has a nice bruise, and I was totally stiff and sore. I had to take two ibuprofen and go straight to bed.

Here’s what I realized: Once you get to be, oh, 25 or 29 or maybe 30, falling is suddenly no longer “no big deal.” I mean, I couldn’t even stand on my own for a couple minutes. I was woozy. And my knee hurt. Yes, it could have been worse, but I am no spring chicken anymore. So folks – be careful out there this winter. And consider purchasing some warm gloves and a backup pair of spectacles. Or maybe that’s just me.