No matter how careful we are to avoid some things….those ‘some things’ are simply going to happen no matter what precautions you take.
Yesterday afternoon I had just happily finished what I needed to do at a downtown business and was about to exit said business building. I reminded myself about the snowy, icy conditions that had developed over the last couple of days due to the snow and mild temperatures. I reminded myself to look down where I was about to walk and to take, as I always tell my kids, smaller steps to avoid losing traction. My mighty treaded work boots and my smart thinking would save me from disasterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr……….Uhhh…nope.
I had just entered……’The Fallen Zone’. But how? As I sat on my buttocks, the cold of the ground beginning to seep through my jeans, I pondered that question. How when the sidewalk area that I ‘slipped’ on seemingly had no visible ice? As I scratched my head in wonderment a concerned motorist passing by yelled out ‘Richard! Are you ok!!?!!’ I half laughed and said ‘All good. Just checking the temperature of the sidewalk with my buttocks.’ They waved and drove off. I scratched my head again wondering how the motorist knew it was me sitting on the sidewalk? After all I was still wearing my COVID mask? It’s not like I fall all the time in downtown Dryden which would have people going….’Yup that’s McCarthy…just sitting around again.’ How could that person have identified me? Ohhhh must have been the Spider-Man decalled truck I have which was parked right in front of me. I would have slid under if I had made it 2 feet further. Maybe that would have saved me some visible embarassment.
Ok time to get off the ground. Get on the knees and…….I can’t get up? What the?!? It is a little slippery (not really) so I ‘ll do what’s necessary to be able to get up. Shuffle on the knees and hands and get over to the window ledge of the building. As I am doing that an employee of the business happens to come out, sees my hopeless shuffling and says…..you guessed it…..’Richard! Are you ok?!? Do you need help?!?’ No it’s ok. That window ledge is a mere step away or in my case at that point a few more shuffles on the knees and I’ll be there to grasp it and get myself up! Just like the little train that could…..I think I can…..I think I can! I did. Made it! While I’m pulling myself up the business employee asks to point out where I fell. I do that. ‘You see that right there? Yeah right there where there isn’t any ice? That’s where I slipped. Not really where the ice is.’ She starts texting her manager (who I had just had a meeting with) about the icy spots so more ice melter could be added to the area. I sure hope she didn’t tell the manager it was me! But I imagine anyway the manager would probably have texted back ‘Put more ice melter down as soon as possible….even on the spots that have no ice or snow. Make sure McCarthy is safe. We’ll call that area….the McCarthy Zone’. Much better than just ‘The Fallen Zone’. What an honor!
Be careful out there! Oh and if you see me just ‘sitting around’ again…..I’m probably ok. But thanks for asking….’Richard!! Are you ok?!?’
I need a bigger mask.
