Jack of Harts

I just got to experience the most Minnesotan of Minnesota things.

We have ice in Minnesota you see. It comes down as rain and freezes flat at night.

Sometimes during the day, if the temperature is warm enough, if the sun comes out, it will melt.

And sometimes, if you’re really lucky, you will get this awesome thing in Minnesota where there will be ICE under the water on something like a parking lot with a slope.

And then, it doesn’t matter how carefully you walk, we all fall down. Me, I managed the rag-doll fall where you collapse and hit the ground with different parts of your body as you go down, each impact lessoning the speed. You end with a full hit on your back, throwing your arms out at the final instant, to spread the final hit across your body.

At which point I’m looking up at the world from a whole new perspective. The sky above me. People asking if I’m okay. Wanting to help. And me saying I’m good. Be careful. It’s a little slippery out here. Before looking around to see what stabilizing things I can use to get back up on my feet without slipping on the ice again.

I came away with a handful of scrapes and maybe a sore shoulder, but this was a good fall. I’m happy to walk away, carefully, with a spring in my step. Because, when it comes down to it, we all fall down. And any fall we get to walk away from is a good fall.