By Staff
Well, she did it again! Mother Nature, that is. What a weekend! When I woke Sunday morning, I was dismayed to see an ice rink.
It was everywhere. Suddenly, the simple became complicated. Ice covered the outside steps and railings. The gate was iced shut. Ice encased our cars.
The dogs literally slid down the back steps and landed in most undignified positions at the bottom. After they righted themselves, they had great difficulty walking on the ice-encrusted snow. This sight was amusing in a very jaded sort of way. I thanked the household gods that we humans didn't have to go outside to do our business! I shudder at the thought!
Remembering the trials of our dogs getting to the bottom of the outside steps, I gathered up the bag of salt and scattered it abundantly, much like enthusiastic wedding guests throwing rice. The dogs were then able to ascend the step and gallop into the house to warm their paws.
When it was time to leave for church, we descended the steps quite well, but the driveway was another story. Slip and slide was the theme. I wondered how those figure skaters do it. They make navigating the ice look so graceful and easy. I, on the other hand, looked like a "hog on ice," as my mother used to say. I didn't smile. I didn't perform amazing jumps. I just slid! And wobbled! And looked pained.
No glorious skating music.
The only music ringing in my ear was the old gospel song, "Lord, I'm Coming Home."
As I eased out to the first available vehicle, hanging on to anything that looked like a lifeline, I recalled the winter when I slid under the car every time I opened the door. That was not funny at the time!
While I never injured any part of my body, I always managed to soil my coat and trousers, giving the impression that I had wet myself. Well, perhaps I did and just blamed it on the slide under the car.
Walking to church was out of the question (we only live three blocks from the church). The protection of the SUV was necessary. While we slid through stop signs, I managed to stop by the curb not far from the church. I looked at the short distance between our car and the sidewalk across the street, and I saw hundreds of miles of Arctic ice flow.
My wife braved the distance ahead of me, but I moved along at a snail's pace.
"Baby steps, Don! Baby steps!" Okay, okay – I merely shuffled. Taking even baby steps was out of the question.
I shuffled, wobbled, slid and prayed a lot, finally crossing the road. I must have looked like Tim Conway (of the Carol Burnett Show) doing his signature old man's shuffle.
"All's well that ends well," said Shakespeare.
No broken bones, just strained muscles and a back out of joint. Of course, my chiropractor was on vacation!
Monday morning I was greeted with a low tire on my Jeep, just as I was leaving for work. I drove over to Pri-Mart for free air and found a fellow filling his tires.
I pulled up, got out of the Jeep and struck up a conversation with him. He sized me up, came over to my vehicle and filled the tire. I was very grateful for his kind deed.
I then told him that because he did something nice for me, I was obligated to return a favor to someone else.
Later that day I fulfilled my obligation.
Somehow Mother Nature brings out the best in us -sometimes.
I really appreciate that small act of kindness the guy in the plum-colored Plymouth did for me Monday morning.
And I'm thankful for a sense of humor that allows many of us to laugh away the trials and tribulations caused by Nature.