Perspective
This past Thursday was a fairly special day at work. There were going to be visitors from out of town and I was part of a committee to organize an after-work soiree. I decided to wear heels. Not particularly high heels or anything, just your average "from work to evening" type jobbies.
On the way into the office I planned to stop and get some milk at one of the markets in the underground city that sprawls beneath downtown Toronto. At approximately 8:23 a.m. I turned to walk into the store and one of my heels met a tiny speck of liquid.
All hell broke loose.
My foot twisted hideously to the left, the rest of my body heaved to the right, the stupidly heavy bag I constantly carry for no sane reason propelled itself forward, taking my body with it. In an effort to gain some control, I grabbed a rack that was helpfully placed just outside the market. It was unhelpfully on wheels. As I pulled the rack down on top of me, I noticed that bread was on sale. I landed on all fours with my head in another bread rack and merchants running from miles around to help me up (and pray I didn't feel sue-y).
I got up with as much dignity as I could muster, which I have to say wasn't much. It was one of those days where I didn't have a lot of self-esteem to begin with, and I was all out of jaunty nonchalance to fall back on. Plus, I really hurt myself, dammit. I brushed off the last of the innocent bystanders and went in to get the milk. Which they were out of.
Later in the day, my ankle started to really throb and the fact that I only had heels to wear didn't help. I got myself a tensor bandage and a pair of socks and finished out the day (and the night), flying in the face of conventional fashion. But my foot was killing me and I stayed home the next day to nurse it.
That day a friend of mine sent me a link to an incredible story. It seems a man in China, Peng Shulin lost half of his body, and even he can manage to get up off his ass and take a stroll around.
Which makes you think. Maybe I shouldn't take these little setbacks quite so hard. Maybe my life ain't so tough. Maybe I could have bigger problems to be worried about. Just maybe I'm actually lucky.
Still, you don't see him in high heels, do you?
On the way into the office I planned to stop and get some milk at one of the markets in the underground city that sprawls beneath downtown Toronto. At approximately 8:23 a.m. I turned to walk into the store and one of my heels met a tiny speck of liquid.
All hell broke loose.
My foot twisted hideously to the left, the rest of my body heaved to the right, the stupidly heavy bag I constantly carry for no sane reason propelled itself forward, taking my body with it. In an effort to gain some control, I grabbed a rack that was helpfully placed just outside the market. It was unhelpfully on wheels. As I pulled the rack down on top of me, I noticed that bread was on sale. I landed on all fours with my head in another bread rack and merchants running from miles around to help me up (and pray I didn't feel sue-y).
I got up with as much dignity as I could muster, which I have to say wasn't much. It was one of those days where I didn't have a lot of self-esteem to begin with, and I was all out of jaunty nonchalance to fall back on. Plus, I really hurt myself, dammit. I brushed off the last of the innocent bystanders and went in to get the milk. Which they were out of.
Later in the day, my ankle started to really throb and the fact that I only had heels to wear didn't help. I got myself a tensor bandage and a pair of socks and finished out the day (and the night), flying in the face of conventional fashion. But my foot was killing me and I stayed home the next day to nurse it.
That day a friend of mine sent me a link to an incredible story. It seems a man in China, Peng Shulin lost half of his body, and even he can manage to get up off his ass and take a stroll around.
Which makes you think. Maybe I shouldn't take these little setbacks quite so hard. Maybe my life ain't so tough. Maybe I could have bigger problems to be worried about. Just maybe I'm actually lucky.
Still, you don't see him in high heels, do you?
posted by Alanis at
7:47 PM
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