Life Changes In An Instant

It was the first day of our stay in Lanzarote. We were here for Christmas, the first-ever away from home. We’d settled in, and it was the first full day, so we decided to drive a short distance to the Rubicon Marina, where there was a decent Hiperdino supermercado for supplies. Our first shop is always big and fills our three grocery bags.

A short drive back to our holiday parking space, 5 minutes walk from the apartment. Like a cart horse, I loaded my slim arms with the bags for a short 200-metre stroll up the slope from the car park to the Calle Limones plaza. Wearing only my slip-on shoes, shorts and a flimsy camisetta (t-shirt), I started the drudge up the slope. Earlier, on the way down the slope, I’d commented on how uneven some of the cobbles were, with some broken and worn away. So I knew to tread carefully. My right foot has some early signs of nerve damage, probably caused by the diabetes and my rather stationary lifestyle. When I first got this, I had to learn to walk properly again, instead of like Coco the clown flapping a poorly working foot

The foot damage meant I’d learned to pay attention to lifting that foot when walking, especially after tripping up the stairs at home while carrying two cups of tea. What a mess that was, too! Anyway, back to the slope. Without warning, I took a tumble. Holding three bags of shopping, in that split second of knowing I would hit the gritty path, I knew I had no hands free to break the fall. So I fell awkwardly onto my left side, using my elbow and arm to cushion the fall.

In the shortest of moments for the fall to happen, my six feet and five inches of height crumbled to the ground with the contents of one bag spilling everywhere. My right hand crushed a can of coke so fiercely that it tore the tin open. Cola was spraying everywhere, and the can flattened and was torn open with the force.

The survivor instinct in me meant I quickly stood up, gathered the shopping into a bag and instructed Jane to continue moving forward as if nothing had happened. I knew we’d had an audience that witnessed my fall. A passing lady asked me if I was ok. “Yes, fine. Thank you for asking.” Although my ego was damaged, my instinct was to move away from the incident and carry on and overcome the interruption. At that moment, I was also unaware that the dozen eggs were reduced to just four survivors!

Jane was shocked, as she said afterwards. Her heart missed a few beats as she helplessly watched the giant I kiss the ground unflatteringly. I imagine it was not a pleasant thing to watch a loved one fall in such a frightening fashion.

As we left the scene, with one of the shopping bags on my left arm and a flattened empty can in the other, for the nearest waste bin, Jane asked if I was all right.

“No. My right arm is hurting. Let’s get home quickly and assess the damage in the privacy of the apartment.”

A few minutes later, back in the temporary home, I quickly dumped the shopping on the kitchen worktop. By now, I knew that I’d not broken any bones. Whilst Jane was investigating the grazing down my left arm, I became aware that my right hand was bleeding. I’d got a 2-inch cut on my palm, probably from the cola can, as my falling weight shattered and ripped the metal. After cleaning the grazed arm and taping my right hand up, the adrenalin subsided. We were both shaken by the experience. I became shaky, and a mild nausea feeling kicked in.

I hate getting older, yet of course, that is life. In a moment of sheer terror, I’d fallen again and been reminded I’m not the spritely youngster I’d like to think I am. And I’d be wise to pay more attention to my walking, especially with slip-on footwear. In the hour that followed the fall, I found myself thinking how little we really were in control of our lives. Yes, things could have been a lot worse, but I had a lucky escape. I wondered what direction my life would have taken if I’d broken some bones or, worse, still suffered a head injury.

Later that day, I sat for inspired words with my spirit connection. The speaker mentioned the incident and reminded me of the most important I’d forgotten. That was, the depth of love between Jane and I.
I’ll be even more careful in the future, well, for at least a while. Why, though, do we only ever remember to count our blessings from a place tinted with darkness and sadness?

Anyway, the December sun is blazing on me and this Kindle Scribe. I need some shade now. It’s time to get indoors in the cool for a while. Here’s what I want you to do right now.

Say, thank you to the Divine force that gives you life and the blessings you have around you.  Give thanks for your health and your assets, for your family and friends, for every moment you breathe the life-giving force. Thank the Divine for this moment.