Nothing like wind-driven snow on freshly applied make-up, two over-zealous dogs, and miserably cold temperatures to bring out the ornery in me! And the idiot! The house was empty, which left the responsibility of walking these two today, a chore I’m usually happy to do, except it has been unbelievably cold, and as one dog was whining to walk, the snow had just begun to fall. I wasn’t looking forward to going out in the snow, since I had already prepared my hair and face for the day, and wanted to keep from having to re-do everything before a get-together this evening, but I was looking forward to being able to sit and write, undisturbed by whimpering puppies. So, into the snow we trekked.
Not until I had turned the corner, into the wind, when the icy snow whipped my face and melted my mascara did I start to grumble. Then after I stumbled over my blind dog, which had suddenly stopped in the road without warning (for the second time!), I started to fume. Finally, as I was rounding the last curve, muttering under my breath about how much I hate winter, I slipped on some ice. I pulled myself together, looked up into the sky and asked aloud, “Really?”
It was ridiculous! The cold was causing my eyes to tear up so I couldn’t see, my lashes were dripping black streams down my face, and there I stood talking to the sky…after I nearly fell on my “kiester.” See, what would be a simple accident to some could be life-altering for me. I had a very serious back injury when I was twenty years old, and was told that a fall on ice, a ski-hill, or whatever, could sever my spinal cord...and that would be the end of my walking days. So, I wear these military-style contraptions on my boots, which consist of webbed rubber and springs. And yet, I slipped. I could have gotten madder than I already was, but like a slap on the face of the hysterical, it was the shock I needed to be reminded that even when everything seems out of control, I have the Creator of it all…being sovereign. Even over the orneriest idiot!
