Friday 12 February 2016

When Gravity Takes Over ...

Or, how to lose your dignity in one easy lesson
 

I hit the ground with a thud.
My body jarring on impact with the solid surface of the road.
I stumbled.
And tumbled.
And fell.


It was the mud that was the culprit.
Stepping off the road to let a car pass on the narrow lane.
I lost my balance as my boots sank into the soft mud of the verge.
I toppled.
I lay sprawled and undignified in the mud and puddles.
Don't laugh.


A hand reached out to pull me up.
My husband.
A look of concern on his face.
'Are you alright?'
I was winded, but unhurt, except for a throbbing where my head hit the road.
Possibly a few bruises will show themselves later.
But no bones broken.


I told him I was fine.
Shaken.
But fine.
What hurt most was my loss of dignity.


My clothes were filthy; my jeans, my coat, my gloves all caked with muck.
I turned round to go home; ending the walk before it had hardly begun.
Luckily we were the only two about - no one else to see my fall from grace.
How embarrassing that would have been.
I have an irrational fear of falling.
Always have had.
The ground is unyielding; hard; and it hurts when you make contact.
The air forced out of your body with a grunt.
No, not dignified at all.


But, no harm done.
Just a dent in my pride.
It could have been worse.

Elaine

70 comments:

  1. Ouch! Take it easy Elaine, especially as you hit your head.

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    1. Thanks Jessica. A few Paracetamol and I lost the headache.

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  2. It is also the slow motion feeling of disbelief as you see the ground coming towards you. The assessment of what you have damaged or hurt and then the pain. I hope you were not concussed. Not funny at all.

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    1. Exactly. There was nothing I could do to stop it - it sort of all happened in slow motion till I hit the deck. I just felt sooo foolish.

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  3. Oh dear, although it could have been much worse with bones broken, do take care if you hit your head and rest for a few days. It is the indignity that gets to you when you fall isn't it? Also that shaken and insecure feeling. Take care:)

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    1. Yes, definitely the indignity that was the worst. I have been very careful where I put my feet ever since.

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  4. "But, no harm done.
    Just a dent in my pride.
    It could have been worse."

    Please take care ... I also think when we fall, the feeling of loss of control and the 'indignity' of it adds to the shaky feeling.
    I'm making you a mid morning cuppa - sit and relax for a moment ...

    Your photo's are lovely

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan. I was pretty shaken up but relieved that I was still intact.

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  5. Wouldn't dream of laughing! Only glad it wasn't worse than an ordinary fall. And it's not irrational to fear falling like this. It hurts! And aren't we human's weird? If I fall, I too feel embarrassed. And if I merely stumble over the edge of a kerb I feel silly and hope no-one notices.

    Do hope the aftermath doesn't cause you too much discomfort.

    Esther Montgomery
    http://estherandthetimemachine.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. After a good night's rest and some painkillers I was almost as right as rain in the morning. Thanks for visiting Esther.

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  6. Poor you - I am glad you are OK and know just how it feels to lose yout
    r dignity,

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    1. I was just annoyed that my clothes were filthy Sue - how's that for irrational!

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  7. I know the feeling! I fell once on an icy path, surrounded by people dashing back and forth and I was alone and felt pretty stupid! I got away with two damaged and bleeding knees and scraped hands.
    Love your springlike pictures. It's snowing here like crazy!

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    1. Hi Sandra
      No snow here yet but some is forecast for the weekend - it has been beautifully springlike over the last few days - such a pleasure after all the wind and rain we have had. Luckily I had jeans and gloves on and got away with a small scratch on my leg - but I have to admit I was trembling as I walked home.

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  8. Goodness, I do hope that you're okay. It's such an easy thing to do and as you say the ground is a hard, unwelcome place when it does happen.
    I like the pictures, especially the one of the birds.
    Take care, Flighty xx

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    1. I'm fine, thanks Flighty. not something I would want to go through everyday though - I felt such an idiot rolling about in the middle of the road.

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  9. Glad you're ok Elaine, falls can be nasty ! A friend broke ribs falling over before Christmas ! Take care x

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    1. Thanks Fiona. Thank goodness I got away with just a slight bump on the noggin.

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  10. So glad that you are fine. I fell 8 years ago and have the scars to prove it on my left ankle that hide 6 screws and a plate to hold it together. I slipped on ice hidden beneath snow. You would thank that mud would pad the fall a bit. My goal now is to stay upright. Husbands our heroes, ain't they?

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    1. Goodness Ann your fall and break sound horrendous - my goal is to stay upright too.Yes, I'm glad husband was with me at the time, luckily he didn't laugh, not sure if I would have done the same though - people falling over always seems to tickle my funny bone. As long as it's not me of course.

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  11. Oh Elaine, I fall on a regular basis and you are right, it is our feelings that are usually hurt the worst. Pupils the same size I take it. Never take the hitting of your head lightly. You certainly sound like it was quite a fall. I have never broken anything, but there has been blood. I find flip flops are the main culprits with me. Have I ever told you your blog is such a beauty to behold. The color, header and always, content.

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    1. I can't remember the last time I fell over - I think I fell off my bike a few years ago when I swerved on some gravel. That did lead to bloody knees and scrapes - but it has made me very cautious. Thank you, you are very kind I am always itching to change how my blog looks but I quite like this one (for now).

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  12. Oh dear, I feel for you, I really do. Happened to me recently when a bike crashed into me at full speed. Felt stupid sitting in the gutter of a busy New York street waiting for the ambulance a kindly passer-by called. Take it easy.

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    1. Oh dear that sounds awful hope you escaped unharmed - I just hope that this sort of thing doesn't happen to me too often I shall be a nervous wreck worrying if and when I am going to fall now.

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  13. Oh poor you Elaine.. glad you're ok. I slipped on snow/ice one day delivering Christmas cards to nearby houses.. the worse part was it was in front of the dustbin men and several other people.. one lady I knew, who was in her car waiting for dustbin lorry to move, wound down her window to see if I was ok. I couldn't get up quickly enough and disappear.. luckily only bruises and a sore shoulder and hip from the jolt.. but I was so embarrassed!
    Lovely photos :o)

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    1. It does give your body a jolt that's for sure and when you are falling there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it is there. Yes, definitely embarrassing.

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  14. Have to say due to the mud I have fallen over more times this year than when I was a child !! I have this ability to trip on flat never mind in the mud, just ask my husband.. It's a bit of a shock at first, like you most of the time the dog was the only witness to my down fall into the mud, so not to embarrassing... lovely photos by the way
    Amanda xx

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    1. Oh dear Amanda - that's the trouble living in the countryside when it is a wet winter isn't it. I once fell off my bike when I was riding the canal towpath - and guess what - I fell in the canal and had to ride home soaking wet - now that was embarrassing!

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  15. Ouch, I'm sorry that happened to you. Hitting your head makes it worse.

    We're having a wet winter here and in some places it's a quagmire. Haven't fallen recently but have plenty of times in the past and will again soon no doubt.

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    1. Yes, it's like that here too - the roads are all filthy where lorries have churned up the verges and splattered the mud everywhere. I hope this will be the last time I have a fall - I don't like it one bit.

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  16. Oh dear, how dreadful. I'm glad you weren't badly hurt and I hope that you have no major bruises or aches as a result. Possibly better to land in mud than on ice though!

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    1. No, no major bruises, my coat is well padded so I think it protected me a little. Definitely better to land on mud, I landed on the road which was covered in mud, so not exactly a soft landing.

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  17. Oh Elaine, poor you. The bank up here is narrow and it is easy to lose balance and I am always frightened if I have to step on it if a car comes. I am glad you are alright. Mud will brush away when dry.x

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    1. I'm fine Rachel, thanks - it was just a bit of a shock. I curse the cars everytime they come down the lane - they use it as a cut through with no regard for walkers and people with their dogs.

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  18. I hope you are recovered from your fall. It shakes you up so and I can relate to the loss of dignity. Lovely photos that capture the promise of spring. Take care.

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    1. Yes, thank you. I wouldn't want to do it too often that's for sure.

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  19. It's so horrible when you fall over ..... I went flat on my face a few years ago, the day before we went to Edinburgh .... I checked into the hotel with a black eye, a fat lip and a sprained wrist !!!!!
    Hope you feel less shaken up after a good night's sleep Elaine. XXXX

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    1. Oh poor you - luckily I fell sideways rather than forward. I' m fine now thank you.

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  20. Thank heavens you are okay. Falling in my late twenties...knocked out in fact...has given a healthy respect regarding 'walk carefully, tread wisely'. Your fall was unexpected, and how were you to know about the soft verge. Strangely, being alert to such things earlier may well prevent the worst when our bodies recover less quickly. AS for the photos..my goodness how I loved the photo of the primroses. Truly beautiful.

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    1. Yes, I shall be treading more carefully from now on. Glad you like the primula - lovely colour isn't it.

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  21. Thank goodness you weren't hurt. These things happen so quickly. As others have said take it easy for a few days.

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    1. I was on the ground before I knew what was happening - not pleasant but I survived!

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  22. Not laughing at all, that's a horrid to thing to happen. I hope you are okay, thank heavens it wasn't worse. Take care. xx

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    1. Thanks for your concern Sarah - all back to normal now.

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  23. Elaine, I hate when that happens, especially when there is someone to witness the splat! Luckily, no major injury except to dignity and pride. If you're like me, there will be stiffness to remind of the folly. Bob recently fell at a busy intersection in the city. Hundreds of people at rush hour must have seen him tumble. I was glad of two things - no major injuries and it was him and not me!

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    1. Oh my goodness poor old Bob. Falling can have nasty consequences as you get older I was dreading something like a broken hip.

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  24. Oh Elaine, you poor thing. Take good care of yourself, hope you are OK and all mended now. Happy Valentines! xx

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  25. Dear Elaine - I am so glad to read you didn't break any bones. Mud can be almost as slick as ice. I know that too. Glad only hubby was there to see you go down...that pride thing can hurt worse than the actual fall. Take care. Glad you shared some lovely photos from your part of the world. Take care. Hugs!

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    1. No thank goodness Debbie, after all the rain we have had I'm not really surprised as how slippy everywhere is. I shall be more careful from now on. Have a great weekend.

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  26. Sorry to hear this, Elaine. Take Care! I'm glad your headache's gone now. The mud is treacherous at the moment and everywhere is so wet and slippery. We do feel fools when we slip over, but I can't think why because we all do it!
    I love the little bullfinch -I wish I could tempt one onto my feeders here.

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    1. It really is bad on the roads and verges though it is no surprise after then amount of rain we have had - I shall be on alert in future. The bullfinch has been a regular visitor over the last few days, always a delight to see him.

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  27. "Skateboarding teaches you how to take a fall properly. If you try to kickflip down some stairs, it might take you thirty tries--and you just learn how to take a tumble out of it without getting hurt." (Bam Margera)

    Maybe we should all take up skateboarding. It makes falling look cool. I've already claimed "Crash" as my nickname, but Plummet, Plunge and Flop are still available.

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    1. I learnt how to fall properly when I took judo lessons but I was taken by surprise and didn't realise I was falling till I made contact with the ground. My nickname lull have to be 'Thud' I think.

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  28. Dear Elaine, I am glad that you didn't hurt yourself! Pride is another subject - but you might see it from a different angle: be proud that you were agile and supple to fall without breaking anything! And of course one does not rejoice about the mud - but then: it could have happened to anybody! (And would you care if you saw another one that way? After a minute you would have forgotten that sight).
    I share with you the strange fear of falling - especially when I walk down the many steps to the underground hastily.

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    1. No I wasn't hurt except for a bit of a headache. I have never broken any bones so far, and it wouldn't do to start breaking them at this stage in my life.

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  29. Oh, goodness, I can imagine how you felt when you fell. Hope your headache has gone by now and be careful..... That's what I say, actually I'm myself a bit of the wild side and have been stumbling and falling many, many times. Well, I'm older now and try to be careful.....

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    1. I think that as you get older maybe your balance isn't as good as it used to be - even more necessary to be careful - I shall be from now on.

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  30. Falling is always horrible isn't it. And the older we get the more we jar everything even if we don't really injure ourselves. Its a shock to the system and I think we underestimate how much it can shake us up. Hope you can keep both feet on the ground for a while now x

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    1. Yes, it is Annie. I went down like a sack of potatoes - it does shake you up, that's for sure. I intend to stay upright from now on.

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  31. That sounds really painful in so many ways. I hope your bruises are healing, and your dignity is back intact.

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    1. I was a little sore and stiff but no real harm done - I shall be more careful where I put my feet in future :)

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  32. I've experienced that more times than I can to remember. Happy that you didn't get seriously hurt, we can recoup our dignity pretty quickly.

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    1. I rarely fall, thank goodness, although I have been known to stagger fairly frequently - - perhaps my balance is going - I shall be walking round with sticks to keep me upright if I'm not careful.

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  33. I'm glad you're ok Elaine. Not funny at all. A fall can leave one quite shaken and upset. x

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    1. My pride was hurt more than anything else - I was definitely shaken but not stirred!

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  34. What a contrast between the wonderful images and the text, Elaine! I almost feel my head ache.
    Here the roads and pavements are often slippery because of the ice, and we know that falling is not embarrassing, but it can be very dangerous.
    Take care!!

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    1. Thank you Sara - I will definitely take more care in future and watch where I put my feet I am just grateful there was no serious damage, except to my pride!

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  35. Oh dear Elaine, it was just as well your husband was close by. I do have a habit of slipping on the mud, it is so embarrassing as everyone can see what has happened! Sarah x

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    1. Tell me about it! Luckily there were no dog walkers or other people to see my downfall, nevertheless I still looked round as I was hauled to my feet, just in case.

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