You know those days when the universe is warning you not to leave the house but you decide to challenge it anyway? This was one of those days. Really really one of those days.
Here I am, running to the corner (in my beautiful new Sorel boots) to catch the bus to the grocery store for molasses and milk, and when I get on to pay, I realize I forgot my wallet. My card for the bus fare was in my purse, but not my wallet. So I'm a bit panicky since I'm already on the bus and it's moving and I don't have my wallet. Thankfully I have a Dominick's gift card in my bag and I know I can get what I need without an issue.
I'm hurrying to the back of the bus in my beautiful new Sorel boots and the next thing I know the bus lurches forward and I'm on my butt. Sitting in the aisle while all the sweet old women are gasping and the senile old men are laughing and the nice co-ed says, "are you alright?" One of the aforementioned sweet old ladies has griped my hand in the death grip and is still gasping and saying "Oh, dear. Oh, dear" thinking that it will help me in some way. I quickly took stock and realized that while I might be bruised in placed that don't see the light of day, nothing was broken or seriously hurt. So I got up and moved to a seat, where I realized that the whole bus was staring at me as if I might fall again. I wanted to say, "I promise I won't magically fall out of this seat and slide to the floor again." But I held my tongue and smiled at the sympathetic and expectant stares.
I walked to the grocery store and laughed the entire way, knowing that if I didn't, I'd cry from the effort it took to waddle the three blocks to the store. I groaned every time I dropped something and had to bend over and grimaced every time I had to lean over something.
I eventually made my way to the self checkout and kept everything under the $50 gift card and bag everything. I noticed that it started to rain while I was checking out, but no big deal.
I waddled the three blocks back to the bus and quickly realized that it was raining much harder than I had anticipated and puddles had formed in the gutters.
I missed the bus by one light and started toward the shelter with my two bags, purse and brand new beautiful Sorel boots. I set my bag on the bench and wondered why the seat was wet. The next car set me straight. The wall of water that came my way was at least four feet high and filthy. And this is no side street. This is a busy street with four different bus lines and many many cars traveling 40-45 mph. 25% of the cars and busses traveling this road drove through the puddle, sending wall after wall of water toward me and my "fresh" groceries (including fresh bread). Eventually I moved behind the shelter to use it as a shield, but not before I was soaked, my new beautiful Sorel boots were drenched, and my groceries were soggy.
So now I'm home, my clothes are in the washing machine, my groceries are drying out and my boots are near the radiator. I'm sitting (gingerly) in a chair on a bag of frozen corn after downing three IB profen and have my hot water bottle in my lap.
Next time the universe warns me, I'm listening.
