{Ice Capades}

I have always been known to be a careful person in relationship to avoiding bodily harm. I have never broken a bone, never needed stitches, never even been stung by a bee. Cautious is my middle name. My mom has a story of me as a baby crawling on their bed. I would go right to the edge, look down and then crawl back to the safety of the middle. She thought all babies were like that.
I thought my time had come though on Sunday. I was heading to an early morning church meeting (I know) and was so busy looking for the persons condo number that I failed to watch the ground. As soon as I stepped on the black ice I knew I was in trouble. I had one moment where I tried to brace myself and then I was flat on my back. I have had minor stumbles before but nothing has ever hurt like this. I looked around, completely embarrassed, but no one was there to see or catch me in my graceless collapse. I landed on my arm and when I shakily regained my footing I couldn't move it at all.
I knocked on the leaders door and with tears in my eyes said I needed to sit down. I stayed for the whole meeting (I know), secretly testing out if I could move my throbbing arm. An hour and a half later I arrived home and couldn't wait to tell Scott my sad, sad story. With tears streaming down my face I cried that my arm "really, really hurt."
Alas, all of the drama but no broken bones to show for it. We went to the doctor and it all checked out. However, I have been operating with one arm the last few days. Needless to say it has been interesting. I never realized how much you use both arms. As long as I keep my left arm at at 90 degree angle against my body I am fine. Scott has learned several important skills that ladies master preteen. He has straightened my hair with my flat iron, put my hair in a ponytail and put on my earrings (on me, not on him). It was pretty funny seeing him try to figure out the ponytail thing. My hair stayed in it so I wasn't going to complain, but it wasn't pretty.
The bruises have just started showing up 2 days later and so I think I'm on the road to recovery. I was able to take a shower which shows marked signs of improvement and I've also gained an extra 10 degrees of mobility; enabling me to type my tale. The morale of the story was most eloquently summarized by Bruce, my father-in-law. When hearing of my sorry state he asked, "Did that hurt?"
"Yes", I said.
"Then don't do it again."