The geezer's seasonal minefield...ice.

[John Backlund]

Last Saturday morning, while walking across an icy parking lot in Sioux Falls, I ended up going, as my grandfather used to say, "ass over teakettle", so fast and hard I didn't know what happened until I was getting up.

I broke one of the springy arms clean off of my glasses, banged my right hand pretty hard, and 'pulled' some muscles on my upper right side, just beneath that arm, so now, every time I cough, yawn, or move it 'just so', it smarts.

Happily, I looked up an Eyeware Express store not a mile from my hotel, went there, and they had my lenses transplanted into identical new frames in ten minutes, no charge because they were still under warranty from the Eyeware Express store I bought them from in Rapid City last fall.

That part was good, but falling on ice like that is some very risky business, and once you do it a few times you realize how a lot of people meet their end that way, or at least be severely injured.

It happens SO fast.

Scary stuff.

 

[Stringbanger]

It says video unavailable, at least for me.

 

[John Backlund]

It says video unavailable, at least for me.

Yep, when I went to post it, it would let me do it. It's a great old video though.

I couldn't get things straightened out in time and change my topic before your post, so apologies!

 

[Mike Eskimo]

Glad yer relatively ok !

 

[tery]

Don't do that anymore John.

 

[memorex]

It says video unavailable, at least for me.

It looks kinda like this.

 

[imwjl]

Last Saturday morning, while walking across an icy parking lot in Sioux Falls, I ended up going, as my grandfather used to say, "ass over teakettle", so fast and hard I didn't know what happened until I was getting up.

I broke one of the springy arms clean off of my glasses, banged my right hand pretty hard, and 'pulled' some muscles on my upper right side, just beneath that arm, so now, every time I cough, yawn, or move it 'just so', it smarts.

Happily, I looked up an Eyeware Express store not a mile from my hotel, went there, and they had my lenses transplanted into identical new frames in ten minutes, no charge because they were still under warranty from the Eyeware Express store I bought them from in Rapid City last fall.

That part was good, but falling on ice like that is some very risky business, and once you do it a few times you realize how a lot of people meet their end that way, or at least be severely injured.

It happens SO fast.

Scary stuff.

I'm glad you're okay. So far falls like that and simple things have done more damage than my still doing adventure sports in mid-60s age. Two I grew up with died from simple falls. This stuff helps me do some of the exercises my wife does and espouses to keep limber or nimble. When I look at my cohort who are not keeping at stuff it seems like they're worse for it.

The most no fun is the way age makes those bumps and bruises last! I hope you're out of pain ASAP!

 

[Happy Enchilada]

I'm right there with ya Brother.
That Which We Dare Not Name did a number on my balance.
Arthritis is making it hard to get around as well.
I live in FEAR of slipping on an icy walkway or parking lot.
Maybe they should make geezers like us wear helmets ...
And I'm realizing why so many folks move to warm places to retire.
My Dad did, after a lifetime battling Midwestern snow and ice every winter.
He often commented on how he loved sitting around in shorts year 'round.
At the time, I believed Florida was "God's waiting room." Still do.
But hey - there are lots of sunny spots out here in the Great American Desert.
I just know I'd miss snow, though, having had it every winter except when I lived in Vegas.
Useless to speculate - I'm here 'til I croak. Happily, but still ...

 

[Dan German]

Ouch. It is very steep here, and winter often means hovering around freezing. Colder can actually be safer. My experience has always been that hitting the ground hurts, but sometimes catching your fall is worse. Twisted muscles etc that take forever to heal.

 

[radtz]

I don't even have to fall... It's the slipping on the ice that makes my body do all sorts of lightening fast contortions I can't control to keep my balance. Last time I slipped I needed knee surgery and I never even hit the ground.

 

[Ironwolf]

You need to get some strap on ice spikes/studs for your shoes that time of year.

 

[Killing Floor]

Hope you’re ok. Not that you can do anything about it but check your ribs.

 

[fretbuzzard]

March is brutal in the upper Midwest. It’s warm enough for snow to melt during the day and cold enough for the runoff to freeze overnight.

These can be a great help: https://yaktrax.com/traction.html

 

[Flaneur]

Glad you're OK. The 'marginal' weather always seems more risky- with more serious potential consequences, as we age.

Bet you're glad you weren't riding a bike?

 

[LeftFinger]

A friend of mine said it best
"I stepped out of the truck , slipped and slid under and there I was , inspecting the transmission"

 

[AAT65]

It’s amazing how fast you can move when the ice has your feet going the wrong way… a split second and you’re on your back wondering what happened, who saw it happen, and whether you will be able to get up again unaided…

 

[Informal]

When I was about 10.. I was walking to the local 7-11 on the outskirts of Reno, NV,
It was icy and snowy, and I passed by a woman, probably in her early 40's or so, carrying one of those big jugs of Gallo wine.
I couldn't have been more than 5 feet past her, when I heard a crash, followed by sheer panic, yelling, screaming etc..

Her feet flew out from under her, she dropped the bottle, then her backside landed squarely on the broken shards... The blood flowing all around her into the snow, sent me into a panic... So I sprinted the last 500 yards or so to the 7-11, and told them to call an ambulance... There was a fire station about 2 miles away, and they were getting there, before I was even making my return trip, So I assume she made it.

 

[Stringbanger]

I hear ya John!!

About 18 years ago my wife and I were going out (I was about 50). The back porch has 3 concrete steps that descend to our patio.

She didn’t even finish her sentence, “Be careful it’s…..icy….”, when I stepped off of the porch. I literally did a backwards somersault and landed on the patio on my butt. I was bruised slightly, and after thanking the higher power for saving me, I stood up.

I often wonder, to this day, how close my head was to hitting those concrete steps.

 

[johnny k]

Happens to the best of us, and them apparently. Take care John.

I love how people are just filming the falls, and don't even bother to stop filming and go ask are you ok? or help them up.

 

[radtz]

You need to get some strap on ice spikes/studs for your shoes that time of year.

My wife bought us some of the those. The problem now is having the foresight to use them...."I'm just going to check the mail, step step step AHAHHAHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"