Today, while walking home on Via Cola di Rienzo, I fell. Normally this is something I have to worry about in Michigan in the winter, not so much on a 70 degree sunny day in Italy. It wasn't a small fall either, it was a big over-the-top, Olympic figure skater style fall. It also just happened to be on the corner where a street performer was loudly playing the trumpet. So, naturally, every one's attention was already turned in that direction when I slipped on the marble slant of the side walk and tumbled into this trumpeteer's open suitcase in which he was collecting money. People from all four corners of the surrounding streets stopped to gape at the spectacle I created. I fell right in front of the line of cars waiting for the green light and I heard someone exclaim the much- used mamma mia! The trumpeteer stopped playing his music after I went down (the sudden silence thus bringing more attention to the spectacle) in order to help me up. To top things off, I was also carrying two bags and my purse, so my stuff went everywhere. Another older gentleman quickly came over and started cursing about how old and dangerous the streets are, reassuring me that this was the fault of the street, not me. Of course it was! Damn street, it's not that I'm a chronically clumsy person--no, no--I'm gonna go with the street on this one. I've got some gnarly bruises and scrapes on my knees and forearms and a cut on my hand, but otherwise I'm good. Once I collected my bags dusted off my clothes and FINALLY made the walk of shame across the street I noticed my hand was dripping with blood that started spilling onto my bags (one of which being a birthday present for a friend), I was one hot mess!
The moment before you fall is always a funny one, like your brain hasn't caught up with your body's failure yet and everything is in slow motion. Although I am ALWAYS slipping on the streets, this was my first fall here, but I'm willing to bet it's not the last. It's funny, I think I should have been more embarrassed for myself but I just wasn't. I've had a rough couple of weeks lately so I'm glad I kind of let myself off the hook. By the time I got home haggard as I was, I was freely and genuinely cracking up at myself.
2 comments:
Brilliant!!! I enjoyed a lot reading this, not cos of the tragedy or the comedy (ok, cos of both too), but cos it was beautifully written. Wicked! x
Thanks Fernanda! I gather you didn't have any such experience when you were in NY? I hope all is well in Bath!
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