BLOG #14 LAST FALL I FELL

Last fall in September, I fell. I didn’t just fall,I FELL. I  fell like a bowling kingpin hit by a bowling ball fell, I fell like the marble columns that Samson pulled down fell; I fell like the giant Goliath that David slew fell; fell like the giant cedars our famous loggers felled in British Columbia long ago. Yes, reader I fell, I was showing  my town to my sister and brother-in-law the picturesque downtown wharf, misjudged the height of a curb and down I went! I fell right down flat on my face, and to add injury to injury, managed to slide on the abrasive sidewalk as well. What is it about falling publicly that is so humiliating? Why do we feel such idiots when we fall? Why with blood streaming down my face was I so busy stammering my apologies to the very polite and concerned Japanese tourists who were helping me? “No No “ I stammered “ don’t bother I’m fine” as I scrambled for my glasses blindly through the streaming blood? I was rescued by a good Samaritan, a lovely woman who took me to her pristine office where she promptly hauled out a huge first aid kit and helped me to clean up and bandage . But again, why feel so foolish? I don’t know which hurt more, my nose or my pride. And while we are on the subject, why do we laugh when someone falls? Comedy is based on “pratfalls”. I knew someone once who was learning to be a clown and I used to watch him practice his falls. To be funny without hurting himself took great skill and strength. Over and over he would go until he was exhausted- just so we could have a laugh. Also there are other aspects of falling besides humiliation and comedy. The myth of Iscariot for example, and of course the fall from Grace, the descent to Hades or Hell---all about “falling” and not to forget the notorious “falling dream” and the sudden wakening with all the shaming interpretations. But I am sure you, my readers, are innocent of those dreams! And ,of course, the greatest fall of all- the “falling in love fall” Oh my, the biggest fall of all and of course the fall that has the greatest capacity to make us look foolish! But never mind, everyone loves a lover and being a fool has it’s own reward too- as I know. By the way, no bones were broken and I have healed well except for my pride and we all know Pride cometh before the fall