Sunday, February 14th, 2021

I face a challenge this morning, getting up the stairs. As I come outside, I see a watering hose stretching from the outdoor faucet across to a point out of sight. I climb almost to the top. I have enough clearance. I raise my right foot above the hose. My left foot slips off the wet step it’s on. That’s OK. I’ve figured that that might happen, and planned for how the foot would land on the step below without injury. I’m holding tight onto the banister. My left foot hits the step below. My knee flexes. I shift my weight onto my hands. My right leg is now pointing straight out, still above the hose. Once I’m balanced on my left foot again, I move my balance to my hands. I hop right and forward onto the step above, where I had slipped. I land securely. I tilt and bend my right knee until my foot touches the ground on the far side of the hose. I move my hands and my center of gravity toward that leg, then swing my left leg over the hose. My foot hits the ground as it should. I stand. My landlord comes running over, apologizing profusely. He hadn’t thought I was still at home. It’s OK. I’m OK. He shifts the hose so it doesn’t form such an obstacle. I hope he remembers to do so next time.