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I like to remain at my desk at work in the early morning because I am rather frightened by the ghosts, hobos, and mannequins shuffling about the building. That's why I tried to ignore the doorbell on Tuesday. Somebody else usually opens the door anyway. Minutes later, it rang three times in rapid succession. I was the only person in the building, and, recalling the furious winds outside, I ran to open the employee entrance.
As fate would have it, I slipped on the stairs. Having just come out of winter, I used a trick that often works when slipping on ice. I hopped. The intent here is that a small hop when slipping gives me a chance to re-plant my feet instead of falling. The reality is that the staircase has a low ceiling in the very spot where I happened to be, and this maneuver resulted in a very painful head injury.
At my other job on Wednesday, I mentioned that I smashed my head on a ceiling. Their response shocked me. "I have no idea how you could smash your head on a ceiling," and "Were you on a trampoline or something?" I was surprised by this reaction because smashing my head on structures above me was about as common as falling into lakes and rivers. It just has to happen sometimes! Here are two more:
Grandparent's house. A doorway conceals a staircase to the second floor. I am small, young, and grew up in a one-story home so this fascinates me. I jump off the first step to the floor. Whee! I jump off the second step to the floor. Yay! Repeat until I am on the fifth step and jump. Smash my head on the top of the door frame. Done playing.
Help Desk on campus. A girl I knew needed help in a classroom. Instead of walking around the desk, I leapt out the window into the hallway where the classrooms are located. This was something I did almost daily. This particular day, however, somebody did not roll the metal shutter all the way to the top. It was about 16 inches lower than usual. Head, pain, etc. "Yeah, I'm alright!"
While following her to the classroom, I reach up with my left hand and it came away red. Not good. I could feel dampness spreading across my scalp. Fortunately, the tasks she needed help with could be completed quickly with my right hand on the mouse. I kept my left hand hidden, got into a bathroom, and made myself presentable enough to complete my shift.
I landed (and remained) on my feet each time.
As fate would have it, I slipped on the stairs. Having just come out of winter, I used a trick that often works when slipping on ice. I hopped. The intent here is that a small hop when slipping gives me a chance to re-plant my feet instead of falling. The reality is that the staircase has a low ceiling in the very spot where I happened to be, and this maneuver resulted in a very painful head injury.
At my other job on Wednesday, I mentioned that I smashed my head on a ceiling. Their response shocked me. "I have no idea how you could smash your head on a ceiling," and "Were you on a trampoline or something?" I was surprised by this reaction because smashing my head on structures above me was about as common as falling into lakes and rivers. It just has to happen sometimes! Here are two more:
Grandparent's house. A doorway conceals a staircase to the second floor. I am small, young, and grew up in a one-story home so this fascinates me. I jump off the first step to the floor. Whee! I jump off the second step to the floor. Yay! Repeat until I am on the fifth step and jump. Smash my head on the top of the door frame. Done playing.
Help Desk on campus. A girl I knew needed help in a classroom. Instead of walking around the desk, I leapt out the window into the hallway where the classrooms are located. This was something I did almost daily. This particular day, however, somebody did not roll the metal shutter all the way to the top. It was about 16 inches lower than usual. Head, pain, etc. "Yeah, I'm alright!"
While following her to the classroom, I reach up with my left hand and it came away red. Not good. I could feel dampness spreading across my scalp. Fortunately, the tasks she needed help with could be completed quickly with my right hand on the mouse. I kept my left hand hidden, got into a bathroom, and made myself presentable enough to complete my shift.
I landed (and remained) on my feet each time.