sábado, janeiro 04, 2020

Winter joys in Quebec

Em português
En français

Cute, trendy boots? Forget it. I'm too old and... I'm not a Canadian since I was a kid. Despite all the effort I make to integrate myself to my Canadian citizenship, it's not the same as to be a native. I'm not complaining. It's just because I'm not skilled in sports. I don't know how to slip elegantly, on our daily "Holiday on ice". There is nothing like my old winter boots. Not beautiful :-) but – tabarnoush! – they are good.
Even so, great care is needed. We have to be careful where we step on, the ground is not always completely "defrosted" and safe. The short distance between where we park the car and the entrance of any establishment can pose a terrible risk. So, I don't walk without my ice cleats on my boots anymore, in order not to slip.
I once went to a store whose entrance was a horror. From the sidewalk to the door, about 20 meters. - Should I go or not? - I wondered, looking at the small icy way looking endless. My ice cleats for boots in a bag... I hesitated to put them. Before entering, I would have to remove them not to ruin the store floor. I took the risk without my ice grippers. There I went, walking like a penguin, looking for small “puddles” of snow, which are less slippery than ice, amidst medium to large humps of rock-hard ice. No, it's not redundant to say hard ice like a rock. Only living here to understand these intensities.
Shortly watching to see if I was being observed in my old-age-looking walking style: I looked around discreetly and came across two attentive faces on the other side of the shop door glass. Embarrassed, I thought about hurrying, but my Guardian Angel warned me that it would be unwise. - Calm down, what do you prefer: a broken leg or some good laughs to brighten the day?
Finally, I managed to cross the ocean. The door opened and two gentle saleswomen asked me, almost in a chorus, if it was too slippery, apologizing for the poor condition of the entrance. Everyone relieved, we got down to business: choosing something from the store with the gift card I had gotten from my husband. This part was more enjoyable :-)
This is one of the little joys of winter: escaping from falling on ice. But it seems I was doomed to fall that year. A few days later, after another weather cocktail, I had my first fall... Hoping it's the last. Not so bad, anyway... once in so many years living in Quebec! Despite being extremely careful, I failed.
As I stepped out of the doorway, looking at my bag, already leaning forward and not paying attention to the floor, my feet slid backwards; in a reflex my gloved hands came to lean on the floor and slipped forward, too, the bag thrown in the air. Voila, I found myself completely lying on the deck and slid down to the edge of the stairs. I almost went free flight. Luckily, the show stopped a few millimeters before the steps... What a scene!
Apart from a little pain in my left knee and right wrist, there was no further damage. Another joy of winter: straightening up and finding that nothing is broken. As always, we survive evil all the time to build our joy in life. When no one gets hurt, it can even be funny. However, great care is needed, as what seems comical may be tragic.
          Anyway, there are many macro and microbiological advantages in a glacial winter. To tell the truth, we are lucky

Nenhum comentário:

Postar um comentário