Black Ice

Marty flew back to Seattle VERY early on Sunday morning.  Of course we were sad to have him leave but no where near as traumatic as the first time he left to go to Seattle back in September when we were still so new here.  This time we are so much better established.  I know some German and feel pretty confident with my ability to navigate life here.

After school when it all melted

The following morning, my first in a long time of getting the kids to school on time by myself, turned out to be quite an adventure.  We stepped out side and nearly all fell on the ice just outside our door.  Wow!! So slippery.  We made our way to the bus stop nearly falling with each and every step.  It is interesting here.  So each house or apartment is responsible for either clearing the sidewalk in front of their house or they pay a service to come out and do it for them.  A small sander or sweeper machine motors down the sidewalk and does its magic in front of those homeowners/apartments which pay and but don't do it in front of those that don't. They leave a smooth sidewalk or sanded sidewalk for the payers and lift up or don't drop sand in front of those that don't.  So just as you are getting confident with your footing in front of one building, you step in front of another that is not sanded and then flailing you attempt not to fall smack on your butt. 

After school felt like SUMMER
No coat for the first time
in months!

The kids thought it was hilarious and fun.  As a nearly 50 year old with already existing injuries, I was taking it very carefully.  Of course, as we were nearly to the bus stop, BOOM!  Down I go right on my knee.  I had a full backpack on with my travel mug of coffee in the side pouch of my backpack.  And although most of the coffee stayed in a lot of it spilled all over my coat and backpack.  Fun.  I got up and dusted myself off and the kids and I made it to the bus with Benjamin falling one time before we boarded the bus.  We get off the bus and we are closer to the center of town and in more of the business area so I just assume that the sidewalks will be sanded.  Nope.  Just stepping off the bus, the kids are gleefully "skating" toward the next bus stop.  It is all cobblestone and SO very slippery.  Having already fallen I was taking it easy and yelling at the kids to stop running.  I look up from the VERY slippery cobblestones and see Josie fall super hard onto her hip.  Ouch!  She got up, dusted herself off and smiled and said it didn't hurt.  (It totally had to have hurt!)  Just as soon as she was up and moving, Benjamin went down hard, right on his back.  Thankfully he had a backpack on and looking a bit like a turtle with his legs in the air, laughing and saying, "my backpack is like a pillow"  Oh, to be young and nimble.  As we turn the corner to try to catch the next bus we notice that the next bus won't come for another 8 minutes making us late to school. We decide to walk.  Which on a normal day I always prefer but today with such unsure footing I am dreading the walk.  We take it slow and I keep thinking if we can just get to the park in front of the school we will be good.  Once we are on dirt it won't be quite so slippery.  From that bus stop to the school Benjamin went down one more time.  Thankfully laughing and saying it was the "best day ever!"  I was feeling very vulnerable and unstable and with Marty gone didn't even know what I would do if one of us really got hurt. 
Just as we step into the park I yell to the kids to come over into the dirt and off the sidewalk.  As I'm yelling I look away and must have stepped on the cobblestone lining of one of the paths and BOOM!  I go down again hard on my hip and bonk my head on a pole.  Graceful!!  The kids, very sympathetically run over and ask if I'm OK.  "I'm FINE!"  I grumble.  Benjamin looks at me and says "That's funny mom, because you certainly don't look fine"  We somehow make it to school  on time despite the morning adventure.  I then head off to my class with a coat and backpack stained with splashed coffee, my hip and knee aching and my whole body tense from trying to navigate such slippery pavement. 
Final Fall Count:
Benjamin = 3
Karrie = 2
Josie = 1
 And apparently all of their teachers also fell on the ice that morning and even their librarian.  The next day everyone was comparing bruises. 

My little water helper with his multi fruit juice reward

Thankfully it warmed up by mid day and even felt quite balmy by the time I picked Benjamin up after school.  He was thrilled to be coat free.  I was loving the sure footing and decided we should head to the drink store to refill our fizzy water supply.  Josie, of course, was off with a friend.  It is almost as if we have sent her on to boarding school. She is gone so much these days 😒
But...Awwww.  above freezing temps are NICE.