Well, we now had a full blanket of snow and
classes were in full swing. I was on my regular mojo – it was like a rhythm: wake
up early, breakfast, classes, work, study, sleep. The cycle became so much a part
of me that if one thing should be added or subtracted, I’d be completely thrown
off.
A full blanket of snow
fell overnight, so I was all wrapped up, cozy and warm… and I overslept! I
had to wear my heavy boots; and in order to wear those massive boots, I also
had to wear my large pair of jeans and so on. I basically dressed 30 pounds
heavier in order to greet the weather. I walked up to the lunch room to eat
with my friends; we chatted for a while and even snapped a picture before I noticed that I got carried
away and had to make a mad dash for class.
The equation, then, is: late + mad dash +
snow = recipe for disaster.
I asked myself: “If I take
the snow-ridden, shorter path at the back to the lecture theatre, I’d make it
to class with exactly two minutes to spare, right? If I take the usual route, I
would get to class at least four minutes late. If I take the internal route, I’ll
be at least twelve minutes late… what to
do, self?” Friends, do you know what I was told to do (Yes, I do have live conversations with myself every now and again!)? I was told to take
the internal route and get to class late.
I wasn’t having it. So I overruled my
thoughts and ran to the back door. The first mistake I made was closing the
door (the door only opened from the inside), so I was now trapped outside on
the ice. The snow slapped me hard in the face and those heavy boots were not
very helpful.
I gingerly stepped on the ice and hoped I didn’t
slip with the whole school watching from the cafeteria. I took two millimetre
steps to get to the muddy banking where it was safer to sink the boots. That in
itself took more than five minutes; so automatically, I knew I would be late. I
looked up to the internal passageway and saw students walking merrily to their
classes in the warmth, and cursed myself for my stupidity.
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I kept moving in the muddy path until the
building where my class was held came into view. “Finally!” I sighed. As I
stepped on the concrete path, with just 10 metres to go, all I heard was SPLAT!! My body connected with the floor
and my books lay scattered before me. I had to scramble to my feet before
anyone saw me; in the same breath, I grabbed my books and sped to the entrance! I looked around and saw no one in my immediate area, and tried to plaster an awkward smile on my face; you know, the "I didn't fall and hurt myself" awkward smile? Yea, that one!
I met two students coming out of the building with a knowing smile and I was left to wonder if they saw my fall of shame! I got to class nevertheless…wet, in pain and very, very late! Lesson learnt!
End Note: Back home in Jamaica, when one realizes that he/she is late, the only obstacle in the way is traffic. We never have to worry about snow, ice, sleet or impossible weather (except hurricanes) to inhibit our movement. Another lesson learnt the hard - and painful - way! - JGIC
I met two students coming out of the building with a knowing smile and I was left to wonder if they saw my fall of shame! I got to class nevertheless…wet, in pain and very, very late! Lesson learnt!
End Note: Back home in Jamaica, when one realizes that he/she is late, the only obstacle in the way is traffic. We never have to worry about snow, ice, sleet or impossible weather (except hurricanes) to inhibit our movement. Another lesson learnt the hard - and painful - way! - JGIC
“Those
who would bring great things to pass must rise early.—Love not sleep, lest thou
come to poverty.” – Matthew Henry
 |
Jodi-Ann is an Environmental Studies major in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Check
out her online store at http://jwbookstore.creativesolutionsmall.com to purchase books and electronics.
Email:
jokay2112@gmail.com
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