I find it comforting to believe the common saying that everything happens for a reason. Even making up a good reason (if one is not so obvious) makes it easier to cope with more difficult circumstances.
Just the other day I had another accident. It’s strange how time seems to slow down when my body is falling. I lose my balance and in the split second it’s happening I manage to process everything that’s occurring: “No big deal,” I was thinking, “I’m falling onto the table, I’ll be safe…just have to put my arms down to steady myself…oops, my arms are buckling, that’s still ok, my body will land on the table and I’ll be able to push myself up from it, it’s all good…o oh, the glass part is tipping over, how is that happening?!!…OH NO! I’m going all the way down!!” CRASH (the table hitting the ground), BANG (my head on the floor),…“OWCH!!”
This particular evening I was already tired from lack of sleep and battling a cold. And here I was, wedged between the toppled glass top and a chair. A kid would have been delighted by this tent-like structure housing my body…not me. After some effort, I managed to wiggle my way out of the tight spot. But when I wanted to get into a sitting position, my already exhausted state, combined with the smooth laminate floor and my soft slippery autumn clothing made it too difficult for me to sit up. And that’s when I thought, “I am SO LUCKY!!!” because I had just put the phone on the charger which sits on a lower shelf (and it’s not often that I do that!) So, just like my students who love to imitate animals during drama activities, I slithered my way around the rug and up to the phone, feeling so very fortunate to be able to reach it from my lying position.
Of course, the first person I called was my friend K. I was a bit shocked when I heard my ex’s voicemail after the 5 rings. In a momentary bout of confusion I had dialed the wrong number! So glad he didn’t pick up. I then dialed K. (right number this time.) His voicemail too! Now what? I reluctantly tried the superintendent and was strangely relieved that he didn’t answer either. I didn’t feel comfortable asking for his help anyway. The only other person who had a copy of my key was my cleaning lady. When she answered her phone, a feeling of great relief released my emotions, and I started sobbing into the receiver. It took her a little while to figure out what it was that I needed, but thankfully, she came in less than 10 minutes.
When she entered my apartment, the sight of her tiny frame did not give me much reassurance. I’m not that large, but it’s very cumbersome picking up a human rag doll from the floor, even for a big guy. I suggested that we get help from a neighbour, but she wanted to try helping me by herself and almost managed it, but then lost her grip and dropped me to the floor again (more gently this time.) So I convinced her to get my friendly neighbour L. who was kind enough to come right away. Finally, my shaky body was lifted off the ground and plopped onto a chair.
L. and I only know each other as well as our brief congenial chats in the elevator. She probably had no idea how very amused I was (despite my trembling limbs, blotchy and tear-stricken face, and disheveled appearance) when she said, “I’ve been meaning to get your phone number because I wanted to have you over for dinner, so I’m glad I was able to come and help.” I too had been meaning to get her number since last spring but I always kept forgetting to ask her. Everything does happen for a reason, doesn’t it? This mishap finally got me to exchange numbers with L. and I’m sure we’ll become much better neighbours and friends from now on. And simply believing that that was the main reason for the fall has allowed me to continue living by myself as worry-free as I possibly can be.
Still, a few days after the incident, I was going through a rut and feeling quite tired and bothered by the fact that I have to live with MD. Disappointed with myself and unmotivated with life, I wallowed in this melancholy state a little longer than I should.
My parents’ visit cheered me up a bit. We ran some errands and did a few things that I can’t do by myself like hanging pictures on my wall. That night, half an hour after I had hugged them goodbye, my dad returned, frantically knocking on my door. When I opened it, he asked me in a worried tone, “Why haven’t you been answering your phone? I buzzed you, I called you from my cell, I was so worried that you had fallen down again!” Puzzled, I explained that my phone hadn’t rung.
My dad had come back because he had forgotten to return my bankcard. And how fortunate it was that we had forgotten about my bankcard in his pocket, because had he not returned I would not have realized that my phone was out of order!
After a bit of detective work, we figured out that a wire from a telephone outlet I never use had been frayed and damaged when we had removed the jack earlier that day to place a whiteboard over it. And that had caused the line to go completely dead.
What if I hadn’t forgotten about my card? What if my dad had not returned? When would I have figured out the phone problem and who would have helped me fix it? Things really do happen for a reason…
But then I started thinking: why did that wire get damaged in the first place? What are the odds of that happening and for what good reason? Maybe because it’s these moments of peculiar coincidences, when I feel rescued by the Universe’s fluky ways—so grateful that I had forgotten about the bankcard or put the phone on the lower shelf—that I’m encouraged to keep following the road of life freely and without fear, because I’m (so obviously) watched over and well taken care of. Yes, there are some uncomfortable moments at times, but everything I need always comes together at the right time. And these last couple of incidents did get me out of my rut and have inspired me once again.
