Flipping on ice

There is nothing like flipping on ice. I’m not talking about figure skating even though that would be fun too. I can’t imagine trying to do a flip or twirl on ice. If I was one of those little girls being chucked around by a guy three times my size, I’d freak. What if he missed the catch? What if he threw me too hard, I’m only ten pounds? No, I’m talking about flipping on ice unintentionally.

            In my younger days, I went to outdoor parties in the winter. I was amazed that flipping on ice with a beer in your hand is an art form. I don’t know if anyone ever broke a beer when falling on ice. I believe that we may have hurt ourselves, twisted several body parts, but the beer remained upright and un-spilled every time. That is a talent. There is nothing in the flipping action that suggests the beer should survive. Yet, it does. Our brain says OMG I’m falling, save the beer. The human instinct is awesome.

            The other day I was at work and things were melting around here. So, it’s wet and frozen at the same time. (note, see Canada) Imagine going out to get your postal truck and flipping on ice. Who knew? One poor guy was rushed to hospital. Another girl had (of all things) ice packs on her arm because she fell too. We were literally trapped in the building because of ice and snow. I deliver mail on hills. Angles and ice make delivering mail an art form too. Pretty good, I only flipped once today.

            It is sad that not everyone has good memories about ice flipping. I heard the story of a young boy going home from school the same way he always did in an alley. One day he flipped and cracked his head: he died. In Canada, is that fate or what. I bet that in Canada the hospitals are full of cracked heads, broken arms, and twisted body parts from flipping on ice. Yet, even with death looming, it is part of being Canadian.

            What does God say about this troubling topic. I look back to Jesus saying that at the end of days we will not know the time. It’s ominous reading about one person will be here and another will be taken up to heaven. There will be no time to get your coat or say your goodbyes. I feel that reading the Bible gives reality sometimes. When our day comes, we will be caught off guard. Time will have expired. In the moment as we flip on ice is that our last pirouette in life? I suppose it means we should be right with life and people before we go out each day, especially in Canada.

            I suppose that if we were reading this in Australia it would seem weird. They have never experienced the ice flip. Do they have a beach sand flip? I would figure it’s more dangerous in the winter land of Canada. Although, I have not taken into consideration dangerous snakes, bugs, spiders, and things that could ruin a day. In Canada, there is little that could kill you, it’s too cold. The only bites we generally get are frost ones.

            The ice flip is a talent. We usually feel the pain the next day, yet we all have stories of saving beer, groceries, and the kids we carry. Somehow in birth, the gene to survive the fall is bred in Canadians. In a way, it is a badge we wear proudly. I hear stories of flipping on ice all the time. The people smile and say that was a good one. A good one? It would be nice to avoid the flip but it’s just not possible. I’d swear ice patches move and follow us. Fate and ice is the Canadian way. I guess that is why we play hockey. Might as well hit someone into the boards before we fall.        

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