Splayed

It had to happen. It's been years since I have fallen, & I was kind of overdue. Today's wintry mix included freezing rain which hit at roughly the same time that I needed to go to the bank & post office for work. Our mailman saw me putting on my jacket & cautioned me to be careful, but, headstrong person that I am, I figured I could take care of these errands without much problem. And the bank was easy . . . drive through & pick up the money bag. At the post office I could barely stand up when I stepped outside the car though. Gingerly I walked along the slick sidewalk to the entrance. No problem if I just pay attention & am careful. The office parking lot was like a skating rink as I kept my hands on the car as I walked around it. Easing my self toward the steps & the back door I was rather amazed at how difficult it was to walk. Slowly, cautiously, I descended the icy steps. Relieved & thinking that walking on the stuff was ten times harder than driving on it was, I took a step on the metal grate right outside our back door. Splat! I fell flinging my only partially zipped purse, the mail, the money bag, & my open umbrella. I don't know whether I hit my rear or my knee first, but the only word I could think of to really describe it was "splayed." Fortunately for me there was no one there to witness this, but there was also no one there to help me either. My feeble attempts to stand up were met with more slipping & sliding. Finally I dragged myself to the door, opened it, & threw my things in one at a time. Then I slid my feet instead of picking them up & got inside sore, humiliated, & wondering if this fall would be covered under worker's comp.