We sang in the early Christmas Eve service last night and had the soup and bread dinner between the services. The dinner almost didn't happen because nobody had been appointed to take charge of it. My wife did a lot of calling around and found many volunteers to bring food, serve it, and clean up afterward. She told me that she would help set up and then let others clean up.
Well, it didn't work out that way. After I ate and chatted with a few people, I put on my coat. The second service started and my wife was still in the kitchen. We also wound up bringing home the tablecloths to wash.
I was irritated; I still had presents to wrap and a few other things I wanted to do at home.
When we arrived home I made a few trips between the garage and house with things we wouldn't have had if we had left right after we ate. The last thing I brought in was the big bundle of tablecloths. My wife said I should just drop them down the laundry chute, but I said I would rather just take them downstairs.
This shouldn't be a problem. I frequently take heavy boxes of firewood to the basement. A box of tablecloths should be easy. This despite that my vision is blocked with either the firewood or the tablecloths.
I got to the last step and caught the heel of my boot. Forward I pitched. I think I dropped the tablecloths. My right knee slammed into the concrete floor and I rolled onto my back. Oh, great!
My knee was sore, but otherwise seemed OK. My pants weren't ripped, but there was a sheen that wasn't there before.
I picked myself up, put the tablecloths by the washing machine, and went back upstairs on my own power. But I was even more irritated for having to stay later at church than I had planned.
Well, I did get the presents wrapped, and I did get some of the other tasks done that I had planned. I also slept rather well, even if sugar plums weren't dancing in my head.
When I woke up this morning, my knee was not the color of a plum and I could walk OK. Whew! I won't be in the hospital with a broken knee cap or anything else. Bring on the presents! Raise our voices on high in song! Serve the punch! Merry Christmas!
