As I was walking from my parked vehicle to the entrance at my office this morning, I came across a familiar sight, but one I hadn't seen in what seemed like ages...a patch of asphalt below my feet offering solid footing for a change.
We haven't had a winter like this in Minnesota in quite some time and it was such a welcome sight to know that under those piles of snow, sand, salt and whatever else is covering our ground at this time there is life, albeit of the bituminous variety, but it offered a glimmer of hope for those of us allergic to winter.
For the past month or so my thighs have been using muscles they haven't used in years as I make the trek across the snow/ice covered parking lots, alleyways, roadways and sidewalks with my butt muscles and upper legs puckered up on full alert to prevent a spill. Underneath every little innocent-looking little clump of slush or coating of snow looms the potential for disaster and the way you contort your legs, feet and hips to counter a potential wipeout sometimes leads to your body to wave the white flag from time to time.
Last week I was playing a pick-up poker game, yes, I said it, a pick-up poker game much like a pick-up basketball game only instead of my opponents scoring at will over, around and through me, it's my money they're taking...at will.
Anyway, back to the point at hand or rather at foot. About halfway through my three-hour session of charitable contributions I had reached down to the floor to pick up a rare chip of mine that had fallen to the ground when my left thigh's anti-lock brakes system kicked in (aka, I was overcome by a cramp). I can't recall ever having a cramp in that area and I'm blaming the frozen chunk of ice that has caked our state for that.
At first I thought straightening it out might do the trick, but it only made matters worse so much so that the only word that came to me was "Midol" but I didn't want to show any weakness, 'cause I was at the poker table after all.
Eventually the pain subsided and I was able to continue to absorb the financial thrashing which allowed me to leave with my wallet empty but thankfully my quad was somewhat relaxed.
Today's sign of life beneath the thick, frosty coating has given me a renewed sense of hope that spring will eventually get here and perhaps put an end to the train of thought I've been having that perhaps we have in reality hit a new Ice Age and grass will cease to exist here in the North Star State.
April can't get here soon enough.
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