Normally I have great determination to do what I set out to do. Something, more likely Someone, nudged me to turn back on the icy road. It looked about the same as yesterday, but testing the ice told me it was slicky and dangerous for walking. The ice had melted and refrozen so that the gravel was covered, giving no traction. When I walked back home, I noticed Holly’s car was warming up. In minutes she would be driving where I refused to walk. I laughed at the difficulty I had in taking the phone out of my pocket and getting it unlocked. Dictation was the only way to get my message on the screen, but I was able to warn her in time. She let me know when she got to work safely.

Instead of giving up the walk, I did three laps from my driveway to the icy road and three short laps in front of neighbor Julie’s house. Julie came out with dog Mickey. She listened to my warning, but she felt it was safe for her to walk in the leaves. Indeed she was safe! She is more nimble and sure-footed than I am. I would not have stepped down, well off the road into the leaves.

I went home when I thought I’d been out long enough. It was 18F -7.778C, and my nose felt like a snowman’s carrot. Perfect! I went inside about the same time I would have if I had walked to the stop sign. Hopefully I won’t see anyone soon in case I am tempted to boast of being sensible, for a change.

Spell checker objected to my word “slicky”. It suggested SLICKLY. Has anyone ever used slickly in a sentence in your hearing???