a funny story

Last week, the ice came first, then the snow.  By the time I got to the place I was staying, it was the dark of night and bitter cold.  For some reason, my code to the garage door is not working.  I know what this means.  It means that I am going to have to go around the house to the back yard, up the staircase and into the side door.

14" of snow fell the day before.

I am not looking forward to this journey.  It had snowed 14 inches and was still coming down.  I started through the side yard.  There I encountered drifting snow that was up to my crotch.

I came to the gate.  The gate has one of those swimming pool, child proof latches.  It is covered with ice and it will not budge.

I am going to have to jump the fence.  Now, at 67 I don't do much jumping.  And the fence has steel spikes every six inches.  

True story... some years ago, a deer misjudged the fence and landed on the spikes.  The more he fought, the deeper they went in.  He bled out on that fence that night.  The homeowners found him the next day.

This is the fence that I have to get over.

I found a spot where some large landscaping rocks were set against the fence.  That made it 3 feet tall on the close side.  I put both hands on the fence, lifted myself up, and slung my left leg over.  My upper body is much weaker than when I was young, and I am wearing 30 pounds of winter clothing.  I am trying with all my might to keep my body off of the spikes.

I slung my other leg over and started to let myself down.  It is a full 4 feet down to the other side.  But wait, I am stuck.  The crotch of my jeans is hooked on one of the spikes.  I am hanging on this fence by the crotch of my pants and I can't hold myself up much longer.  With one final burst of strength, I lift myself up and pull the jeans off of the spike.

Whew.

Then I made my way through the snowy backyard, up the stairs and into the back door.  Safe at last.

Sometimes you just have to laugh.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am leading a trip to Italy in November!  Everyone is welcome.

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