As any Missourian would know, Missouri gets ice storms during winter. This means there are times you drive on ice, through sleet and freezing rain; but you carry kitty litter and salt to make it easier to get traction. I (DeAnna) don’t miss Missouri winters because I don’t like cold weather and I especially don’t like maneuvering on ice (except ice rinks on ice skates, but that’s a different story). The only time I miss cold weather is snow on Christmas morning and that’s it. I also remember a time when my sister and I were in High School and our porch and sidewalk were ice covered. It was the same time when there was a popular commercial that had an elderly woman who fell and she wore a necklace that was a transmitter for help and she would say, “Help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” into the transmitter. During the icy porch and sidewalk my Mom fell. We made sure she wasn’t badly injured and then after she was in the house started to reenact the scenario and added the “Help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” Poor Mom!
We are in the midst of dry season, which means we rarely have rain and it’s hot and dry. The complete opposite weather-wise of what Missouri has right now. A couple of weeks before we had fresh dirt added to our road to help with the large ruts and with dry season upon us it would give time for the dirt to pack down before rainy season. Last Thursday we had a pop-up rainstorm hit. I was driving home in the rain when I got to about mid way up the incline to our gate I started to slide down backwards and sideways at the same time. I didn’t know how to put our car into 4-wheel drive so I decided to leave the car where it was and wait for David to get home to drive it up the incline. Let me say, I’ve driven through Missouri mud in the summer time. I’ve attended countless mud runs, so I know mud, but this mud was like ice. The boys got out of the car and made it to our gate. They went inside and it was my turn to get out of the car. I got out, loaded my things into my arms and as I went to close the car door, both of my feet slid out from underneath me and I banged my head on the ground and was flat on my back. I couldn’t get over how the mud was just like ice. I didn’t sink into the mud, like Missouri mud. Our guard saw me fall and came to help. I was stunned and it took a bit of time to get up. In that moment I thought, “Man I wish I had one of the devices to say, Help, I’ve fallen and can’t get up!”

As I arose, I was dizzy, dazed and confused. Our guard wanted the opportunity to drive our car and asked for the keys. He enlisted the help of neighbors and after about 30-45 minutes got our car to our gate. After I showered and rinsed all the mud out of my hair, I went to take a picture of them inching the car along to get it to our gate.
Now, I have whiplash. I’m nursing myself through the pain, tenderness, stiffness, swelling and mental confusion. I’ve learned that every experience I encounter in life isn’t wasted, even learning to maneuver on ice to prepare me for driving on mud ice on the opposite side of the world.