Watch Your Step

I stepped off the curb to see which bus was coming down the street on 125th. The moment my foot hit the pavement I immediately felt a fiery shooting pain up my leg, and three milliseconds later (yes it was exactly three) I heard 'pop' 'pop.'

I lost my balance but I didn't fall down in the street (note: this is why I don't stand near the subway tracks when the train comes, all it takes is one misstep and 'squish'). I turned and hopped back on the curb and made it to the bus seat where I got that cold sweat, hard to breathe, faint feeling as my ankle began to throb.

I definitely have a self-diagnosed high ankle sprain and I have become painfully reminded just how much walking a person is required to do when they live in the city with two kids.

I had to gingerly walk down the street so as not to misplace my footing and make my situation worse. With each step I took my mind started to comprehend just how difficult it is for an elderly person who lives in this city to get around. There are so many uneven sidewalks, utility covers, trash cans, dogs, people, kids, razor scooters, doormen, subway grates, construction, STAIRS, crosswalks, etc to navigate. As a 33 year old fairly nimble person these obstacles are hardly ever noticed or respected. But these obstacles are really scary and seriously life threatening to the elderly. Couple everything I listed above with the winter chill and some snow/slush/ice on the ground and you get a situation that's ten times as dangerous.

As I hobble around the city for the next several weeks (yea no opening soccer game) I will be just slightly closer to understanding the difficulties elderly New Yorkers deal with. My goal for this fall and winters season is to slow down and notice the dangers in the paths of the frail in the city and do my best to help them navigate them safely. I will let you know how it goes.