trippin'

Figure out and take public bus. Check.

Visit the Grand Palace and nearby temples. Check.

Find and cruise hip area popular with backpackers. Check.

Avoid dehydration and pickpockets throughout day of solo sightseeing. Check.

Pick up iced latte to enjoy back at air-conditioned room of guest house...

SPLAT.

Just as I was honing in on a peaceful end to an adventurous day, I found myself quite literally in the gutter. One minute I was walking, guest house in view. The next minute, I'm on my belly on the streets of Bangkok. As I struggled to my feet, I eyed the carcass of my iced latte as it flowed into the streets. Footsteps clacked behind me and kind strangers offered their assistance and unrecognizable but surely kind words.

I staggered to the guest house with gutter juice all over my trousers. Memories of other belly flops, of running into poles and public telephones came to mind. Great annoyance at my own clumsiness led to a surprising realization. For all my physical mishaps, I'd been able to walk away from them all with nothing more than bruised limbs and bruised ego.

Life may be an obstacle course, and I may not be skilled at maneuvering it, but I'm grateful for the grace to get up and get back at it.