Ass over teakettle

Yesterday, in an effort to get some air and to get out of the house, P and I took a walk as it was starting to snow. We decided to go down to the school at the end of our road, and we cut through our neighbor's driveway and across their backyard to get to a path down a very steep hill to get to the school. When we got to the top of the hill, P started to trot down - I told her to be careful, and she said "don't worry, mommy, I'm not going to fall". You know where this is going, right?

So on she goes, and I plod behind, because I know about gravity and hills and all. She clears the little bit on the hill that is exposed shale, gets a little further down, and then - wouldn't you know it - trips on her own feet, does a complete unexpected sommersault, and lands on her back, with her legs folded underneath her. I'm watching this happen in slow-motion... seeing her little body flip over her head, praying that there was not going to be a broken neck or other shattered bones. I got down the hill as fast as I could, without falling myself.

I picked her up and held her close as she wailed and bled on my coat. She had bitten her lip, but there were no teeth missing. The bleeding stopped in short order, and I slowly carried her back up the hill. She told me she couldn't see out of one eye. I put her down, had a look. The eye is a little puffy, but it's all ok. She told me some warm chocolate - not hot - would make her feel better, so that's what we had when we got home, along with some snuggling with her daddy in front of the fire.

Why do the things that could affect your life strongly happen in slow motion? I'm so glad she's ok.