Brussels Klutz

I seem to be falling a lot these days. I don't know why this is happening so much in the past week, but here are the incidents as they have happened thus far:

Tuesday- the metro- I was wearing shoes that have in fact been notorious for slipping on the Paris cobblestones, but I jumped up to click my heels in a jaunty sort of manner... and fell.... on my face... in public. Later that night I twisted my ankle walking. Just walking. No silliness involved. So it began.

Thursday- Lille Gare Europe. I was on the platform taking pictures. It must be understood that at this point in the day I was exhausted and getting to the point of absolute silliness. We were out of energy and out of our minds. I began dancing around the platform taking pictures. Then I fell. On my camera. The lense is now broken. Good job, Nina.

Friday- walking into the bathroom after waking up from a nap. The rug slides on the floor a lot, and I've almost fallen three or four times since I've arrived. Today, I slid and my feet weer suddenly in the air and I was on the floor. My first thought was "ow" my second instinct was to laugh at myself and ask "Nina, why the hell are you on the floor???". KB heard the noise and came into the bathroom to see what happened. I think I need to sit still for a while. I keep running into things, dropping things...

It's strange. I have found so much mental balance and grace mentally and emotionally on this trip, but when I think about it I have not been "on my feet" as much. The slipping and sliding on the pavement, tripping... I suppose it's possible one must sacrifice some things for others, but I, as a dancer and long-legged beast, have often found walking and dancing to be among the most natural things possible. It seems my grace mojo is broken. What can you do?

While I have been successfully on my feet I have experienced Brussels under the kindest and most fun tour guide. Isaac is a friend of KB's with whom she stayed last year when she was in Belgium. He is so lively and happy- always singing and energetic. He is from Burundi and has a fabulous accent and fabulous coffee colored skin and a deep gentle voice. He is an instant friend to all and loves people with a genuine spirit rare in this world. Between French English and the frequent interjection of his native tongue, we have passed the time already here in Brussels with so much energy and life. We cooked for him both nights already and it has been wonderful to be in a new and warm environment. I even took a hot bath with vanilla bath salts last night when we arrived in Brussels. The neighborhood is poor- immigrants from various parts of Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Even so, in Isaac's tiny attic there is a warmth and friendliness one could never find in a hostel. I am so deeply grateful for the old friends I've kept (KB) and new friends made (Lina- a friend of KB's in Lille, Isaac, and all of Aurelie's friends).

This trip has been a blessing to me, and one I am finally learning how to accept into myself. I often prefer to give, and the idea of receiving is difficult for me to accept because I don't like the idea of "taking". Yet I realize that accepting and taking are not the same thing. Neither in and of themselves are "bad". The apartment, the open hospitality of new friends and the eagerness of all to share their lives- I accept it graciously and feel thankful for it all.

Now if I could just get back on my literal feet... ha!