curvature and contact

The icy coating of the world for the last few weeks has warned me that I take my connection with the world for granted.

Now I see that the ground is not flat. Even the tamest pavement has a camber, a slope, an acute angle. Nothing is level out there. How did I not notice this before?

Without the natural gift of friction every curve is dangerous. Every footing fallible.

Winter ice offers a precious inversion of reality, showing that even walking is an unearned grace.

Tread carefully, for you tread on the changing world.