I’ve always been pretty agile and steady on my feet, but over the past few months I have become a complete and total klutz! I don’t know why I’ve become less than graceful, but the fact remains that I’m collecting more bumps and bruises than I have since I was a kid. 
The one thing I seem to have the most trouble with is the stairs in our house. For eighteen years we lived in a one story home with no stairs. And honestly, I didn’t want a two story house here in Oregon, but that’s what we ended up with, for now. So, in the seven months that we’ve lived in this house I’ve fallen up/down the stairs FIVE times. :doh: Three times going down the stairs and two times going up the stairs! And I’m not talking about tripping on the stairs, this is full on FALLING. The three times I’ve fallen down the stairs my foot has either slipped on a stair (wearing socks), or I misjudged the step completely and stepped right on the edge and lost my balance. It’s quite jarring not only to your ass when you fall, but your spine, too. And worse when you tumble down five or six stairs and end up a twisted pretzel at the landing! 
Falling “up” stairs isn’t fun, either. The two times that it’s happened to me my toes have gotten caught on the edge of the stair I’m stepping up onto, causing me to trip. 
The first time I tried to grab the handrail to catch myself before I fell, only to twist my arm on the way down while whacking my knees. The second time I had my hands full and there was no grabbing anything, so I went down full force – with the edge of the stairs hitting (very hard) the bone that runs from your knee down to your feet, in two different places. I swore I saw stars! That happened about a month ago and I still have a very tender bruise/bump on the front of my left leg.
I swear the stairs in this house are trying to kill me! 
Last week I broke my toe, another clumsy move I’m not very proud of. 
We have a solid oak laundry hamper that weighs about 15 pounds when it’s empty, except when I lifted it to vacuum behind the hamper it was stuffed full and probably weighed over 20 pounds. It slipped out of my hands and the corner landed on my baby toe. To make matters worse, since my foot was stuck beneath the hamper I lost my balance and pressed both of my hands on top of the hamper, adding even more weight to my trapped toe! :yikes: Oh, God, it hurt so bad and now it’s black and blue and swollen and ugly looking!
Just this weekend I was reaching into the cupboard to get a can of cooking spray and it slipped through my fingers as I was bringing it down from a high shelf. Of course the can was full and heavy, and it whacked me right on my bottom lip in a way that made my teeth cut into the inside of my lip and the can bruised the top of my lip. I now have a fat, bruised lip to go with my fat, bruised toe! :giggler
All I can do is laugh when these things happen. But I honestly don’t know what’s going on with me that I’ve become so graceless and such a klutz. I swear I’m trying to be careful, but it seems the more I think about being careful, the more things happen! :biggroan
So, to make me feel like I’m not the only clumsy one out there, feel free to share a clumsy experience of your own!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
Destiny
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Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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No, it’s not just you. Grace was never my middle name and still isn’t.
I trip over my own feet.
Get your ears checked to make sure you don’t have something that is throwing your balance off though. I know it was part (but not the only reason) my balance was off and I did/do things like that.
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Janelle you poor thing. I’m clumsy but luckily I haven’t broken any bones or scarred myself too badly. Bruising, yes. It seems I’m alway slamming my knee or elbow into something.
Ev could be right, I think if something’s going on with your hearing it throws off your equilibrium. Get it checked out. Better to be safe than ending up in the hospital. Hugs!
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You poor thing! Don’t feel alone though, I was born with the Klutzy gene. I’ve been a klutz for as long as I can remember (the worst part… my name means Grace … *snort* yeah right). My normal is falling up steps. But there are days… I wake up and just *know* it’s going to be one of *them* days (usually starts by my coffee cup spewing all over the house for some reason). These are the days where I trip, literally over nothing. I’ve been known to throw change at customers, or the very worst books… which then go sliding across the counter or floor (Thank God my customers know it’s an accident and find it hilarious) Those same days are the days that books tend to fall on me, or I’ll run into a shelf, or a table. I have bruises that I couldn’t even tell you were I got them from. *knock on wood* I’ve never actually broken anything… well, with the exception of my pinky finger when I caught it in a door van, but the “big” bone wasn’t broken, a smaller bone just literally fell right out. So, here’s me feelin’ your pain. The worst part, my oldest kiddo has that same gene… Ok, so it *is* kind of funny when it happens to her though *G*
On a more serious note, it may just be the fact that the house is new to you (I’m assuming). Whenever I go and move my house (furniture) around, for a good month if not more after the fact I tend to be more accident prone. It’s like my body gets used to everything being in one area, and then I go and confuse it by moving things. Yeah, I rarely move my furniture around anymore *G* But I find the same thing happens when we go to a hotel, or our cabin in PA, etc. Anytime it’s a newer place, I’m all about doing myself in it seem.
Sorry about your toe
if it makes you feel better my DH broke his arm a couple weeks ago while away w/ the military (fell on ice). Maybe it has nothing to do with being new, it’s just in the air? Either way, it will get better *hugs* 
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Oh, Janelle! :hug2:
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Oh now i dont feel quite so bad that im the only one that has fallen up the stairs.. hubby thinks its odd..we bought our old farmhouse 16 plus years ago, and its all the original hardwood flooring, even the stairs, so they are slippery even with the anti splip things that are stuck on them… honestly i used to paste wax and buff the floors, but i quit doin that after a few years, because waxed hardwoods and toddlers, and i dont mix well..
so dull floors…oh well..better than broken bones…
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:hug2: Janelle! I’m the klutz in my family. I’ve broken my little toes(both feet) at least twice, tristed my ankle more times that I can count, messed up me knee tripping over a box, and I’ve had way too many trips to the emergency room. I’ve learned to always look down when going down the steps and up when going up. I’ve tripped or just missed the steps way too many times.
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Janelle,
:happy2: 
I totally understand. I think i’ve become klutzier as i’ve gotten older. Case in point last wednesday I broke my right ankle roller skating!! I’ve roller skated a million times. I still can’t beleive I broke my ankle. Now i’m sitting at work with a hot pink cast. If anyone has a bedazzler let me know. I’m going to make this the hotest cast ever!!!
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:hug2:Janelle….I’ll come to your house and :boxer….
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:hug2:Janelle….I’ll come to your house and :boxer….the house…not you!
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Janelle! I’m so sorry. :hug2:
Have your ears checked to see if you don’t have some sort of inner ear thing going on that’s throwing off your balance.
February last year I slipped walking out of the laundry room and caught my right foot on the door jamb going down. I ended up with a fractured ankle. The orthopedic surgeon said I was very lucky not to need surgery. I always check the floor now before I walk in there to make sure there is no water or anything on the floor that I might slip on. :giggler
Cher
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Now I’m speaking only from my own experience, I don’t know if this is universal or if this pertains
to all: as I’ve aged, I seem to have grown more unsteady on my feet. At least that is my explanation
for my klutziness!! LOL!
Pat Cochran
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Janelle, sounds like your family needs to make the same contingency plan mine did when I kept hurting myself…just wrap you up in bubble wrap and stand you in a corner. :giggler
Hope your toe heals and you’re feeling much better soon!!
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When I was in college, I lived in a beautiful dorm that was built like a Southern plantation home, with huge pillars out front and with a double-staircase into the parlor…where you went up a wide section of the staircase and then it divided into separate, smaller stairs going to the left and right to our rooms. It was such a beautiful staircase, that couples often got married in our dorm, for it made such beautiful pictures with the bride coming down that staircase. Even students who had graduated came back to be wed there.
We didn’t have phones in each of our rooms, but had to receive phone calls at a downstairs phone. It was a weekend and the downstairs parlor was occupied by a number of couples sitting in couches there when I received a phone call from my boyfriend. You can guess, I tripped and fell down the longest section of that staircase all the way into the parlor. One of the guys sitting with his girlfriend said quite loudly, “Boy, you really wanted that phone call!” I wasn’t hurt just terribly embarrassed, but I will never forget that fall.
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Janelle, it’s not just you. I’m a total klutz too (bad knees don’t help!). When my son was little I tripped over some toys he had set up on Christmas day. I was walking out of the kitchen with a plate with my sandwich in one hand, and a glass of tea in the other hand. Stepped down on those trucks & tripped, falling forward. The plate went flying & crash landed in the living room. The glass of tea went toward the wall, streaking the nice white paint with brown splotches, and I landed face first on the tile floor. Had a beautiful shiner to welcome in the new year!!
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Janelle, I am so there! I, too, lived in a one-story my entire life. When Curt and I moved to the boonies, we moved into a two story house. The first year, I fell eight times! I’ve sprained my ankle, broken two toes and sprained my wrist. The only hope I can offer, is that the falls became fewer and farther apart over the past few years. Now, I never fall unless I’m in a hurry. Then it’s every writer for herself.
I hope you’re okay!!
Kim
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Janelle,
I am right there. I fall all the time, I am currently in a walking cast.
Maybe, your new clumsiness is due to altitude change. It might just be your body is still adjusting to the move. Just this morning I whacked myself inthe face as I ansewered the phone. Last week, I opened the car door on my hand. Yep, got it caught in between the car and the wall.
I’ve also stood and opened the car door hitting myself in the face.
Good Luck on riding out the storm of klutziness.
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I’m so sorry for laughing…but I did. Full body-chuckle laugh, especially over the laundry basket because it sounded so much like something I would do.
As for the stairs, I’m with you and Jolene – always fall UP the stairs. Fortunately, I’ve never fallen down them. Our house now is a 1 story so it’s not an issue, but I seriously twisted my ankle one time falling up the stairs in our old house. It makes me cringe just thinking about it.
I hope this is just a temporary phase that passes quickly. Very quickly!!!! And yeah, maybe Leslie’s idea of bubble wrap isn’t such a bad one. You can buy the giant rolls at places like Costco and Sam’s Club! :giggler
Be careful and take care of yourself!! :hug2:
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Eve,
do you have any advice for me and my broken ankle? I need all the help i can get.
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Janelle I have noticed that as I get older ( I am 45)I also have gotten a bit more clumsy. I was always had great balance rarely fell or dropped stuff.
I think my problem is inner ear now because i find myself getting dizzy.
But the dropping things I don’t know about. I am going to ask my doctor on my next check up about the loss of grip strength.
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Ow, ow, ow! I feel your pain, Janelle. Falling UP stairs takes talent. That’s what I keep telling myself every time I do that!
I swear builders don’t build them right – the rise is too tall (why you catch your toe) or the steps aren’t wide enough (I have big feet . If they are carpeted, get rubber soles to wear, not socks. Think TRACTION. We’re having an ice storm and I HAD to get out. (Dogs needed food.) I slipped and slid and managed NOT to land on my :bootyshak: Thank goodness.
Hang in there and be careful!
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I am notorious for miss judging any corner in our house. I just come around the corner (wall, chair, bed or table) to close and :doh:
I have also learned to vacumn with my shoes on since I have a problem with rolling the vacumn over my toes.
Janelle, here’s to better days. :hug2:
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Janelle, ouch on your “boo boo’s”. I have always been such a klutz I can sympathize with your problem. When I was in high school (a really long time ago!!) I fell up the steps. The first thing I did was look around to see if anyone saw me, it was so embarrasing! :giggler The only thing hurt was my dignity!!
Like other people here I would suggest getting your ears checked to see if you might have an inner ear infection or something affecting your balance. My mom had that problems quite some time ago & it was over a year before it completely cleared up. She had problems because it would come & go. Other than that I would be very careful going up & down your stairs, don’t wear just socks because that makes it much easier to slip. I’ve also broken a toe, there isn’t much you can do for that but it sure hurts for a few days. Mine was so swollen the only shoes I could wear were my Birkenstocks or slippers. It was also very colorful!!
If you tend to hurry, slow down when you are going up & down the steps. Also if you are very stressed that can cause a person to be clumsy because you aren’t letting yourself really pay attention to the task at hand. I almost always have bruises on me somewhere! You are not alone.
Be careful, stay safe. :hug2:
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I fell on the stairs at the library once. Went down hard on my butt! And then pretended I was fine even though I felt like crying.
I think I’m clumsier in public. Which is not good.
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I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only clumsy one, LOL! And yes, I do agree that falling “up” stairs takes talent!
I think I just need to be more careful when I’m doing things. Most of the time I’m in a rush, and that could be a good part of the reason why things happen.
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I think my most recent clumsiness has all been courtesy of snow and ice. Just after the last storm dumped some snow here, I had to walk my niece and nephew home, a whole three doors up and across the street, and ended up slipping twice. I normally don’t have any problem at all, even on ice, but there must have been something about that day or something because I slipped at the end of my driveway and at the end of my sister’s driveway – falling on the same side both times. There was definitely a bruise after that. *sigh*
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I have fallen up stairs also Janelle :doh:
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Janelle I totally feel you on the clumsy thing. Though mine has always been part of my life. I constantly walk in to walls.. yes, I know they don’t move, but it sure seems like they do when I slam my elbow, knee, or once in a while my face directly into them. I wake up most days with new bruises and just laugh and say “oh well, must have been one of those moving walls again”. The worst was a couple days before thanksgiving this past year. I was coming down my deck stairs to go to work. Had my hands full with my purse and toast for breakfast. On the bottom stair my right foot slipped out from under me and I landed on my right butt cheek/right side pretty hard. I didn’t think much of it until I woke up the day after Thanksgiving and could barely walk. I herniated a disc in my right lower back. So, unfortunately some clumsiness can cost ya. I just try to think about it like this.. it could always be worse, lol..
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im freakingly klutzy, it is getting so bad when im with or near anyone, they will usually get hurt.
. i either hit them with my elbows or my nails even few times kicking em. but accidently. billion times i slipped what in my hands.including a baby. poor him. he is fine btw. i also hurt myself all the time. tsk .i need help. dont they have meds for this disease?