Laid low by a snowball

Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 08:29 AM

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It's always great fun until someone loses an eye. Who hasn't heard that old adage before?

Well, even a hurt eye can put a serious damper on the fun, as I found out last night. We had a heavy shower of snow yesterday evening and every kid in the neighborhood was again out throwing snowballs. I (and I refuse to say stupidly) decided to go out and join in.

My neighbor was out there with his kids and he was under assault from all sides. I joined him and shortly afterwards another neighbor joined our side. There were three of us; there were at least 10 of them.

We were doing fine. We had a neat operation watching out for each with occasional forays into enemy territory to administer 'justice'. All was going well.

Then - somehow without me noticing - my two teammates vanished to investigate a house alarm. I was on my own. Soon a swarm of junior Visigoths were overrunning our citadel.

I was making and throwing snowballs as fast as I could, driving back the horde. I was having some success, but then it happened. The smallest kid out there had snuck up on me. He got within 18 inches of me and then opened up...

My eye was hurting. I instantly threw up the white flag and headed for a shelter to see if it would clear. I stayed out another 10 minutes before I realized my eye was stinging too much for me to take any further part in the war.

I couldn't open my eye for most of the night. Today it's still fairly red and sore. I can't see too well - reading on the computer is a strain.

So, lesson learned? Maybe, but I hope not. I'd hate to think my last ever snowball fight ended in pain rather than the silly chatter about successful strikes. Throwing snowballs is great fun - until someone loses (the use of) an eye.

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jacersagain | Dec 21, 2010, 10:33 PM EST

Seriously, I think everybody should act their age... hit Niall O'D with snowballs and any other balls everytime. Then we in Ireland and all of us 70 millions might have peace and a great few laughs in our cont'ray in between. Ok.. ok.. ok now now lads and lassies, don't be looking at me now, all of yez'. Can you start unpacking those white fluffs of Dublin snow please... and pack them off to Saudi Arabia like good people? ... and you there, yes YOU there... will you take the little stone out? I dont't care if you think it's only one of them little ones from Newgrange! Are you from Porty'y Doon ye little fff.. flipper? Have a good one.. all of you! Red sore eyes an' all.. :-)

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sirpeter | Dec 21, 2010, 05:47 PM EST

I Know how you feel..I have 3 teenage daughters myself..A formidable force if they think you are not acting your age..ha ha

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TheYank | Dec 21, 2010, 04:12 PM EST

sirpeter,

If you think O'Dowd was unsympathetic you should have heard my wife. Oh, any my teenage daughters. In fact they were worse. All they did was ask questions, such as: "How old are you?" and "What sort of an eejit are you?"

Comparatively, O'Dowd's practically in tears on my behalf.

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Towngate | Dec 21, 2010, 02:58 PM EST

Hope your eye heals up. ... I am surprised george D hasn't ranted about how the Visigoths got in! He must be slipping. Anyway,I thought the peace commission led by the Mighty Mcdowd, decommissioned,and put all snowballs "beyond use". They have some photographs to prove it?

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sirpeter | Dec 21, 2010, 01:43 PM EST

You'll be grand :)Not much sympathy from Niall O'Dowd was there..ha ha..but he has a point a kneecapping would have been worse.

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TheYank | Dec 21, 2010, 12:36 PM EST

sirpeter, I think that's all that happened. I think he was so long sidling up to me that his snowball got extra compact. I'm recovering. Should be good to drive tomorrow. As for the roads, they should be good to drive by a week from tomorrow.

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TheYank | Dec 21, 2010, 11:49 AM EST

Niall/Dublinjas, No, minimal anti-American abuse came my way in the snow or the post office.

However, my wife did once hear some angry old biddies making similar noises to what that woman in Portadown encountered when an Australian was mailing a package home. They were angry because his package was delaying them getting their pensions.

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TheYank | Dec 21, 2010, 11:46 AM EST

GeorgeDillon, Well, we have so much snow now that even if they wanted to find a rock they couldn't. Last night there were 6 or so inches of snow on the ground. This evening it's closer to 9. I loved kids games when I was a kid. Would kill to be 11 again, playing baseball, basketball, hockey, sleigh-riding, throwing snowballs. Easily the best days.

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sirpeter | Dec 21, 2010, 11:42 AM EST

Bit of hard ice in a snowball into the eye can be a sore thing

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Niall O'Dowd | Dec 21, 2010, 11:35 AM EST

John, they figured the local yank was a legitimate target, be happy they didn't kneecap you

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Dublinjas | Dec 21, 2010, 11:29 AM EST

Do you have any trouble with the pensioners at the post office?

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GeorgeDillon | Dec 21, 2010, 11:17 AM EST

I hear it's a common trick in Ireland for children to put a stone at the core of the snowball. Lucky that doesn't appear the case for you. As for me, even when I was a child I hated playing with children, and since I became an adult I have avoided foolishness such as you got involved in. Adult games are much more fun, and warmer.

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