Lady J wrote: I have fallen many, many times during my 30's and now 40's and none of those falls were alcohol related or drug related. I have fallen going up stairs, I have fallen going down stairs. I have fallen walking on flat ground.
Oh, good grief. I don't ever recall falling on stairs.
Lady J wrote:I have split open my eyebrow, I have turned around quickly and banged my face on a wall....
Egad. You're beginning to enter the world of the surreal.
Lady J wrote:Once, while getting out of bed in the morning, my foot and leg inadvertently slipped between the bed frame and the box springs and I fell, leaving me bruised and swollen from about 6 inches above my ankle down to my toes.
Okay, that can happen. Turning around in a doorway and hitting your face on the wall has me a little worried, though.
Lady J wrote:I really am not more uncoordinated than your average Joe....
Alas, the rest of your post seems to indicate otherwise.
Even when I was jogging at night in my forties, I hit a piece of pavement which had frost heaves in it and was hidden from the street light by the shadow of a willow tree. I took a tumble forward, as my foot caught the height of the frost heaves. I instictively put my hands out in front of my chest and face as I fell down. Although I fell on pavement, in the dark, I was essentially none the worse for wear and continued my run.
That's normal. Stick your hands in front of your chest. If anything is going to get injured, it would be a knee or elbow. It is very hard to envision anyone falling flat on their face unless their reflexes are encumbered by drugs or alcohol.