I fell on the sidewalk two months ago. I was walking to BART on a warm day, and I tripped on some uneven pavement.

I went down hard. I smashed my knee and tore some muscle or worse near my ribs. Six weeks later I was still feeling the injuries.

It’s not that I’m particularly clumsy, and I have pretty good balance. It’s about exposure. I walk for transportation, so I have more chances to fall than most people I know. And nine times out of ten, my stumble results in an awkward running dance of recovery, and I don’t hit the pavement. Of course that means when I do hit, I hit from a running dance instead of a walk; the impact is considerable.

I refuse to let the fall intimidate me. I will not be one of those older folks who so fears a fall that she won’t venture. But I want to learn from this.

Okay: I wasn’t wearing walking shoes. My feet don’t like confinement; I had them in sensible sandals. And I have to admit the sandals contributed to the accident. They have arch support and walking soles, but they are open in front. The toe freedom also means that the front sole of the sandal can start to turn under my foot when it runs into a ledge of uneven concrete. Which is how I fell.

I think I get it. I’ve been deluded by the concrete. It has led me to assume there’s something safer about sidewalk than about a hiking trail. I understand now that I have to approach sidewalk like any other trail experience. I have to pay attention to the terrain and to my footwear.

Wait a minute: wasn’t there regular advice from my parents, about sensible shoes? Sometimes it takes a few decades to get it …