Every time I get in and out of my house, I pass by the scene of the accident, and the result of the accident may be much more serious than it is now. You can't see my ladder in the picture above. That's because I rarely continue to use them. Four years ago, I set up a ladder to clean the leaves on the roof. Let us say that Black Friday morning did not go as planned.

Four years ago, I fell off a ladder and broke my back. It was a beautiful Black Friday morning. I go out to buy some things, and then go home to do some housework for the day. One task was to remove some remaining leaves from the asphalt on our roof. I got down the ladder, as I did as a homeowner many times before. Holly, who was about to go to work at the beginning, yelled to me "Don't fall, don't die". This is a sarcasm that she gives me every year. I assured her that I was very careful. But I made a serious mistake.

After stopping for a few stops on the side of my house, I set up a ladder on the sidewalk. Even though my children are at home, I still chose to have no observers. Blunder. When my feet were level with the roof of the house, the ladder gave way on the concrete surface and I fell. I landed with my feet, but the pressure of the fall fractured my back. The medical staff had to cut off my clothes, let me board the plane, and then took me to the hospital in an ambulance.

Yes, I broke my back, but it could be worse. What if I land on my head or neck? I may be paralyzed or even worse. After several months of bracing and rehabilitation, I fully recovered. I'm very lucky.

As the weather gets better this week, many of you will show off your holiday lighting. If you decide to climb the ladder, do me a favor. Follow all safety precautions and use the buddy system. There is an observer. It sounds simple, but it could have saved my sunny November day. As for me, I will insist on putting the lamp in the bushes... on the ground.