I left home looking elegant: black fur coat, black pleated skirt, impeccable white shirt, gleaming white flats, and my bag--where I carried an "emergency" umbrella.

On the way, I saw a lake with fresh mud at the edges. I thought I could walk along the edges.

Spoiler: I couldn't.

The first step dirtied the soles of my shoes.

The second, half of my flats.

The third Slap! I was already covered in mud up to my ankles, and the skirt started to feel like it was taking on its own weight.

And then it started to rain.

Perfect.

I took the umbrella out of my bag, opened it confidently and it turned inside out like a confused bird.

Not only did it not help, but it soaked me even more.

The coat was drenched, the white shirt became abstract art, the sneakers lost their innocence forever, and even the inside of the bag became a puddle of its own. In the end, it felt like I'd had a full mud spa experience--unintentional, but fun.