A couple of years ago, I was gazing out my apartment window while people streamed away from the downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade.

As I stood there, trying to warm up before heading out again, I noticed several small pieces of ice fly off the building next to mine, most of them falling harmlessly to the ground below.

But then I watched in horror as a gigantic, flat piece of ice - easily four or five feet across and wide - helicoptered downward a few dozen stories and headed right for a group of revelers strolling arm-in-arm on Randolph Street.

They never knew they were in danger until the huge ice shelf crashed just inches in front of them, spraying ice everywhere, causing them to leap backwards. I breathed a sigh of relief as they instictively covered their heads before furtively scanning the skies to see if any other potentially fatal gifts from God were headed their way.

For a second, though, I really thought they were goners.

Ah, life in the big city.

Anyway, check out the video on this page for some great shots of falling ice.

And in case you’re wondering who gets blamed if someone is hit by wayward ice:

Building managers were held liable in a 1994 incident in which a Wisconsin man was killed by falling ice on Michigan Avenue.

Killed. Oh, man, that’s not good. I don’t mind getting shot at or blown up, but I don’t want to go out like that.

“Where’s Miller?”

“Didn’t you hear, dude? Killed by a giant ice cube.”

“What a dweeb. Hey, how long before I can ask his widow for a date?”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m waiting until she gets her fat jury check.”