So I get in my home office, hear a metal noise, look up and I thank the lord my reflexes are still somewhat good ’cause I caught this sucker on its way down to my dome.

Other than being covered by dust bunnies and dust velociraptors, I was OK. The post-mortem indicates that the cotter pin holding the retaining pin either got loose or broke. The retaining pin worked itself out and eventually the whole thing decided to take a trip south when I just happened to be under. There was a date of manufacturing on it: 1993. And Floridians will tell you we only turn them off in the 2 days of Winter and when they are wobbly because that means they need to be cleaned. We bought the house almost 18 years ago so that is at least how long that fan has bee working without interruption. It was the only fan I did not change when we moved.

At the risk of losing points in my Florida Man Card, I am installing another ceiling fan, and the reason is, have you seen the prices of ceiling fans? OMFG! What the hell happened? $60 for a plain Jane Hunter of Hampton Bay? The equivalent I bought for the living room with lights and remote for $60 is now close to $100. Oh hell no.
I am gonna go with a desk mounted or pedestal and remote control with that sucker. And cheap to boot.

And once again, whomever placed the killing curse of death by falling fan: You missed! 🙂

PS: Hunter and Hampton Bay are very good brands. If you do need fans, you can’t go wrong with either. 
PS2: Make the investment in the remote controls. You will thank me. Even if the fans come without it, there is a retrofit kit.