last thing i remember was seeing the asphalt before i closed my eyes and hoped for the best. it felt like mere seconds from when i landed to when i was on my feet but according to witnesses, i was down for 3-4 minutes, on my chest, face down in the right lane of a two lane street. i dont remember what happened really before i hit, i'd never been suddenly knocked unconscious before. i spent most of new year's eve in the hospital, only to be released later in the evening pending catscans and x-rays. there were 3 other men with me in the trauma room, 2 had been in a boating accident, apparently hitting jagged rocks just below the water line, and another man who thought it wise to try and take on a buffalo, or so i gathered. i believe he owned a buffalo ranch somewhere way out east and actually got trampled. at least i hope it went down that way, simply because the former is just stupid.
yes, i get side tracked a lot, back to my story.. i was in a motorcycle accident, a wreck if you will, at speeds of about 50-55 mph. i was ejected from my two-wheeled deathtrap and landed about 30 feet behind and to the right of where i originally was thrown, the bike flipped several times according to motorists who were there, resting more than 100 feet away from me. i've been told if i had been tossed ahead of the bike like most bike accidents do, the 500lb monstrosity would've, no lets not assume, it could've done more damage to its rider. i landed head first, with my chin and face shield being first to impact followed by, from what i can tell from the damage to my padded riding jacket, was my left elbow and left shoulder then left torso and finally my left knee as i was scraped up nicely along my knee and thigh.
i was brought into the emergency room to be treated for trauma, the nurses cut up my long sleeve shirt and the t-shirt i wore over and i wasnt too happy about it but they needed to. a plethora of nurses and doctors sent a barrage of questions about the incident as well as any allergic reactions i may have to certain medications or my age and name et cetera. once stable i was brought in for x-rays and a catscan revealing no broken bones but suffering a severe concussion. i wouldn't at all have minded being killed in that accident, not to be overly dramatic but what exactly is there to fear in death? i would rather have had it that way then say, become a vegetable, the kind no one likes, like a brussel sprout. but no, i was barely injured aside from sprains and a throbbing in my head like the san francisco orchestra was opening up for led zeppelin in there.
in reflection, i'm rather amazed i walked away unscathed from this incident. considering the average life span for a daily rider in this state is a mere 4 months, as well as how much damage my jacket and helmet took, not to mention the bike.. it was totally wrecked, not mangled but enough damage that if an insurance inspector came out and looked at it, he'd total it out.. which wont happen because its not under full coverage.
nothin left to do but rebuild it and get on again. although this was my worst accident, it wasnt my first nor second, and each time i picked it up, started and got back on. dont get scared, i was careful and this particular event was out of my control. whats that old moniker? whatever doesn't kill you, yadda yadda yadda.
happy new year.
