I'm a lucky man. Those of you who know me well enough to know my family, my wife, my friends, my playmates, my job, my work associates, my home, my dog, my cat, my bike (this list could go on for a while), you all know that I'm a lucky man. To be sure the credit for my luck belongs to God, and I thank him daily.
A funny thing happened on my way home from my Rotten Ralph's ride yesterday. I got hit by a car. So why do I feel lucky? Before I explain the answer let me give you the skinny on the accident.
The RR ride is an out and back from my house to the northern tip of Anna Maria Island and back. It's a scenic and seemingly safe ride as there's a bike lane on almost the entire route. So I'm now headin' back home, about 15 miles into a 21 miler, riding in the bike lane on the "causeway", the two-lane road which takes you to the beach, when all of a sudden - THUMP! And I'm launched, bike and all, into the air for what the police estimated to be 20 feet.
Thankfully I was sent to the right into the grass and dirt instead of into to road and oncoming traffic. Best I can tell, I came down on my butt and back - 'cause that's where I hurt. Plus my left rib cage is sore where I think my aerobar hit me. So I'm layin' there, wind knocked outta me, and I'm kinda pissed, thinking "I can't believe somebody just hit me".
Two "angels" came for me. BTW, the perp never stopped - which is becoming all too common according to the police and EMT guys. The first angel was Kirk. He saw me on the side of the road and stopped. I was able to get up on one elbow but still hadn't caught my breath. Kirk called 911, and picked up the scattered pieces of my phone - which is ok - just the battery and cover popped off.
I wasn't ready to sit up, but I thought of all of you next. This'll make a great picture for the blog! So I labored to reach into my back pocket and fished out my Olympus Stylus Tough waterproof/shockproof camera. "Would you mind taking a picture?" I asked Kirk. He obliged and snapped one.
Look at that "you-know-what" eating grin. I look like I'm taking a nap. As long as I didn't move there wasn't much pain. Then Kirk suggested "Let's get one with the bike too". So he dragged the bike next to me, still not ready to get up, and caught this second shot.
Notice the legs in the top of the picture. Those were the other angels. A women named Madeline knelt beside me and asked "I'm a minister, can I pray for you?" "Absolutely, thanks" I said. And she did. Then she brought me her water jug - a leftover half gallon milk container filled with cool water. Does that remind you of the story of "The Sheep and the Goats" or what?! (Matthew 25: 31-46).
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..."
The police arrived moments later and my angels went on their way. I'm a lucky man. I have angels in my life and I know it. I could be dead. I could be paralyzed. I'm a lucky man.
To finish the story, I got a ride in the ambulance to Blake Hospital, a testament to our amazing health care system, where some blood and urine samples along with x-rays and a CAT scan revealed that I was ok.
My bike's another story.
I'm a lucky man!
