Following Too Close

Joe Hyde received this from a friend ant it is food for thought for all of us.

Joe,
Just a few thoughts on a late Monday night after a long day. It's another
reminder of how in an INSTANT things can change. Fortunatly, I came out OK
on this one! You may want to pass it along to the folks. Thanks Joe.





Over 300,000 miles of safe riding...but it only takes a half a second to
ruin a day.



Monday, 10/27/08. 12:02pm

I was on my way to work today on the 1800. Just turned onto the the road
that leads from my subdivision to Main street Los Lunas. Pulled up to the
stop sign behind 2 Isleta Tribal police cars waiting their turn onto main
street. Of course, it was noon and lots of traffic up and down Main, in and
out of the 66 station, and pouring in and out of Walmart. The first cop made
the right turn into the flow, the next cop car...the one in front of me
begins to make the right turn into the flow, I turn my head to the left and
pull forward to take my place as number one and WHAM. The cop car in front
changes her mind and stopped as I looked left. The next thing I know I'm off
the bike to the right face down on the street bleeding from the mouth and
nose as if I'd turned on a faucet. "*&%#@, that hurts, do I have my front
teeth? I think so...ya....can I move....all my bones seem to be OK....how do
I turn off the bleeding?" The top of the windshield (stock) caught me at the
base of my nose and broke a bone and cut my upper lip. Another "*&%#@!"
"Sir...SIR can you hear me?" Two young Isleta Tribal cops bend down on one
knee. I give them a thumb up. "Is your right leg trapped? Hell I don't
know....no....I can easily crawl to all fours...but the pool of blood now is
about the size of a dinner plate. I pull the helmet, gloves and glasses off.
It's nice to hit a cop. You get lots of attention...or at least THEY do!
Sirens, 2 ambulances, 3 Los Lunas cops....all on scene in about 4 seconds!
Anyrate, they required a NM state cop to show up and write the report as a
requirement to the tribe....something about their superiors/lawers are not
very forgiving when the Tribal cops are involved in an off reservation
accident.....or something. Whatever. The State cop was not quite a prompt,
but a nice guy all the same. He was sorry to see the almost new bike resting
on it's right side crash bars. He was quick to help me upright the bike as
it was bothe ring me to see the injured steed in that position. An hour a
forty minutes later, I rode the bike home, (2 blocks) and called
work....because now I'm over an hour late. The nations air traffic will
somehow have to carry on without me for a few days!



After parking the bike I drove to urgent care to get a doc to check me
out....that nose thing is *&%#@ hurtin! I had a chance to ride in 2
different ambulances but that's expensive and for the weak, not tough
bikers! I'll drive my OWN self, thank you. After being told I'd live and
refusing the stitches for the now ONE inch cut (actually only 1/4
inch)....it'll heal. I have some broken bone in my upper mouth, under my
nostrals. Give me another bath towel to contain the bleeding. (No blood on
the Lex's leather ya know!) I was outta there.



Now I'm getting all the "ANYTHING TO GET OUTTA WORK" calls from folks at
work. Where's the love?!?!



Anyrate, it's soft cold food and drink for a few weeks and a black and blue
sore face. Ought to be a GREAT diet!



Oh ya....I have a broken heart when I see the broken parts on my new bike.
More on that later when Mr Howell and I look closer.

Total expenses for the day... One ruined Subway sandwich fo lunch, $5.65,
copay at the urgent care, $15.00, persript for penicillin, $15.00, traffic
citation for "following too close" $60.00. Insurance deductable for the
bike...who knows. Another life lesson. PRICELESS!

I now realize all-n-all I had a great day!

How was your day?




BE SAFE ALL!
Gary Strawderman