OT; avoiding death by inches

[JonyRR]

As with most of us, I've taken many chances on my motorcycles over the years. The vast majority I would consider 'calculated risks'..since I didn't have to pay the ultimate price, the risk was worth it.
I always thought I'd buy it riding my 'sikkle, in my boat, skiing or some other 'high risk' activity.
yesterday, in downtown Seattle, withing a block of the building I work in, I used one of my lives (I hope it wasn't the last one).
A cement mixer truck was turning the corner (I had the walk sign) he wasn't stopping, so I stepped back off the curb. My right ankle folded and with an explosive 'pop' it dislocated and tossed me face-first into the street directly in the path of the oncoming mixer. I turned my head from the pavement (smacked my nose hard enough to bring tears to my eyes) to see the stopped tire of the truck within 12" of my face...the bumper was over my head.
I got up; I was going to thank the driver for not running over me..it was really that close. He drove away before I could say thanks.
The line between this reality and the next is vanishingly small.
I'm nursing a very sore dislocated ankle and enjoying being alive for another day. Time to go riding...

[pmc847]

Someone up there must like you or has bigger plans for your future.

So glad you are ok because you are one of few who gives me such great and possitive feed back.

Did you have to change your shorts?

Philip

[JonyRR]

'Did you have to change your shorts?'
yeah, AND my pants. Haggar slacks are tough, as the pants ripped slightly but skinned the %&**(* outta my knee. I've never had my ankle fold like that before.
getting old(er) is a drag.
I applied a decent amount of tequila last night as an analgesic

[SergioK]

Wow, glad you are okay, for the most part. Nurse that ankle Jony!

[dee jones]

Jony, I'm glad your still here. I'm looking forward to riding with you someday. Those close calls always make us appreciate still being here.

[Lars]

Wow, what a story- puts you (even more) in touch with your mortality. Good to be reading the story as written by the person to whom it happened, instead of some third party. Yet another excuse to drink

[on2wheels52]

We're pretty fragile creatures, I try to apreciate every day. Here's hoping we're all still riding at 100.
Jim

[wswartzwel]

Glad you are OK. When we face death it can cause us to think about priorities, and question our beliefs... Usually a month later we are back to living like death will never come... Enjoy your family more than usual this Thanksgiving season John.

[Moybin]

Good to hear the Fates are watching over you. Get better quick!

[Flatbutt1]

Sacred feces Jony! Glad you're OK. Growing older is definitely not for sissies.

[Sideshow_S]

Come January 8th I'll be celebrating the 10th year anniversary of my second life. Welcome to the club. And if you're curious it involves ice, a bridge, an upside-down Prelude, a snowplow, a little brother, and an ambulance. I remember it like yesterday. Actually better than yesterday.

I've been within inches myself and I know what that day is like afterwards. Glad to see you posting.

[R111S]

Ditto glad you didn't get flattened by the big black tire.

I too have problems with simple locomotion sometimes...ask myself how come I can't walk and chew dumb at the same time but can balance two wheels mile after mile.

Please be careful everyone.

[John Lyon]

Yikes. Just going to lunch and suddenly have a near-death experience. Maybe start bringing a brown bag. Glad you're OK.

[PFFOG]

Glad the driver was at least paying some attention, and you are O.K.

You never know, that is why you should never put opportunities off for a later time.

[Jeff Williams]

Jony,
life is to short, Talk to Elvis. He says drink more.
Glad to see fate and circumstance only gave you a passing glance.
take care and be safe,
jeff

[bikpaintr]

Glad to hear you cheated the grim reaper once again. Lucky for you that was a cement truck with a professional driver & not an SUV with a driver blabbing on their cell phone.

[ckcarr]

And the last sound you hear is some song from the "Smashing Pumpkins."

Seriously,
Glad you're alive to tell the tale.
Of course, as Jim Morrison said "No one gets out of here alive."

Personally, I don't think motorcycles will be the demise of any of us regular posters on the board. It will be that unforseen event, like yours, something that catches you completely by surprise, when you least expect it.

For the last week I have been so sick, I feel like that Russian spy who was poisoned by the KGB with some radioactive isotope. I think it's one of my employees trying to get me!

But I had an experience like that a couple years ago when I was climbing around out here looking for petroglyphs. Had my backpack on, was hiking up a medium sloped trail, no big deal, got to a steeper part and reached up to some sandstone rock for a little support. When I had just two fingers on the rock it broke off in my hand and I fell backwards. Just air under my foot I had tried to put down. So I tumbled backwards about 50 feet going faster and faster until I finally stopped. If I had gone just a little further I was looking at a several hundred foot sheer dropoff...

No one saw it, no one knew it but me. So I just got back up and kept trudging along.

[wswartzwel]

ck have you taken care of putting me in your will yet..

[Rootboy]

So glad you are O.K. I actually was a witness to a similar event in downtown Chicago a few years back. The pedestrian did not survive and the truck driver was taken away in an abulance because he was so shaken up (she steped out into the street against the light, the driver was not ticketed... it was very messy, to say the least. Full cement trucks take some distance to come to a full stop and they are always in a hurry...the nature of the beast.

[Rapid Dog]

getreten in was?

careful there oldtmer...you gots shnorkles to invent n stuff!