Random Acts of "Kindness"

Posts tagged ‘bike’

BIKE

I’m sure it is my fault. After all, I mentioned that I needed to write a few more thought rambles. I asked for ideas. I asked for “help”.

We are still at the camper. My husband took our two bikes out of the shed and inflated the tires. I used to LOVE to ride a bike. Notice the past tense here. The last time I had the bike out, I got HOORIBLE cramps in my right thigh. So bad I couldn’t move, let alone walk. When they finally let up, I walked the bike back home. I don’t want to remember how long ago that was. I know it was before the ulcer on my left leg. When the doctor treated the veins on my left leg, I asked him to treat the veins on my right leg too — so I would be able to ride a bike. I will admit that I still get cramps in my right thigh. I will admit that I have a stationary bike at home that I haven’t been on either.

The bikes were out of the shed. The tires had been inflated. I convinced myself that I should see if I would be able to ride without a cramp. We camp on a hill. It is a challenging ride up or down but I thought going down hill would be easier. I planned a SHORT ride — to the bottom of the hill, and I would walk the bike back home.

First, walking through the kitchen — my right eye started to hurt. I didn’t know if something fell in it — like an eyelash or a bug or ?? I did know that it HURT. As a matter of fact I couldn’t keep my eye open. I have eye drops in the bathroom and treated my eye to a couple of drops. I told my husband what had happened and said that even though I wasn’t tired, I was going to lie down and rest my eye. I heard the phone when our daughter phoned. I get her voice mail often — I don’t often get her voice.

I put the storm windows on the bunk room windows. I don’t think anyone will be sleeping in there again this year. Night time temps are forecast to go down in the 50’s. Extra storm windows on the East side won’t hurt.

I put my socks and shoes on. I prepared to ride the bike. My husband came up onto the deck. He was replacing the floor in a shed and ran out of screws. Have scooter will travel. A short time later, I returned with needed screws. I hate to admit that I didn’t bring my eyeglasses and needed help getting the screws. I thought the store was getting ready to close and wanted to beat the closing. Thankfully there was someone to help me.

Preparing to ride the bike — I saw a friend walking down the street. After talking to him, I realized my foot hurt and I needed to sit down. One, two, three — delayed again — I realized I wasn’t supposed to ride the bike today. If I don’t try it before we go home, I’ll have to practice on my stationary bike at home.

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

STUFF HAPPENS

I’m often warned to be careful. Whether the warning pertains to my driving, walking or cooking I try to pay attention. I didn’t receive a warning on Friday. As a matter of fact, I hadn’t been warned of a problem in a few days. Friday was a beautiful day. We had just returned from spending 10 days at the camper and as usual I was behind, out and about running errands. It was a beautiful day. Just a trifle hot.

Turning into the Aldi’s parking lot — my car and a bike collided. I put on the brakes as soon as I heard the scream. A young woman was laying on the ground, her bike knocked over. Where did she come from? I HAD NOT seen her. Evidently she was riding in a NEW bike lane, on a NEW bike in the blind spot of my mirror. I DID NOT SEE HER! She was upset, I was upset. The beautiful day had vanished in a heartbeat.

Two fire engines arrived, then an ambulance, then a police sergeant. Luckily proof of insurance was in the glove box of our car. A man had seen the accident from across the street. He told us that we collided at the same time. I know I had my turning directional on, and I had slowed down to make the right turn. I DID NOT KNOW that there was a bike lane. There was no one crossing the side walk, another car wasn’t leaving the driveway. Luckily, just her leg was scrapped but she was concerned that it was broken. Therefore the ambulance took her to the hospital. The sergeant told me to follow him to the hospital, asking if I had a lawyer. “Do I need one?” I asked. “Talk to your friends”, he told me. He had my drivers license and my insurance card, I had no choice but to follow him to the hospital.

I learned that he wasn’t able to write out an accident report. They were in the process of changing shifts when the accident happened and he was the only one available. I was unfamiliar with the hospital — parked my car on the third level of the parking garage and went in search of the emergency room. I think I was only at the hospital for a short time. The accident report showed the point of collision behind the REAR tire of the passenger side. The point of impact added to my belief that I hadn’t seen her.

Leaving the hospital, I COULDN’T FIND MY CAR! I walked up and down the levels of the garage many times. I didn’t want to call my husband to help me look for my car. His key ring had a car finder, mine didn’t. Luckily I finally found the car and continued my errands.

Arriving home, I called a friend and asked her if she knew of a lawyer in case I needed one. I shared the distressing news with the rest of my family. I tried to calm down.

Although I DID NOT SEE HER, I was involved in the accident. I could not relax! She phoned on Sunday with good news. NO BROKEN BONES, just bruised tissue. THANK YOU LORD! If it had to happen, at least she wasn’t severely injured. I’m wondering — Since I received NO WARNINGS — did this have to happen? Then the big question –WHY?

Category:

Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Tag Cloud