T MINUS 12 HOURS AND COUNTING

IT'S BEEN NEARLY A WEEK NOW SINCE MY UNFORTUNATE "RENDEZVOUS" WITH THE CURB.  I HAVE RUN THE GAMUT OF EMOTIONS, ALL THE WAY FROM "OH MAN THAT HURTS LIKE THE DICKENS" TO "WHY ME, GOD?"

  I HAVE WORRIED, SECOND-GUESSED MYSELF, RUED MY DECISION TO RIDE IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND FINALLY JUST SAID "WHATEVER GOD HAS IN THE PLAN FOR ME."

  I HAVE SAID ENOUGH CUSS WORDS TO MAKE A SAILOR BLUSH, AND IT ISN'T SOMETHING I AM PROUD OF...BUT IT HAPPENS.  NOT MY NORMAL VOCABULARY AND IF ONE OF MY ELDERS DECIDED I NEEDED MY MOUTH WASHED OUT WITH DIAL, WELL I WOULD DESERVE IT.  I PROMISE TO TRY HARDER.

GRAHAME AND I HAVE JUST COME UP FROM THE BASEMENT WHERE I TOOK A LOOK AT MY BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE ACCIDENT.  COULD NOT BELIEVE IT-EXCEPT FOR THE MIRROR SNAPPING OFF, IT LOOKED GOOD AS NEW!  HE HELPED ME CHECK MY ODOMETER READINGS FROM THE LAST RIDE-MY TOTAL RIDE WAS 8.1 MILES, AVG. SPEED WAS 11.3, MAXIMUM SPEED WAS 16.7 AND I HAD BEEN OUT 43 MIN. FROM START TO CRASH.  AS I SAID BEFORE, IF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY FINAL RIDE, I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER ONE.  IT WAS TEXTBOOK PERFECT, WELL EXCEPT FOR THE END.  

FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE IDEA OF PUTTING THAT BIKE ON THE CURB WITH A "FREE" SIGN ON IT OR GETTING HEALED UP AGAIN AND STARTING OVER.  TODAY, I WENT BY HARLEY'S HERE IN HUTCH AND LOOKED AT A WIND TRAINER WITH THE IDEA OF FINISHING THE RIDING SEASON INDOORS.  I TALKED TO ONE OF THE GUYS IN THERE WHO SHOWED ME HOW RELATIVELY EASY IT WOULD BE TO SET IT UP IN MY LIVING ROOM.  I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY DECISION WILL BE-BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I'M LEANING TOWARDS NOT GIVING UP.  IT WOULD BE $300 WELL-SPENT.

TOMORROW, DR. CHAN IS GOING TO DO WHAT HE CAN TOWARDS REBUILDING MY ARM AND HAND.  I KNOW GOING INTO IT THAT HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK.  YESTERDAY'S REMARK OF, "PEGGY, IT LOOKS LIKE BOMB WENT OFF INSIDE OF YOUR ARM" DOESN'T REALLY LEND ITSELF TO A LOT OF HOPE.  BUT MIRACLES HAPPEN, AND THEY HAPPEN EVERY DAY.  SOMETIMES IT'S WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT.  I KNOW THAT GOD WILL BE WITH ME-MY POOR GUARDIAN ANGEL HAS DONE COMBAT DUTY WITH ME THIS YEAR...OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, TO BE HONEST, SHE'S BEEN DOING HAZARDOUS DUTY WITH ME NOW FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.  

I SURE WOULD BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND GOOD VIBES TOMORROW ABOUT 7:30 IN THE A.M. I AM A LITTLE BIT AFRAID BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT I WOULD ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO AND FOREGO SURGERY.  I HAVE TO TAKE THIS CHANCE IF I WISH TO HAVE EVEN A FOURTH OF THE MOBILITY THAT I USED TO,

AFTER TOMORROW, I'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE LIFE WILL TAKE ME. WHEREVER THAT JOURNEY GOES...I STILL INTEND TO LIVE MY LIFE TO THE FULLEST EACH DAY--AND DEAR FRIENDS, MAY ALL OF YOU LIVE YOUR LIVES THAT WAY AS WELL,  AND DON'T FORGET, OUR HARD TIMES WILL NEVER LAST FOREVER-MAY ALL OF US HANG IN THERE TOGETHER AS FRIENDS-WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE CRUMBLES AND DISAPPEARS, MAY WE ALL AT LEAST HAVE ONE ANOTHER.

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