…..it might as well be me.
What a great day. It’s raining. Which is good for the farmers and people trying to salvage their yards. Okay, mostly for the farmers. Yards aren’t as important. But people do work on them.
Today we participated in a charity ride. So the rain wasn’t really a blessing for biking. But it beats the 100+ temperatures we’ve been having.
We had a great turn out of coworkers and friends to ride the “tour”.
The volunteers were friendly and cheerful. So pleasant! I am amazed by people who volunteer their time to do good things for other people. They impress me. The people riding, we’re doing the same thing. Everyone that showed up today was there to benefit someone else. And in turn, hopefully help our community.
So we ride a wet but very pleasant 40 miles me and my friend. Great ride.
No problems. Happy riding. We stop at the end, park our bikes along side other bikes. And schmooze with other locals and bikers. We eat. We are really pretty pleased with ourselves. Riding the hills and not wiping out. Riding the hills and not having to walk up them. Riding and appreciating the beautiful scenery we don’t always necessarily pay attention to. We snap some pictures. Share stories about the ride. Wonder how other riders are doing.
Great day.
But I have things to do as well. I need to head home to get things ready for a two year old’s birthday party.
I get my bike and head to my friend’s car where I had stashed some things before the ride. The start and end of the ride was only a mile and half from my house so I had ridden my bike there.
I head to her car to get the things from her car.
And there. In front of 5 million other people…
I look down as I roll away wondering what was wrong with my not moving right or feeling right bike. I look down as the tire went completely flat.
And so did I.
As I tumble oh so gracefully on to the sidewalk. Knee first. From a killer speed of about 2 miles an hour.
I just realized something. I hope I didn’t cuss.
I push the bike away from me and get up.
Stunned.
My friend comes running to my rescue. Others stood there ready to jump in to action but didn’t want to be the ones making the first approach. Thank God for friends! Once I looked up the others averted their eyes. Crap.
WHY!
Why couldn’t I fall where NO ONE would see me? (Or hear me if I cussed).
Why couldn’t my tire stay perfectly fine until I rode maybe a 1/4 of a mile away from the gathering of millions of people.
Why do I have to be the one that as I get up, everyone of the 5 million people standing there, are staring at.
Why?
Because I am that kind of person. I will sacrifice my humility and my pride so no one else has to.
You are welcome.
I can ride great. I can fall over great too.
I was laughing until I saw your boo boos! Then I just felt like a shitty friend
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Aw, don’t feel bad! You made me laugh though when I read that. I was such a dork!
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Anyone, well most anyone, can look good riding. You make falling off your bike look good.
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Well, shucks. Thanks! 🙂
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giggle! i tipped my dirt bike a few years back i was literally going a snails pace and dislocated my toe…couldn’t walk for 5 weeks where i went to doc and got put in a cast for another 5 weeks, then when i got out of the cast and was told to start walking again, i re injured on the fist hike through a bush. i was in tears! oh and today, no one saw me but the dog however, i slammed my finger in a window…i feel your pain!
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You sure do know what I mean….and helped me feel a little less embarrassed. 🙂
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yes i do and i’m glad you don’t feel as embarrassed! it’s funny how when we fall in public, we are usually more concerned with who saw us then if we are actually injured…except when i dislocated my toe, then the pain over rode everything! how is you knee?
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Exactly. I had blood pooling on my knee and I didnt care. I just didn’t want everyone LOOKING. Which of course, they had to. The knee is sore. The skin is tight. But fortunately no real damage….but to my pride. 🙂
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well i hope it gets better as quickly as your toe?
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Ha! I hope better than that! The toe is still pointing to the right. 🙂
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oh no! do you think you should be going to the right?
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It is kind of scary….but if my toe is telling me too…
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then maybe there’s a reason, maybe if you had followed your toe, you wouldn’t have fallen off your bike…LOL
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Well now you tell me this.
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i guess to little to late..lol
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🙂
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You’ve survived much worse! It’s not like you fell off a non-moving Harley (I can explain!!!). Did you cuss or not? Curious readers need to know 🙂
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Share the story. About the Harley.
I don’t know if I cussed yet. I haven’t talked to my friend yet.
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Well, OK….but ONLY to reduce your embarassment by illuminating my own….
So, we’re riding along, minding our own business, when my sweetie pulls to the side of the road and stops unexpectedly. He quickly informs me that he must change goggles (it was nearing dusk and he is ever so safety-conscious)…. so I get off the bike to assist, or at least attempted to get off the bike), but I didn’t get the seat-boot clearance that I needed (in my defense, Doc Martens are NOT intended for motorcyle gear and are quite heavy, but are the most protective foot gear in my closet at the present) and for some reason that was enough to cause me to fall to the ground, flat on my back, from a non-moving Harley.
I am pretty sure that your fall was graceful and poetic in comparison. My official HD boots should arrive Monday.
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Well I don’t know how graceful I was. But certainly no less than YOU! 🙂 Hope you aren’t hurt either, but for your pride!
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My knees are full of battle scars. I fall more often biking and hiking than some five year olds do learning to walk. I feel your pain, literally.
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Thanks Bornbyariver. I mean, I’m not happy someone else falls like I do. 🙂 But at least I’m not alone in my suffering.
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It was probably those biking sandals that tripped you up. 😉
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🙂 LOL! Fortunately I have other excuses. The sandals are pretty awesome, come on! 🙂
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It sounds like the worst injury was to your pride! 🙂
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Absolutely!!!! I wish I had a picture of everyone looking at me and trying to pretend I did not look like a total dufus.
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OUCH! BIG ouch…
But hopefully this makes it better: I’ve given you an award in my post today. I’ve put a handful your way actually, for you to choose which you want – http://wordsfallfrommyeyes.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/the-l-word-omg-the-l-word/. It was too much divvying them up. You are worthy of them all, so choose as you will 🙂
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You are too kind to me! A little love soothes many things. 🙂
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I hate falling in public! 😀 I always look around to see if anyone saw me. It rained here today, too. I fell down the stairs outside (again) this time with Miss S. in my arms. Becoming a mommy must mean that you develop a cast iron grip, because I swear I have never held her so tight. Ever. I managed a few scrapes, bruises and a wet behind, but Miss S. was completely fine and even giggling.
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Her giggling had to be a huge relief. ALmost like you could have said “I meant to do that just to hear you giggle baby love!”
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Chatter Master, you are a master of chatter… but it appears that the bike has mastered you.
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Well, it sure did manage to control that moment! And after all of the energy I put in to it. Literally!
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Haha. But it was a glorious ride to have accomplished. Congratulations.
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Thank you!!!!
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