Superstitious? Me?

Are you superstitious? Not me.

I've had black cats cross my path numerous times and never thought anything of it. Most the bad luck stuff that some people fear......I don't even know about. I never paid attention to what would happen if I broke a mirror or any of that stuff. I don't believe humanity is governed by phases of the moon or numbers on a calendar.

And so it was last Friday morning. I didn't give any thought to it being Friday the thirteenth as I left my driveway and headed north toward work. It was about 0450 and a little chilly. Since I ride a motorcycle through a large section of Sumter National Forest I'm always on the lookout for deer. Deer for a car would be a nuisance and maybe an expense but on a motorcycle......well, it's more than that.

As I came up to speed I saw the dog. He was making a beeline for the road. What makes some dogs chase motorcycles? I don't know but some do........and this one did. He'd done it before. He'd come right out to the edge of the pavement and then run along the shoulder as I passed him by...........sometimes he'd bark.

Maybe he'd had a bad week. Maybe the collar was just a bit too tight. Maybe someone threw a stick and he couldn't find it. He was obviously in a bad mood because this time he went past the edge of the pavement and kept right on coming.

Now, I'm pretty good at judging a dangerous situation and all sorts of bells and whistles were going off in my head as the dog approached from left to right. I went as far to the right as I could. And the dog kept coming. In fact, he crossed all the way across the highway to the right hand shoulder. I broke to the left and applied throttle. In just a couple seconds I'd be past him and on toward WLBG.

Then there was a blonde blur.........golden retriever colored blur. The dog was determined to stop the motorcycle. He lunged and............. he made it !!

I remember the front wheel hitting the dog just behind his front leg. The motorcycle went up and then I was falling to the left.

'Hey buddy, are you okay?' That's the next thing I remember. Someone was standing over me. I had been out for a while and really did not understand where I was or why. I told him I was fine but then realized I couldn't get up. I remember people yelling, fire trucks, an ambulance, a State Trooper and a great deal of pain. I remember my wife standing at the rear of the ambulance. I told her I was okay even though I was not so sure.

The aftermath? Five broken ribs and a concussion. X-rays also showed a compression fracture of the T-12 vertebrae of the spine but that was probably an old injury. Translation........I hurt. As I write this it has been more than a week since that golden retriever achieved his lifelong goal of stopping a motorcycle and I still hurt.

Rusty sustained some damage: busted headlight, left turn signal, bent left engine guard. My helmet looks awful. It has slide marks on the left and right side as well as on the top. Deep marks. My leather jacket is ripped to shreds. My steel toe boots have steel showing. And I don't have a scratch on me. This safety gear works ladies and gentlemen. Please, if you're going to ride, wear it.

I am slowly but surely recovering. It'll probably be several weeks before I can ride again. When I do, there'll be one less dog to worry about. Whether or not I worry about the next Friday the 13th..........I haven't made up my mind.

I Remember Him

A while back a fellow passed along a piece of wisdom to me. He told me “Son……….ain’t none of us getting outta here alive”.

He’s right you know. So far in our human experience, everyone ever born (save one) has eventually died. Let’s just assume for a moment that a time and a day will come when you leave this plane of existence.

When that happens will you be missed? I’m reminded right now of this concept by the passing of our friend Tommy Powell. Tommy was a great guy. Decorated Marine, a friend to any who would let him, a true friend to all kids.

Tommy was seriously wounded in Vietnam. When he came home he dedicated his life to kids. He’s been a fixture at Collyar Park for years. He kept the fields looking sharp and applied his own brand of common sense to the operation of the Dixie Youth program.

There are hundreds of men and women in our community whose lives were touched directly or indirectly by Tommy Powell. At his death of course his family mourned but, in reality, the entire community felt the loss.

Will that be the case when you go? Seriously, you get to decide now what is said when you’re gone. How will you be remembered? That’s up to you. How do you treat people now? Are you a giver? Or……….are you a taker?

There………..that should give you something to think about.