Occasional reader, former Marine and current Army divinity student Maj. Harvey has had a high-speed get off from his two-wheeler, and could use some intercession for those so-inclined, and best wishes from the rest of us:
I was only a few miles from the seminary, heading east on I-8 as I entered the off-ramp for College Ave. I could see that the far end of the ramp was blocked with traffic, so I eased off the throttle in order to increase the gap between me and the guy in font of me for the inevitable slowdown. That’s about when it happened. Some guy in the next lane to my left decided that gap was meant for HIM, so he darted into the space, unaware of the traffic piling up only a few hundred yards further down. I imagine that a few seconds later he had an “Oh crap!” moment as he realized that the equation [Mass • Velocity= Momentum] was about to interject itself in a very hard and fast way. So he did what any other knucklehead would’ve done – he slammed on his brakes. Since I had insufficient time to re-establish a safe gap between us since his abrupt lane change, I was forced to do the same thing.
Been there, done that myself. Maj. Harvey is one of those handful of folks that drop in here from time to time that I’ve actually met IRL, and if anyone has the physical and psychic resources to get through this, it’s him. Still, crashing is easy, recovering is much harder: Physical therapy means doing the thing you find most painful, over and over again. Going down hard is one of those “before and after” things.
Pop on over and send him good feelings.
I guess all I’d say here is that in my short time aboard these parts I’ve come to respect Dave’s opinions and attitudes. An honorable man seeking to fulfill life’s call, on many levels. Wishing him a speedy recovery and reminders to all our two (and four) wheeled friends to check six (and twelve, three, nine, etc.). It’s no new news that the most dangerous place in the world is on its roads.
Lex- appreciate the heads up on our friend Dave.
Major Harvey: Get well soon. Maybe we can get you interested in flying -much safer!
Google (yes they are evil) won’t allow me to comment on blogspot so I’ll do it here:
Dang, MajHarvey! That had to hurt. Be assured you have my prayers for quick recovery and thanks that it wasn’t worse.
I got knocked off a motorcycle by cars twice, with nothing worse than bruises. I dodged a head-on with a Buick, too, which was so close she clipped my license tag. I’ve heard that these things come in threes and am not sure the last one counts. That’s one reason I haven’t gotten back on one in years. I’m afraid the real #3 is still to come, and it’ll be all icky, what with my chalky old bones, and all.
The other reason is that nobody makes 2-stroke street bikes anymore.
P.s. Why didn’t you tell us you were arty? I’ll have you know I’m wearing red socks right now, in solidarity to the devotees of the cult of Saint Barbara
If I’d known he was arty, I’d have used smaller words…
Heh. Just remember who sits in front of whose guns, Brad-boy.
As for the good Major, this Redleg has dumped a fine ride on gravel because of brain-dead cage drivers unable to do more than simple shape recognition (heh, did I just describe targets er, infantry?) before and lived to tell the tale.
That’s the difference between Redlegs and my buddy Cap’n Lex and people like the Bradley passenger.
We walk away from stuff like that. Eventually, anyway.
We are “in”, Lipstick 6 and I. MAJ H- heal quickly and well. Intersessory Prayers enroute.
Best,
geo6
Google would not let me comment either, so I just want to say that you are in my thoughts, Major, and I hope for a complete and uneventful recovery.
No, wait! I just found out that’s a Baptist seminary, so that’s just plain Barbara, above. Sir Roger de Coverley would know about this, I reckon. Hey, Anglicans can go both ways. At the same time.
Anyway, the Major is getting both styles of prayer from me. As a matter of fact, I just lit a candle to Saint Barbara in the form of a pinch of Winchester 231.
XBradTC,
IT’S NOT THE SYLLABLES, IT’S THE VOLUME!!
——
Godspeed Major; I can see your daughter making your recovery much easier.
Keep your dobber up, Maj. Don’t let the more unfair aspects of this affair, i.e., the actions of the brain-dead, keep you down. But then in your line of work these days I’m sure you have all the faith and inspiration you need from your family and your God.
All the Best to a fellow soldier and a Man of God.
VX
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Major.
. . .how’s the bike?
Thanks for all the prayers and kind remarks sent my way – they are much appreciated! Yes, I’m now beginning to climb the big “recovery” mountain, and it seems pretty daunting, esp. since it was my left wrist that was shattered, and me being left-handed! But the support of family & friends (and that includes all y’all) makes a huge difference – esp. that of my lovely wife!
The accident happened on Friday, Jan 30th, and I just was released yesterday – so I spent about a week and a half at the naval hospital in Balboa. The staff all called me “Chaps,” and I had some great opportunities to share some encouragement with those who were experiencing more pain than I. There are truly some talented people working there, and I plan on sending a letter to the commander, RADM Hunter, in order to recognize these folks by name.
As for the bike, I’m afraid it’s totaled – which doesn’t seem to take much for a bike these days. USAA has offered a “totaled price” which is more than fair, so we’ll probably end up turning it over to them. *sigh*
My better half says we “can talk about” getting a new bike “another time,” which astute observers will no doubt recognize as a sign that my riding days are pretty much over…
Get well soon.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, MajH.
And listen to the Better Half — she knows best after all! And you don’t want to make her mad just about now, as you probably need her help too much.
Take care and God bless and comfort you and you family.
P-3W
All the best, Major. Here’s to a speedy recovery and not too many more (mis)adventures.
And yeah, P-3W is probably spot on in that regard.
You can use that bike money for flying or flying lessons! Win/Win!
Best wishes, and a speedy recovery.
Due to periodic indiscretions related to the traffic laws of the State of Illinois (“I thought that speed limit was purely advisory, officer!”) I have had occasion to sit with a group of like-acting miscreants and spend 4 hours reviewing said laws with a police officer. “Traffic School” they call it.
One topic always covered is maintaining the proper interval. When the instructor asks “Why don’t you maintain the proper interval?” someone always answers “If you leave that big a space someone will jump into it.” That’s generally discounted by the cop, but it’s nonetheless true.
Major Dave: Definitely will slow your blogging ability. Upside: you’re looking *much* younger in your photo. You should pass your secret on to XAirBoss and Yak.
Padre Harvey, Agree with Wilco just above…That hospital stay has certaintly worked wonders … from your picture you look at least twenty five years younger … must be that silver linning connection you God Squad guys have with the big Jefe` verdad?…
…seriously…I strongly suggest that you listen to your “Better Half”… a/k/a She who must be obeyed and cease and desist from ever…ever entertaining the thought of riding again… you dodged the bullet this time the next time you could become, as the EMTs here in paradise often ruefully say, an organ donor… get well and God bless…Best
Get well soon, brother! As we say at the end of the “Walk to Emmaus,” Heaven is counting on you!”
Major Harvey,
Some Artillery Punch should see you through the physical therapy with no pain. You’ll have a drinking problem and a hangover but these are a small price to pay.
Seriously, sorry to hear about the accident and best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
Alas, my canteen has run dry ‘ere I left Fiddler’s Green… If you have some left over (or could mix me up a batch) I’d be ever so grateful…
Curtis, I prolly need to quit the ethyl hydroxide. I’ll do so no sooner than next Saint Barbara’s Day, on which occasion I intend to have me some authentic Chatham Artillery Punch, either the Armorer’s recipe, or the Christ Episcopal Church recipe, or Velociman’s special secret extra-dangerous family recipe.
If one serves CA Punch, I’ve heard it’s just prudent to pat all of the guests down beforehand for car keys, weapons, cameras and other recording devices, etc.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. At least they called you “Chaps” instead of “Stumpy.”