I’ve avoided my
blog for the past few days because there hasn’t been anything happy to report. The
funny thing is the reason I started the blog was to write when there wasn’t any
especially happy to write about. An outlet if you will.
I’d like to tell
you that Christmas was merry, I got everything I wanted and the day was filled
with food and fun. That’s what I wish I could report but outside of Christmas
Eve where I once again out cooked myself my Christmas was anything but. I have
went back and forth on what details I’d share about Christmas day. Due to the
nature of the events I’m not sure what is appropriate as far as my family, and
the other family involved; not that either party knows about my blog. I also am
pretty sure no one wants each gory detail so I’ll do my best to keep it to a
bare minimum. I’m writing about this event in particular not as a way to get
pity, or someone to feel sorry for me, but I am hoping that in putting in print
somewhere the nightmares can end and I can get back to a normal life.
For those who
don’t know me I grew up in a small town. There are back roads, dirt roads, and
plenty of pastures that as a kid we made our personal playground. I learned to
drive by the time I was 11 and it was nothing for me to cruise the back roads
for the helluva it. In the country there is almost a code that says that all of
those things are just rites of passage. There is no telling how many times I’ve
put my life in danger over being a stupid kid. I have broken bones, driven
through fences on motorcycles. In high school there were car wrecks for taking
corners to fast, you name it and me and my friends probably did it and survived
to tell about it. Hell, I still have a scar or two that I’m awful proud of.
Getting that all
out, it is what makes what transpired 30 feet in front of me as I was about to
be to my Aunt’s house all the more heartbreaking. A 23 yr old young man lost
his life after exceeding speeds of at least 70-80 on a motorcycle when he lost
control either because he was on one wheel, or because he hit the gravel and
the bike slid. Either way the boy hit my Aunt’s mail box, half of his body went
through the steel wagon wheel (decoration) and his body flung itself 10 feet if
not more in the air while his bike went another 20 feet. In looking back I am
sure that although he was breathing for almost an hour while we waited on
emergency services he was gone the minute his body hit the ground.
I know that an
hour seems like a long time to wait on EMT’s to arrive but that is exactly how
far my hometown is from everywhere else. As we waited we did everything we could
and because of a helmet wasn’t even sure who the kid was. He lost a leg, and
his bones were crushed, and his breathing labored. I have never been prouder of
my cousin and uncle as they patted the kids back and spoke to him to let him
know he wasn’t alone. As this was all happened in my Aunt’s front yard word got
around to everyone else, and we found out that the kid was a boy who has lived
on the circle his whole life. I don’t remember him, but his has a brother my
age that I do know. It was heartbreaking watching his family cry and watch
helplessly. It took them almost 2 hours to finally call him. We watched this
all happen, but again we all pray he did not suffer.
After the
wreckage was finally cleaned up we sat around and talked about all the stupid
shit we had gotten away with. There is no telling how many times this could
have happened to one of us should one detail had been out of place. I know
people will say he shouldn’t have been going so fast, and they are right. He
shouldn’t have been doing wheelies, and yes again they are right. The fact
however remains that growing up where we grew up, and in any small town it isn’t
until this kind of tragedy happens does anyone slow down to think what if.
My family is now
full of young kids ranging from 8 to 1 and to listen to my own hard headed
cousin say that NONE of his kids will be doing that stuff, even though I know
he may be a bigger offender than any of us was something. It’s sad that it took
this young man’s death to show us that even in small town America we are not invincible,
but this time that is the case.
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