Pretty much the title up there says it all. I, um, had a close and personal encounter with an F250 work truck yesterday and racked up two more milestones in my life: first ambulance ride, first broken bone (left collarbone, out toward the end).
There’s an intersection in the West Bottoms where this big, horrible, old, 1970s-painted Econoline van is always parked on the corner. This awful old van (which has fist-sized rust holes in its sides) is usually parked on the street, but sometimes it is kind of pulled diagonally across the sidewalk, which is where it was yesterday. When its owner leaves it like that, it handily creates a blind corner for anyone traveling southbound or westbound, which is exactly what the F250 and I were doing, respectively. The truck was pulling a left and I was going straight, and well, his left turn swung right into my straight line and that meant that I pegged smack into the toolbox built into the side of his truck.
He obligingly stopped and called an ambulance as I lay on the ground firmly demanding that he do so. I believe that I got rather imperious in my request that he call an ambulance, as I believed that my arm was broken. It’s not; just bruised and scraped in three places (drawer pulls on the tool box, I think). I also gave rather detailed instructions about locking my bike to a light pole. Girl’s gotta have her priorities, right?
Anyway, the ambulance came quickly, a police office took an accident report, and they schlepped me off to the Truman hospital emergency room, where somehow in the course of about 5 hours, I was x-rayed, given a shot of painkiller, stitched up, harnessed into a sling, and released. I now have three stitches right under my left nostril, a puffy chipmunk cheek on the left side, a sore left shoulder, stiff neck, and some impressive bruises on various intervals on my left side (got one about as big around as the top of a peanut-butter jar on my left thigh).
All things considered, I don’t feel that bad at all. Advil is taking care of the pain well enough, though I did get a prescription of Vicodin which I may use at bedtime. My mobility is a bit limited, and it is pissing me off as I was planning to start a weight-training regimen which obviously is off the agenda for a couple of months now. I won’t be riding for a spell either, which is another bummer. I fear I will become completely stir-crazy.
Anyway, here are a few pictures of me looking completely greasy and horrible, which is to be expected. Some of the sheen is Neosporin and some of it is arnica gel, which I put on my bruised and swollen cheek.
After I got home last night
The shoulder this morning.
Considering the alternatives, it’s not that bad. The pain isn’t terrible, and while I do look a little gnarly, it could be a lot worse. Hell, I could have been killed or badly incapacitated; instead, I am inconvenienced and anticipating yet another facial scar. Good thing I don’t have to make my living off my looks!
The only casualty is my beloved singlespeed. The frame is bent; there’s a crimp in the downtube just below the lug. Joel says he can get a new front wheel on it and I can ride it when I am healed (“just take it easy and don’t bomb down any hills” were his exact words), but I am in the market for a “new” frame. So…
wanted, one 52cm lugged steel frame, pref. Schwinn World Sport circa 1987.
When I get the next singlespeed conversion candidate, I will replicate my preferred metalflake John Deer green with silver-accents paint job. I really liked this bike a lot and am seriously bummed that it’s basically done for.
Dude! That sucks! I’m so glad you weren’t more seriously hurt, but dang!
Aieeeeeeee! So glad you are in largely okay shape, though I am sorry about your bike.
Crap, sorry to hear about this 🙁 Heal soon!
Yoikes! Well yes, could be worse. I’m glad it wasn’t worse, but oof.
Good grief! That sounds scary.
Please, please don’t make any sugarless muffins under the influence of vicodin.
(I think I [happily] stumbled on your blog through the related posts feature.)
Hey, So sorry to hear about the wreck.
I would be happy to help you out with the single speed issue. If you find the bike you want I can powder coat it for you. I have powder coated many of the critical mass groups bikes….would love to help you out.
I would do it on the cheap, just pick a color.
dmrainey@aol.com
Hey Michelle –
I’m really sorry to hear about your accident and I’m very glad it wasn’t worse. I hope you heal fast and if you do try the vicodin – tell me what it feels like ; ) I’m sorry it happened and sorry about the passing of your bicycle.
Is this a “DONT TELL MOM” story? Glad you are alright, all things considered. I was expecting to read a blog about you milling around the house or baking cookies, not getting hit by a truck, geeze, be careful little Chickadee!
It’s cool, Audrey. I talked to Mom yesterday and told her all about it, and to her great credit, she didn’t freak out at all! I was seriously surprised (and relieved).
Thanks everyone for the kind words. I must say that getting hit by a truck certainly sucks, but I know I lucked out in a big way to have such minor injuries.
David – thank you for the offer. When I find the right bike I may look you up…though I may do one of my own backyard special paint-jobs. I’m really kind of stuck on replicating the paint job I’d done on the bike I just wrecked.
Allison – I don’t think that will be a problem. I have only taken the Vicodin before bedtime – and last night I waited until after I had brushed my teeth because it almost immediately knocks me unconscious.
Julie – continuing from above re: Vicodin…I can’t recommend it unless you desire immediate unconsciousness. But take that with a grain of salt; I’m the chick who gets drunk off one bottle of beer.
Damn, I’m sorry this happened to you.
Did any of your Friz skills come into play ?
(Good vibes being sent your way)
Unfortunately my Friz skillz (which are a bit weak anyhow) didn’t seem terribly relevant. Unless being good at falling is one of those skills, in which case, maybe it did. I know I didn’t get hurt nearly as badly as I could have.
That SUCKS! Glad it was not any worse, you will be back to spinning pretty quick. I broke mine a few years back and it really makes you realize the simple things in life aren’t so simple, like zipping up pants is a two hannded operation 🙂
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