glad you are feeling a bit better.
> You do your best
> performance ever, you're happy, until you find out someone went faster,
and
> then you're mad about it
you are saying that you have never experienced this before, perhaps in
another sport?? keep working on the memory. or on second thought, maybe
its best this way. :)
-james
PS did you get to keep that morphine machine?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly, Katie" <kkelly@spss.com>
To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 1:30 PM
Subject: The Full Story!
> I remember what happened!
>
> I don't remember everything, but I was just talking with my friend Jerry,
one
> of the rider's in the group, and we talked about my fateful day, and it
> triggered some memories.
>
> We had just come down from the Marshall Wall, where I reached my personal
top
> speed of 43 mph. I remember this, because I was so elated, until Jerry
told me
> he got up to 47. I can't believe this, but I remember feeling
disappointed,
> like, WHY couldn't I go faster? That's kind of lame. You do your best
> performance ever, you're happy, until you find out someone went faster,
and
> then you're mad about it. That is so just plain wrong, and I remember even
> telling myself, don't feel bad. You can try again. This is just so sick. I
> should be appreciative that I can ride in the sunshine through the
beautiful
> hills of West Marin. That is what is important! 43 mph is enough! It's my
> best! I should be happy!
>
> The incident occurred shortly after turning left at Marshall onto Hwy 1. I
was
> riding with Jerry and Chuck, and I remember first riding in the front, and
> then remembering this would probably be a whole lot easier if I rode
third.
> So, Jerry led, Chuck was second, to his left, and I was behind Chuck, to
his
> left, on purpose, knowing that if anything happened, if I had to swerve,
it
> wouldn't be off a cliff or into a guard rail or something. Someone in
Marin
> Cyclists taught me this tactic, telling me this would be safer. And don't
> overlap the wheels, which I did not do.
>
> This was another obstacle I was trying to overcome, riding in groups,
using
> the draft to conserve energy. Obviously, I still need to work on this one.
>
> We were just passing a house, travelling at a nice cruise speed and a
black,
> fluffy dog named Satan* came running out. Jerry yelled, "Dog!", and Chuck
> braked, I think, and swerved to the left to avoid Satan. To avoid Chuck
(our
> wheels might have hit), I mashed my front brake to avoid my front tire
hitting
> Chuck's rear tire. This is where things get hazy, but I think there is a
> strong possibility that I might have braked too hard.
>
> So, I guess I went over the handle bars. In fact, I kind of remember that,
> too. Jerry replayed the sound affects over the phone, not necessarily
> appreciated, but it helps the memory.
>
> A helicopter was used because the roads to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
are so
> windy, that I would only be in more pain. It arrived in just thirty
minutes.
> Amazing!
>
> I was fully conscious, and crying, and that's good. Crying is such a
healthy
> release.
>
> All I really remember is some people around me in a helicopter, but I also
> remember not quite comprehending that this was a helicopter. I think they
gave
> me some very strong drugs.
>
> And I remember the sun on my face as they wheeled me from the helicopter
into
> ER, but again not quite comprehending why this was happening, but not
wanting
> to question it.
>
> There was a very nice lady who's mother was next to me in ER, surrounded
by
> curtains, coughing something awful, who kept coming over to visit me and
keep
> me company. I remember just kind of drifting in and out of sleep, but
waking
> up to her warm smile. I don't remember at all what she said, but it was
just
> comforting having her there. She'd stand by my bed and talk and say happy
> things, and then go back to her mother who was having such a terrible
time.
>
> And the next day, while I was plugged into some machine pouring morphine
into
> my veins, she called me, and of course, I could not remember her, but then
she
> reminded me that we had met in ER, and she had called because she said she
> would, and she again said very nice, warm things that filled my spirit. I
> remembered her then, but I still could not tell you her name. But her
mission
> was accomplished. Just one more vital stastic proving to me that people
are so
> innately good, that in the midst of her mother's pain and suffering this
> stranger could find the energy to call ME of all people to relay a
positive
> message.
>
> And then Charlie called and said I should stick to something safe, like
racing
> cars.
>
> Katie K.
>
> *Not his real name.
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