The Incident

It’s boring, but since you asked…

Mrs. Chickenwing and I left the Cozmic a little before midnight. The music was still rocking upstairs and I forgot to pay my tab. Her bike was locked just outside, while mine was still at my office. We agreed that she would start home, and I would catch her somewhere along the way. Just as I turned off Jaquier at the EDT trailhead parking lot, I could see her light up at the top of the climb. Inspired by the thrill of the chase, I accelerated. Where the climb steepens, I looked down to see what gear I was in and WHAMO! drifted off the trail and into the ditch. My fingers instinctively went to my collarbone. Feeling the fracture beneath my skin the first thought in my head was “no baja kayak vacation”. Back on the bike, I grabbed the waist of my pants with the hand from the now useless arm and quickly caught Mrs., explained the scenario, and hurried home before the adrenaline wore out. Back at home I laid on the floor and had Mrs. stand on my shoulder while I tried to line up the two bone ends.

X-ray taken from 35 degrees below.

The same surgeon put another plate in last Tuesday night. Since then I have concentrated on healing, which mostly involves drooling on various pillows throughout the house. Thank you for the Jamaican Pain. That was an extremely thoughtful gift. You should have seen Mrs. Chickenwing go too deep the first night we opened it. I am especially looking forward to collecting all of the “hot and spicy kisses from everyone” promised in the card.

So, take heed to my cautionary tale (in case you missed the last cautionary tale) and sieze the opportunities to crash in soft forest duff when you can. This evening looks primed for a classic FT3. Lord knows, I hate to miss it.