I kissed the pavement this week...

_Last Saturday night, I posted that it had been an eventful week and weekend.  We still had a Sunday full of events ranging from a birthday party to the monthly LAHBW meeting.  All of Sunday's events went smoothly and were a lot of fun.  However, Monday was coming....On Monday morning, we got up with rain in the forecast.  As always, I planned to ride Haze to work. Besides, I have leather & Frogg Toggs.  Old Socks urged me not to ride, but to ride in the cage instead.  Being head-strong, as I have been told that I am, I rode anyway.  I arrived at work before any rain began, so all was good, or so I thought.  That evening, I left work around sevenish after a quick call to Old Socks to tell him I was heading out.  He and David had taken the trailer to Malvern to try to meet up with a guy for David to buy a project bike.  When I left work, it was raining, but not too terribly bad.  I got on Haze and headed home, the 'back' way.  I made it almost to Pinckard and the rain had almost stopped.  As I neared the peanut mill right outside of town, a coyote ran out in front of me. I got on the rear brake hard and I felt the back end sliding around to the left.  I DID NOT like what was happening, and got on the front brake harder.  You guessed it, I was headed down.  I went down VERY HARD on the right side. I don't remember anything until trying to get up off the pavement, which took four or five tries.  A guy came up to me and was already on the phone with 911.  I asked him to take my phone out of my pocket and call Old Socks.  I asked him to tell him that I was OK, but to come and bring the trailer.  Then, I remember asking him to help take my gloves and helmet off.  The next thing I remember, Old Socks and the boys were there.  They had me sit in the ambulance and get checked out. They released me with my signature and the Trooper did the report.  We then came home to check out my wounds and to see just how badly Haze had been banged up.  As for me, I had road rash primarily on the right side of my face and my face was extremely swollen.  I had a black eye on the right side as well.  My right wrist was swollen as well as my left thumb.  The gloves had torn and a couple of knuckles were scuffed up.  I had an abrasion on my right forearm and right knee.  Otherwise, I was good.  As for Haze, I was worried.  To go down that hard with no crash bar was not going to be good, or so I thought.  Amazingly, Haze only suffered a little.  She had a 1/2 inch corner ground off the brake master cylinder and as much off the right foot peg, a small skid scratch on the front fender, a few scratches on the windshield, a small hole in the seat, and a skid scuff on the top of the right rear turn signal.  Sadly, my Frogg Toggs did not survive.  They were torn up pretty badly, but thankfully, the leather I had on underneath them kept my arm and leg safe. 
I did work the rest of the week and am blessed to have teachers to come in on their days off to cove me so all I had to do was lesson plans and supervise.  Needless to say, I have not ridden Haze since Monday night because of the wrist.  However, be rest assured, I WILL ride her again.  I am not quite sure I will ride in the rain anytime soon again, and I might not even ride at night for a while. 
This morning, Old Socks preached at our new church home, Campground Baptist.  I rode Pearl with him...boy, that felt a little weird to be riding in Queen's Seat ;)  Old Socks preached in jeans and leather vest.  We are blessed to have a church home where we can simply be who we are and not feel like we have to 'become' anything for anyone! 
Needless to say, I feel blessed to be sitting here posting this blog.  Our Lord is great and mighty and I owe all that I am to Him.  I hope to see you all back here soon.  Until then, ride safely and watch for the coyotes ;)