THE WRECK

Saturday, May 7th, 1:45 p.m... I got the worst phone call I could ever get.

It was my husband's aunt, asking if I was at home. Sensing that something is wrong, my first thought was; she's calling me about Mama A, Harley's mom. Crying through her words she said, "It's Harley... he's been in a bad wreck." WHOOSH!! In an instant, I felt the blood drain from my face and my legs turned to water. It was Mother's Day weekend and I already knew he had planned to ride his Glide up to Sylacauga that afternoon to take his mama out for lunch.

All I could say was "OMG... OMG!" Fear washed over me, and I felt panic set in. I questioned her almost angrily about his condition, but she had no information yet, other than the fact that he was being transported by ambulance to the trauma hospital in Montgomery. As I tried to sort out the compiling thoughts bouncing around in my head, I had to swallow hard to fight the sudden nausea that rolled in my churning stomach. I begged her find out the extent of his injuries and call me back. I told her, "I'm on my way home... right now!" I forced my panic to take a back seat while my mind raced, trying to figure out what to do next. You see, I was about to hostess the annual Kentucky Derby Party that was going to start in about 15 minutes... in Panama City, FL.

Talk about switching gears! I went from the excited anticipation of a festive afternoon with some awesome ladies to, the extreme fear that my life has just changed, and not for the better. My friends sprouted into action as they assured me they will handle the afternoon's activities for me. They also made sure I was calm enough to embark on my three and a half hour drive home to Montgomery. I knew I would be fine. I was on a mission... and that mission was to get home to Harley.

When something like this happens, it's a total interruption of life's momentum. Your world stops, disorients you, and throws you into a living nightmare. Questions without answers flood your brain, and leaves you feeling helpless and lost. About twenty five minutes had passed from the time Auntie M called me, before I got a phone call from an ER nurse at the hospital. I'll have to say, that 25 minute span of time was probably the worst 25 minutes I've experienced yet, in my entire life!

In spite of being in extreme pain, Harley had his senses about him enough to tell the nurse my cell phone number and asked her to call me. It wasn't until that moment that I learned he was stable and was going to live. I had to force back my tears of relief so I could take in what else she was saying. She explained, "So far we know he has four broke ribs, a bruised lung, and some road rash on his left shoulder and elbow." I was able to breath a little easier, but nervousness set in again when she said they were taking more x-rays and doing a CT scan so they could find out the extent of any internal injuries. The damage to his helmet led them to believe he may have suffered some head trauma. Those words alone made my nausea return... it felt like someone just punched me right in the stomach.

Hanging up my cell, there was no holding back my tears now. How bad could it be? He knew enough to ask her to call me... right? I needed to focus on driving... I still had a long way to go.

Running up that old familiar highway (Hwy. 231 north), a route we've done so many times we could practically ride it with our eyes closed, was agonizingly long that afternoon. Trying to go as fast as I could without getting a ticket was quite the challenge and when I needed to stop in Dothan for gas, well... I just wanted to hurry up and get back on the road. Unfortunately, the lack of concentration on my part resulted in my locking my keys in the truck when I went inside to use the facilities. What next?!?!

You can imagine my dismay when I came back out and realized what I had just done! This was NOT the time to be waiting on a locksmith to come open up my truck for my dumbass mistake! Feeling the panic rise up in my stomach again, I looked around as if an answer to my problem was going to come to me out of thin air. By the grace of God, it did! A gentlemen with his family was pumping gas at the unit right behind mine when he noticed I was distressed and asked if he could help me. I must have looked a bit wild eyed as I explained my dilemma, because he told me to calm down, that he may be able to help.

He went to his trunk and returned with a long vinyl wrapped pouch of tools. As he unwrapped this mysterious bundle, I noticed the words printed on the pouch... "Locksmith: Automotive Lockout Kit." It was filled with an assortment of flat bladed tools that I recognized as the right kind of tools to get into almost any vehicle. I cried with relief right then, as I just knew this was going to be the man who would me get back on the road again.

As he worked his magic, he told me he heard me praying while I was pumping gas so he figured I was in some sort of trouble. In my desperation, I hadn't realized I was speaking so loud, but I explained that I was trying to get home to my husband who's just had a motorcycle accident. He told me to keep the faith, that God was listening, and then he revealed to me that he was a deacon in his church. I hugged his neck and offered to pay him something, but he just made me promise to stay safe while I continued my journey to Montgomery. I was back on the road again within five minutes. Yes... God was listening.

Approximately 4 hours after receiving my jarring phone call, I walked into the ER of the hospital. Seeing my sweetheart of 31 plus years laying on a gurney with IV's in his arms and tubes up his nose delivered a mixture of emotions. I was glad he was alive, but my eyes kept darting over him trying to access the damage. His forehead was purple where his helmet dug in and left with him with a bad bruise and a big ol' goose egg, the backs of his hands were gouged and bloody and still covered in road grit, his elbow looked like the ashphalt took off several layers of skin, and he was moaning in pain. He opened his eyes when he heard my voice and said... "hey woman, I had a wreck."

Seven weeks ago... our path in life took a serious detour. I'm thankful that Harley's CT scan's came back normal, but he suffered a concussion, which delivered him a round of daily headaches and dizzy spells. In time, these should go away.

The good thing about time, is that it heals many wounds. A lot has healed since then... and a lot has not. Harley still can't remember the accident and the doctors tell him, he probably won't. According to the accident report, they are basically saying no fault on either party, but if you ask my opinion... Harley got the raw end of the deal.

I'm convinced that wearing a helmet saved my husband's life that day. Ribs can heal, bruises fade, and skin grows back. Your melon, on the other hand, once it goes "POP"... it's popped!

Having an accident might wreck your day... but it doesn't have to wreck your life.

Please... wear safe DOT approved helmets when riding. Someone in your life will be thankful.

Lady R

PIC OF THE WEEK - TALLADEGA MOUNTAIN SKYWAY

Harley's still healing and hasn't been able to ride, but that's not stopping us! If you can't do it on two... lets try 4... X4 that is!

We were going stir crazy, so we loaded up the puppies and headed for Talladega National Forest. We decided to explore on the Talladega Mountain Skyway that runs along the top of Talladega Mountain.

TALLADEGA MOUNTAIN SKYWAY
It's really nothing more than a fire road, and we came across a few ruts that would have been a bit too challenging on a Glide, but the rewards when you get to the top... speak for themselves.

I love standing by a creek and listening to the sounds of nature. The trickling water, birds chirping, and the occasional buzz of a bee flying past... ahhhhh.

We had so much fun toodling around in the woods... we just may have to do this again!

Have a great week everybody.

Lady R

FRIDAY FUNNY - PARENT OF THE YEAR

And now... the "PARENT OF THE YEAR AWARD" goes too...


... and you...
... and you too.But the best parents of all are the ones who spend time with their kids during "Family Night".

Here's mom...
... and dad.
Congratulations!!! Next time... get a dog!

PIC OF THE WEEK - HANK WILLIAMS MEMORIAL

Last Sunday, while riding and showing Flat Wooley around, I took him down by the Hank Williams Memorial in the old Oakwood Cemetery. Since Flat likes music and plays the guitar, I thought it might be a cool place to go.

HANK WILLIAMS MEMORIAL
His wife, Audrey is laid to rest next to him and all his hit songs are engraved into the marble at the base of the memorial. It's a very impressive site, with the large musical notes flanking the headstone and the Rose covered guitars.

His grave gets many visitors throughout the year, but as long as I've lived in Montgomery, I've never seen anyone else here.

Flat Wooley looks a little small sitting next to my Ol' girl, but we had a nice day anyway... I just had to wait for him to catch up a lot! LOL!

I had a great time entertaining him while he was here, but this past Friday came and it was time for him to leave and go see Viking Dave in California. We said our goodbyes, made promises to visit again, then he hopped the mail truck... heading west! He should get there any day now! I can't wait to see what new adventures are in store for our little friend when VD gets a hold of him. Yikes!!

Be sure and visit Flat Wooley as he blogs about his travels. Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

FRIDAY FUNNY - THE DOG FOOD DIET

Yesterday, I was at my local COSTCO buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my dog, and was in the checkout line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. Since I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her no, I didn't have a dog but I was starting the Purina Diet again.

I told her that it was a perfect diet and the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works well and I was going to try it again.

I added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms.

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's ass and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard.

Costco won't let me shop there anymore.

Watch what you ask retired people... they have all the time in the world.

PIC OF THE WEEK - MOTHER NATURE'S FURY

Saturday was 5 weeks to the day that Harley had his accident. It was also his birthday and after graduating from all the doctor's restrictions, he finally got his driving privileges back. Woo Hoo! He was a very happy man!

We've been missing the country roads we so often spend our weekends on, so Saturday morning he said... "Let's go for a ride!" I looked at him like he lost his mind, cause I know he's not ready to ride yet, but that didn't stop us. We loaded up in the truck and took off to the country. I'll have to say, it was very different, but I enjoyed the feel of getting back out on the road and enjoying the scenery. Even if it was in our truck!

We found ourselves up around Lake Martin and found some of the destruction that was left by the bad tornadoes Alabama suffered from back in April.

MOTHER NATURE'S FURY

You can see how the path of the storm starts and stops. It was very disheartening to see all the broken trees.
I realized something that day... whether on two or four, we really enjoy riding around the country side. I'm just glad we still can enjoy each other. Have a great week everybody!

Lady R

THE REDNECK AND HIS FERRARI

A Redneck from Alabama walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan officer. He told the loan officer that he was going to Paris for an International Redneck Festival for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000, but he was not a depositor of the bank.

The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank. The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.

Later, the bank's president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck from the South for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank's private underground garage and parked it.

Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of $23.07.

The loan officer said, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a distinguished Alumni from the University of Alabama, a highly sophisticated investor and Multi-Millionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. Your investments include a large number of wind turbines around Sweetwater, Texas. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"

The good ol' Alabama boy replied, "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?"

PIC OF THE WEEK - FOLLOW THE LEADER

While we were at Thunder Beach several weeks ago, we watched the Kyle and Cody Ives stunt show out at Frank Brown Park. These brothers were pretty good and it was fun to watch what they could do with those bikes.

FOLLOW THE LEADER
It's amazing enough that they jump as high as they do, but to do it one right after the other made it just a little more interesting.

I didn't get any riding in again this weekend. I took my mom to Clarksville, Tn and met my brother there so he could take her the rest of the way home. I miss her already, and I can't begin to thank her enough for all her help these last two weeks. Harley has improved greatly and he has a couple more follow up appointments this week to evaluate if he's ready to drive and such. He's ready to be cut loose even though he's still moving slower than usual.

Hopefully, I can get out and show our traveling guest, Flat Wooley, some of our beautiful state before he gets too restless and wants to move on.

I did hook him up with his own wheels while he's here. Now, I think he's getting antsy to ride... and me too!!

Have a nice week everybody!

Lady R

FRIDAY FUNNY - DOOR FRAME

Remember when we were kids, we used to measure our growth on the door frames in our house?

Well, some thing never change...

DOOR FRAME
...or do they?

(That reminds me... I've got to get some hanging baskets for my patio today.)

Have a nice weekend everybody!

Lady R

Flat Wooley Travels: SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Seems I'm going to be entertaining a new friend over the next few days. Check it out!

Flat Wooley Travels: SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Let the games begin! Muwahahahahahaha!!

Lady R

J & P GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

Who likes to win prizes? Well, here's your chance to win a $25.00 gift card from J & P Cycles during their summer kick-off promotion. I've been asked to host a contest so one of my lucky readers can win $25.00 to spend on motorcycle parts, motor clothes or other really cool accessories. It's up to me to come up with an interesting way for you to win. Hmmmmmm...

After some serious consideration, I've decided to play... name that bridge. If your a regular reader, you may remember this post.

The first person to comment the correct name of the bridge, you will be the lucky winner of a $25.00 gift card to use at J & P Cycles...the world's largest aftermarket motorcycle parts and accessories superstore!

I'll give you a hint... that's the Mississippi River. Good luck everybody!

Lady R