Going 25 in the Breakdown Lane

Anyone who has driven with me knows that I’m not a speeder. I have, however, been stopped four times over the course of my life for doing just that—once in my newly tuned 1968 Camaro as I pushed the speedometer past 80 out near Myakka State Park (warning), the second time in New Mexico as I tried to keep up with the lead car in a caravan I was traveling with (warning), the third in my neighborhood just as my son was being dropped off by his bus (warning), and the fourth time in my sister’s neighborhood speed trap in Illinois while driving a rental car (ticket). I have choice words to describe the cop in Cary, Illinois, but that’s not what this story is about. This story is actually about going 0 mph on my bike.

Last Sunday I went out to explore the many newly opened spurs that have connected parts of the Greenway together so that, except for one short span, one can now ride a bike from the Nature Center all the way to Morton Mills. As I sat on my bike, right foot on the pavement at the end of the Greenway, left foot clipped in, I marveled at the work that had been done. I imagined out what it would be like once the connector from Morton Mills to Harpeth River Park was complete and how much I was going to enjoy taking the ride in the future. But as I made my move to pivot the bike to head back in the opposite direction, I lost my balance, and fell down on my left elbow. Two hours later in the St. Thomas emergency room, I was told that it was more than just dislocated—the top of my ulna was shattered and it would require surgery to plate, pin, and screw it back together.

It’s going to be a long recovery, and I’m really not sure at this point about the length of the rehab, or the methods that will be used. All I know right now is that, metaphorically speaking, I haven’t excited the highway—I’m still able to do quite a bit on my own. It’s more like I’m driving 25 mph in the breakdown lane. I can only really use one hand so typing is a challenge, as is blow drying my hair. Think about that one. Cooking is also limited. I tried chopping some broccoli tonight and ended up with bits and pieces scattered about the kitchen floor. One piece even landed over on the living room carpet. I also can’t drive so am relying heavily on the kindness of my co-workers who have rallied to sign up to pick me up and drive me home each day. The kindness of my neighbor, despite her reservations about my condition (it wasn’t good), who dropped me at the MegaBus and then picked me up the next day, allowed me to experience the kindness of my high school classmates last weekend. I would have had to cancel attending the reunion a small group had organized in Atlanta, Georgia, if not for the effort they all made to mother me, and make sure I had everything I needed to join in the gathering.

People are wonderful! In fact, it was the kindness of strangers that got me to the ER last Sunday.

Maybe by the time I can get back on my bike, the rest of the Greenway will be open and connected. In the meantime, spend some time getting to know and enjoying those trails. They really are fabulous.

http://www.nashville.gov/Portals/0/SiteContent/Parks/images/greenways/small-harpeth%20river.jpg (some of the orange dotted lines on this map are actually already complete)

Copyright DJ Anderson, September 2013