Painful

4 Years, 5 Weeks.


It happened so fast it was over in a few seconds.  And yet I saw the whole thing in slow motion:  Our wheels kissing ever so slightly.  The loss of balance.  My arms flailed out to brace for impact.  My shoulder and face taking the full brunt of the fall.  The taste of asphalt.

My first cycling crash.

I had always seen bike crashes happen during the Tour de France on TV over the years.  YouTube has some spectacular crashes on video as well.  You see the bodies fly, the mangled mess when flesh meets the road.  You see the bright raspberry burns on the body where skin used to be.  The ripped up jerseys.  The road rash.  The broken collarbones.  The extreme pain and suffering.   It's a wonder people ever ride at all.

Fortunately for me it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  There wasn't anybody else riding behind me when I fell.  There wasn't a car behind us when the accident happened.   My helmet did its job and protected my head, splitting in the process.  Aside from the several areas of road rash and lots of bruising on my left side, I was lucky enough not to suffer any broken bones or a concussion.   Surprisingly it was my showers this week that hurt more than the crash did!

So this was a painful learning experience:  Don't clip too close on your riding partner's rear wheel when drafting.  It's been a slow, painful week; movements have been ginger and calculated to avoid discomfort.  I'm so grateful for Tangie's sympathy for me, and helping me dress my wounds each evening!

And according to my cycling friends on Facebook, I have moved up to another level of cyclists ~ those that have fallen.  It's not a matter of if you'll fall, but when.

Let's just hope it's not sooner than later!

Here was our week:

• Friday morning was Braelyn's final gymnastics performance, this time in front of the entire school.  She was so nervous, especially the night before, but she and the rest of the team did a great job!  We hit the pool after picking her up in the afternoon, and then joined the Grodack clan at the food trucks for some grub.

The Gymnastic team 2014!

Brae and Coach Jen.

With the family.

Showing her gymnastics medal!

Beautiful day.  Just.  Beautiful.

Getting himself psyched for swim lessons this summer!

Maddy in her shades at the food trucks.

Checking out the contrail of smoke left by the rocket launch at Cape Canaveral.

The two dads with their youngest.

• I joined the guys for our weekly Sabbath morning ride and then it was off to church.  Too beautiful of a day outside to pass up, we headed down to Disney's Coronado Resort after an amazing lunch at Hawker's Asian Street Fare near downtown.  We capped off the evening with a hotdog roast in the backyard and movie at home.

Karis and I at the start.

Gaining momentum and jockeying for position.

Single file line of riders drafting.

At the Lake County line, the halfway point.

On the way back Bill Cochran had a flat so we stayed with him until it was fixed.

Driving to church!

Going over the lesson at Sabbath School.

Lunch at Hawker's Asian Street Fare.

The girls tore up the lo mein with their chopsticks!

Enjoying the view and scenery at the Coronado.

Chatting and spending time with Mommy.

Ice cream cones at Old Winter Garden.

Hanging out at the village green and kicked around some soccer balls.

Working on his modeling portfolio.

Roasting their own hotdogs.

Taking in as much of the day and sunset as possible.

• Sunday morning started with an early birthday party/brunch/bike scavenger hunt for Calleigh and Aubree at their house.  We had a big group of kids and their bikes roaming the neighborhood for clues that Corey had put together.  Kohl and Maddy were still in their balance bikes, and Maddy only did about a third of the hunt and went back to the house with Mommy, while Kohl pressed on, he did so good!  After showers we headed down to Florida Hospital Church, where OJA had their Spring recital and Braelyn had to perform with her class.  From there we headed back up to Apopka to join in another birthday party for Marshall Meidinger.  It was when we got back home that I went on the bike ride with our neighbor Jon, and had my little incident with the road.

Writing some birthday cards.  I don't know how Kohl was staying on the seat like that.

Grodacks welcome their guests.

Kohlden chomping down on a muffin.

Playing an egg relay race in the backyard.

Getting final instructions for the hunt.

And they're off!  Mommy goes after the twins.

Kohlden bringing up the rear of the pack.  He did so good trying to keep up!

The girls blow out their candles on the cycling cake.

Waiting for sister's performance at Florida Hospital Church.

Braelyn front and center.

At the Meidinger's party.  Everyone was in the pool and we didn't bring swimsuits.
Maybe that was a good thing?

Jon and I after our ride.  Still smiling despite the pain.

• The rest of the week:

Maddy making Mommy a beaded necklace.

Mommy wearing the finished product!  Complete with braids from Brae!

Kohl working on his balance bike, wearing Daddy's shades because he "wanted to be like Daddy."

Working on his telemarketing skills.

Working on a coloring craft while waiting for supper.

Clearing out her backpack.  Only 1 day of school left!

Sisters watching something on the laptop.

Garden Update:

Braelyn harvesting the beets.

A basketful of yummy goodness!

Food:

Remember the beets?  With chicken meatballs and heirloom black rice.

Some spicy and amazing Asian cuisine at Hawkers.

Randoms:

This Cadillac cut me off on Silverstar a few miles ago.  But I was able to catch up with him!

They were giving Aunt Shirley's collection of Beanie Babies away at the Grodack birthday party.
We were hoping to find this particular one in the bin so we could sell it at the current eBay price!

How I looked Monday morning after my crash.

Went to get myself a new helmet after picking Brae up.  She wanted me to get this one.

I ended up getting this one.

Saying goodbye to the old one.

I know who I'm voting for in 2016!

Quotes:

• The twins were eating their lunch after their shower on Monday:

          Maddy:  [smells her arm] "Daddy, I smell like lotion!'

          Kohl:  [smells his arm]  "I smell like a butt!"

           Nice.

• Kohlden runs up to me all worried one afternoon:

          Kohl:  "Daddy, I'm bleeding!"

          Me:  "Where?"

          Kohl:  "I have blood on my hands."

          Me:  "From what?"

          Kohl:  "From my boo-boo."

          Me:  "Where's your boo-boo?"

          Kohl:  [points to his leg, which was all scabbed up and healing]

          Me:  "That's not blood.  That's your red marker."

          Kohl:  "Oh yeah.  I forgot."

• Madelyn came into my room to complain about Kohlden:

          Maddy:  "Daddy, Kohlden just hit me."

          Me:  "I don't think it was on purpose Madelyn."

          Maddy:  "Yes it was!"

          Me:  "Madelyn, what does 'on purpose' mean?"

          Maddy:  "I don't know..."

          Me:  "Exactly."

           Oy vey.

Can't wait to get back on the saddle again!

Have a great holiday weekend!