It was late September and my bachelor party was set for that evening after work. I was excited! As I got ready for work I decided to dress up a bit, trading out my MO of flip flops for Frye boots. I felt great about the day to come. As I walked out to my motorcycle I noticed the sky – it was incredibly dreary and looked like it could rain. I hesitated a second, then went back inside to grab my helmet and heavy suede coat. It was rare that I wore them, but figured it would keep me dry should it rain later that day.
I didn’t want to go to my bachelor party feeling like a drowned rat.
After work I had an hour or so before my friends were meeting so I decided to go so see my Bride! As I was waiting at a red light, my life changed in a split second. A woman didn’t see the red light and ran right through it, and me.
When she finally put on her brakes I slid 80 feet on my side. My helmet was cracked in the back and worn nearly through on the chin guard. My thick suede coat was worn almost through and my Frye boots were turned into tissue paper on the sides that dragged across the road. I should have been dead. “Someone” was truly watching out for me.
I was in the hospital for almost two weeks – my femur broken in 2 places and needing to be put back together with a bar and 10 screws… But – no head injury, no skin grafts required, no disfigurement to carry the rest of my life… It was a miracle. (I’m a walking miracle!)
God is my protector. HE let the sky be ominous that morning, leading me to get my helmet and coat. Honestly I hadn’t put it on all summer. Surely my Bride would have had to use the reception hall for a wake instead of a wedding celebration. We postponed our wedding 5 weeks as I healed a bit. I walked down the aisle on crutches, and our dance was not a thing of beauty… BUT we are forever grateful for a cloudy sky.
Rob – October 1984 – Janesville WI
