any given day may be the last(one day will)

[SFerinTEXAS]

Today I was reminded that any given day could be the last. Missed by a cage by a split second and would have been my end. Closest call of many.

Sometimes there is nothing you can do and a tiny split second another way and I would not be here to lament. Tomorrow I ride. Knowing this is true.

[motoman]

A wake-up call/reminder the risk taken whenever we climb aboard and hit that starter button. Glad your here and able to post!

[donebysunday]

True

I hope the angels are with you always, car, bike, bicycle, walking, climbing, or trucking, anything !!!!!
I must have a flock watching me to make it to 60.
You know what, I woke up this morning, a little late but here we are !

Sometimes there is nothing you can do and a tiny split second another way and I would not be here to lament. Tomorrow I ride. Knowing this is true.[/QUOTE]

[trbig]

A really good buddy of mine here at work was riding the few miles home June 26th, and a little old lady that couldn't see and shouldn't have been driving pulled across the highway in front of him. He left a long skid mark, then laid the bike down, but still hit the front fender and flew @ 75' into the median. They took away the lady's license, but it shouldn't have to come to something like this for that to happen. Lots of damage and broken bones including 3 skull fractures. He's the same age as me.. 45, and we started here at work about the same time.

They finally got the swelling in his brain to go down and did an MRI. He's basically a vegetable, so the family made the decision I'd hate for anyone to have to make and pulled the plug on him. He's got pneumonia to boot. He made it through the night, but they're expecting him to pass at some point today from the fluid building in his lungs. His first grandchild was/is due in Dec.

Expect everyone to pull out in front of you because many will. This is the same thing that killed Jeremy (Montreux Blue)... someone failing to yield from a side road.

Enjoy the ride and the freedom... but yes, any given day.


P.S. Anyone offering prayers, his name is Ted Keefer and he is leaving behind a wife and two "kids", 18 and 20. He's got a HUGE heart and would do anything for anyone at any time of the day or night.

[DGXSER]

My brother's BIL was killed by a DUI turning in front of him in an F250 on a 55 mph road a couple years ago. It happens. Heck, look at that young lady who survived the plane crash only to get run over by the medical vehicles. Talk about crazy crap happening.

No doubt about it, every day you wake up may be the one you don't get through for one reason or another, and riding a motorcycle is not the safest form of transportation. But the way I explained it to my wife after my wreck in 2010 was this, I'd rather die doing something I love doing than live for decades not doing something I love. Kind of like being with you. (that part was just for the brownie points.)

But yes, I tell my kids and keep it in my head when I am on the road. Everyone out there, and yes, EVERYONE, has a goal of killing me. Whatever they can do to make it happen they will do, until they don't. Drive with that mindset and you have doubled your chances of making it alive.

And Todd, that is a horrible story, very sorry for your loss and that of his family...he may not be gone just this moment, but I know the feeling of just waiting for the last blip on the monitor.

[jwhughes3]

Tod I am sorry for your loss...

Tragic for all involved. Prayers for his family.

I will be extra vigilant around my sons this summer. I know once riding with Dylan right after he got his license I got some road rage over a lady that cut him off almost hitting him because she did not want to yield to him....

I realized I would be setting a really poor example for him and quit....but she got the message.

Semper vigilantes

John

[ViperRon]

You know TRBig hit on a very important point but honestly when you try to do something as a citizen to make people safer you catch hell. I have called the police twice on dangerous drivers and its just not appreciated at all. One was a lady who drove the lincon town car out over the bank of a parking lot sideways plowing 2 large shrubbs into 2 lanes of 45 mph traffic just barely missing me. Then I had to chase her down at 70 miles an hour where she ran 2 stop lights without a pause. I had to go get the warrent myself as the police officer did not want to do anything with the little old lady but warned me she could press charges because I followed her. Then went to court and the DMV had already done a pull on her lisence for all the wreckless driving charges they had since my report.

[Phoenix Rider]

Although it wasn't vehicle related, 2 weeks ago I had a deer run out about 10-15 feet in front of me when I was doing about 60 mph. Fortunately for me it continued off the side of the road and into the woods. If it had of stopped and back tracked or even hesitated I probably would have nailed it right in the ribs. Speeds went from 60 down to 50 in a big hurry.

Wayne

[donebysunday]

Ted

I'll pray for him and his family !

Years ago a after high school buddy fell asleep on the way to work very early in the morn.. Docs said he has 1 in 100 survival chance and if he survives he has 1 in 100 chance of being functional. He came through asked the doc to put a piece of plastic in his skull with a U.S. flag on it, they did what he asked.

A really good buddy of mine here at work was riding the few miles home June 26th, and a little old lady that couldn't see and shouldn't have been driving pulled across the highway in front of him. He left a long skid mark, then laid the bike down, but still hit the front fender and flew @ 75' into the median. They took away the lady's license, but it shouldn't have to come to something like this for that to happen. Lots of damage and broken bones including 3 skull fractures. He's the same age as me.. 45, and we started here at work about the same time.

They finally got the swelling in his brain to go down and did an MRI. He's basically a vegetable, so the family made the decision I'd hate for anyone to have to make and pulled the plug on him. He's got pneumonia to boot. He made it through the night, but they're expecting him to pass at some point today from the fluid building in his lungs. His first grandchild was/is due in Dec.

Expect everyone to pull out in front of you because many will. This is the same thing that killed Jeremy (Montreux Blue)... someone failing to yield from a side road.

Enjoy the ride and the freedom... but yes, any given day.


P.S. Anyone offering prayers, his name is Ted Keefer and he is leaving behind a wife and two "kids", 18 and 20. He's got a HUGE heart and would do anything for anyone at any time of the day or night.

[trbig]

I'll pray for him and his family !

Years ago a after high school buddy fell asleep on the way to work very early in the morn.. Docs said he has 1 in 100 survival chance and if he survives he has 1 in 100 chance of being functional. He came through asked the doc to put a piece of plastic in his skull with a U.S. flag on it, they did what he asked.

Well, as I said, there are other problems. I was talking to Ted's wife, and she told me that one of the bones from his lower leg that attaches to the ankle had been out from the crash. I said, "So you mean a compound fracture?" She said, "I don't know what you call it, but it was laying on the ground and they had to pick it up and bring it with him." They had re-attached the bone in surgery, but the foot/leg has become gangrene. They were going to remove the leg from the knee down yesterday, but due to the MRI report, that wasn't necessary. He surprised all the nurses and docs and made it through last night, but honestly, all he's doing is running up the hospital tab until the inevitable. So, if there was a way to get negative chance out of 100, he'd be there.

I didn't mean to hijack the thread and be a downer on everyone. Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and prayers for Ted's family. This one's bothering me quite a bit, so thanks for letting me vent.

[MPittma100]

It happens

Coming home today. Only 10-12 miles from home. I'm in a 10,000 pound Dodge dually going around a fairly sharp curve. Here comes a fool in a van the other way half way in my lane. I had to move (swerve) over a lot to avoid a head-on collision - which may have been better for him had I decided to turn around and chase him down. But I'm too old for that kind of foolishness (or am I?).

MP

[ViperRon]

MP you could have done it but its not worth it, your word against his. No damage done and police did not see it no way to prove your point. The other issue is as soon as you chase him you become the agressor. I know that is not right but it is distorted.

I had a cousin about 15 years ago and a guy in a sports car side swiped his truck. Cousin turned around chased him down into Sears parking lot got out of the truck and while walking over to talk to him the guy ran over him in the parking lot in front of witnesses and ran. Months later they finally found the guy family was hidding him out and police charged him with murder. The guy came from a rich family and in the end he got off.

So understand maybe its best you are an older living man. This country no longer is a place where you have a right to stand up for right and wrong.