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To be fair to myself I didn’t merely run into a bus stop while riding my bike. It’s a bit more involved than that.

I was home my way back from the video store on my way to the supermarket. I wasn’t going at usual MJ-speed, the street was busy. Lots of obaa-chans wandering around aimlessly on their bikes in front of me.

At one point a large group of kids on bikes came towards me. I slowed down even more, then suddenly a couple of them swung out from the group. I realized that there wasn’t going to be enough room for us and the bus stop so I braked. Unfortunately physics wasn’t on my side I had to make a split-second decision - do I swerve right into the kids or left into the bus stop?

I chose left. If I had chosen right though I may have had a softer landing.

My handlebars bounced off the bus stop, jacknifing the bike and I went down. I think it was made worse by the dip leading to the road I eventually landed on. For the first minute I just lay there trying to figure out which bits of me was still working. The kids stopped and lifted the bike off me and put it somewhere safe, then gradually helped me off the road. Then as I tried to collect myself they all chorused around me “Are you OK? Are you OK?” for 5 minutes, although a couple of them freaked out at the blood gushing from my elbow.

Turns out none of them had a tissue, but thankfully a passing obaa-chan did so I could mop up some of the blood. I said thanks to the kids - at which point I noticed they had an adult with them. This pissed me off. Not only had this adult not advised the kids to be more careful riding - he stood back and did nothing after the accident! Arsehole.

I didn’t hit my head but the shock of wiping out totally dazed me and I sat near my bike for about 15 minutes trying to calm down. I decide to get a bandage for my elbow so that I could make it home. I go to the Fuji supermarket and clean up as well as I can then find some bandages. The older lady at the register takes one look at me, closes the register and grabs her handbag. She happens to always carry around an antiseptic spray with her she tells me so she cleans me up further and helps patch me up. Her manager had run over to see what she was up to, but when he saw what she was doing just asked me if I was OK. I thought that was really kind of her to do that.

I limp home wheeling my bike with one hand, and hobble up the stairs. The Boy and says “What’s wrong with you?” I tell him I’ve just had a bike accident - and he says nothing. I go to the bathroom to slather cream on my leg (after all I wasn’t about to drop my pants in the supermarket), and he comes along and says “You were probably going too fast as usual”.

Well this callous comment, plus the hurt and mess and a bit of shock left over resulted in me doing the natural thing - bursting out into tears.

Which seemed to infuriate him so he stormed off and I just went and had a lie down in the bedroom. Finally he realized what a bastard he was being and came in and apologized. Then actually listened to what happened, and saw that this wasn’t merely a little bump, but that I was covered in bruises, cuts and scrapes. As a penance he cooked dinner. Which is just as well because if left up to me we would have been having water.

So as you can see - luckily I can still type ok - actually that is pretty much all I can do today. Achy all down my left side and also my neck and shoulders which i think I jarred a bit. Although that could also be from having to stretch out my arms to type because i can’t bend my left elbow very much at the moment.

Anyway I must shower. If you hear any screams that will just be me accidentally getting some soapy water in my road rashes…...

Update: In the shower I discovered a very tender spot on my head. So it seems that I did bump it but not on the first smack into the ground.

Extra bonus: just one of my bruises….

Update: now the Boy has seen the bruises and cuts he is now waiting on me hand and foot. (Which is not really what I wanted but not complaining).

• Ouchies! I hope it gets better soon! Silly kids!

  j-ster
  06/07/31 03:37 AM

• ouch!  hope you heal quick.

  gen
  06/07/31 03:47 AM

• Aw thanks guys. Me too - aching and being sore is a real inconvenience.

  MJ
  06/07/31 03:54 AM

• Yeow! I have more accidents walking than on a bike; I think i’m better at riding than walking. O-daiji-ni.

  nils
  06/08/01 09:34 AM