This happened Saturday. I rode my ebike into town and it was such an unusually beautiful day I decided not to head straight back home. If you toured this town the first thing you’d notice is that there clearly are no HOA karens anywhere: The choices people have made over time concerning their homes are – highly individual. You’ve got crappy falling-down house trailers that were old when I was in diapers right across the street from prefab pseudo-McMansions. Crumbling adobe piles next to beautifully kept lawns. It’s all so entertaining that it can be – distracting.
This is primarily a Mormon town, and Saturday was some special holiday or something, I don’t know what but I know there was a big parade down the main drag. And when I was biking along there were family picnics going on in yards. Which made what happened rather more public than I would have chosen.
I was riding along, looking at the unique scenery when I came upon a semi-major road without paying enough attention. I was looking right, the truck was coming from the left – and I hit the brakes hard enough to take the rear wheel right off the pavement. The one thing I have against my ebike is that it’s bigger than I am: Getting my feet on the ground can be an issue. So the bike stopped but it got ahead of me: I struggled for control, and then just gave in to the inevitable and fell right over. Half of me over the bike, half under. The half with the fake leg, which came right off.
Now there’s this old beardo in green cargo pants sitting on the road, a clearly empty pantleg flapping while I dig my leg out from under the bike. I’ve got an open shortsleeve work shirt acting as a gun burka but it wasn’t covering much at the moment.
The guy in the truck stops, gets out and runs over apologizing like it’s all his fault. I asked him what he was apologizing for: I was the dimwit who wasn’t watching what I was doing. He had clear right of way. I’m pulling my leg back on, he’s acting like it’s the worst thing that ever happened, all concerned because I got a little road rash on one elbow. I said I’ve had much worse.
Meanwhile, across the road, there’s this big front yard picnic going on and I just provided the entertainment. A big bearded guy walks over, crosses the road and wants to make sure I’m all right. I’m fine, no injury or damage to anything but my pride but people find it upsetting when my left leg just spontaneously pops off for some reason.
They really are the nicest people. I like it here. But I really do need to pay more attention to where I’m going when there’s a chance of traffic. That’s not real common where I actually live.
I’m glad you’re OK. I’m a bit surprised you didn’t get invited to the picnic (just until you catch your breath) for a burger, or some ambrosia salad.
And yes… gotta pay attention. (I’m guilty of that too.)
I imagine it can be disconcerting to spectators when a man spontaneously begins disassembly in front of them.
Glad you’re OK, Uncle Joel!
July 24th is Pioneer Day in Utah. big celebrations, parades, fireworks. Stuff like that. Glad you are okay. I have not posted much because we are in the process of moving out of Utah. Somewhere greener. Somewhere warmer. Somewhere not so gawdamn tax happy.
Okay, I’m sorry but that story had me LAUGHING! When I started reading I thought, “oh no (hehe) is he going to lose his leg?” I am happy to hear that you were okay and had a stand-up response to your accident…. I was thinking what Zendo Deb was – surprised that they didn’t invite you to the picnic!! I would have thought you could get a free meal from it at least! On another note, glad to hear you are out and up and about enjoying the world again.
Glad you are ok. Sounds like you met a couple of nice people.
We and you would be even more concerned if it was your other flipper that fell off….
Happy you love in a good place, me.
Other places, passers-by would try to rob or beat you for being white and appearing helpless.
Be well and keep sharing the good stuff with us, please.
Love = Live.
Hey Jean,
Can you explain the leaving Utah because its so tax happy? Didn’t realize there was that type problem there now?
Somewhere greener I get but I haven’t found many places warmer than southern utah on our multiple visits there for ATVs or Overlanding. St G and Hurricane in early summer to mid fall were comparable to the middle east for heat for me.
My wife and I keep debating moving there or Idaho. She has some med issues so thats been on hold for a year and 1 year left till possibly leaving here. Your knowledge would be appreciated.
We have 21 acres. When we retired, we wanted to get out of San Jose and have some elbow room. Cedar City was a nice little farm town with an ag school. When you have a fair bit of land, Utah taxes it like what it would be worth if you sold it to a developer. There is a great deal of government greed in Utah, like so many places. Our taxes went from around $2000 per year to $4200. That is too much money to rent from the government. Additionally, with the chopping up the sagebrush prairie into smaller and smaller pieces, the antelope don’t come by our place anymore. The Californians or other ignorant city people, that have moved here brought their culture. Rather than adapting to what is here, there is a theft of quality of life that is utterly distressing. They scream at the shepherds who move the sheep down the roads. If you signal for a lane change, they try to cut you off. I think they don’t have enough psychological elbow room in their hearts. Don’t get me started on water rights. Does that answer your question?
Apologies to Joel for going off on a rant. Your writing has a leg up over mine.
Thanks, Jean. I understand completely, the same thing happened here. City people came and brought the same stuff that caused even them to leave their previous state.