What does it mean when.............

What does it mean when your handlebars go one way and your tire goes another? I'll answer that in just a second.
It occurred to me, as I sat down here to type, that this blog has been mostly about my health or lack thereof. I told God yesterday that I would really prefer that ill health not become my new normal. When one goes through a lengthy health issue and after a few years there appears a 'light at the end of the tunnel'; that one usually hopes that things will just get back to 'normal'. But it is really hard to remember what 'normal' was and what to hope 'normal' will become. (Don't you love it when I wax philosophical....:o) (Uh, keep in mind that I'm on pain medication.)
Pam bought me a new bicycle for Christmas. A classic Schwinn bicycle. Upright handlebars, fat seat and coaster brakes. It looked really neat as it sat in the garage, a shiny bright blue, just waiting for a warm enough day for a test ride. Wednesday was that day. I got the smoker cleaned out and put away. Pam fixed Reuben sandwiches for supper. I had prepped the bikes a couple of weeks ago, so I checked the tires and everything looked ready. We ate the sandwiches, cleaned up the dishes and headed outdoors. I was first to the garage and headed down the hill of our front yard. It did not take long for me to discover that when the handlebars go one way and the tire goes the other chances are really good that you will end up on the ground. Or in my case on the sidewalk. I thought that the handlebars were tight and correctly in place. Apparently I assumed incorrectly. It pretty much took out my left side. Left knee, left elbow, left hand, left shoulder and left side of my head. Problem -- when you are on Coumadin you bleed really well. All of the above parts were bleeding except the shoulder.
We got the bleeding under control and headed to the ER to make sure that nothing was broken. (Bonus -- when you are on Coumadin and bleeding the ER nurse moves you to the front of the line.) And, to make a long blog shorter, nothing was broken. But I was left with a very impressive hematoma (no - this dude is way too impressive to be called a bruise). When two doctors look at your injury, suck wind and say, "ooh, that looks nasty". Then you can trust that it looks nasty. I don't think that I have ever had such a variety of color ranging from red to purple to black.
Surgery was considered to drain the blood because it swelled to about the size of a pear but after a day the swelling seems to be going down. And very few right minded surgeons want the challenge of opening a pocket of blood on someone who has been on Coumadin for any length of time.
Anyway, I would appreciate prayer: 1) that I won't be such a bone-head and I'll check all the parts next time and 2) that the pain and swelling will subside soon.

God is good all the time!!
jim

Psalms 113:2-3 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! ESV