Still here

9/11 is an ominous date. I remember thinking about the significance of that date when I found out that was the date of round two (out of three) for my boards. On 9/11/01, I was teaching high school and I remember watching the news before I left for school. Watching jets fly into the twin towers. Most of you were at work and school when you found out, but Hawaii is 6 hours behind us. (In the summer, no daylight savings.) So, it happened before we got up. I remember how surreal it felt. How shook up all my students were.

Eight years later it was a traumatic time to my family. Not emotionally traumatic to me, but very much so for my wife.

I remember finishing written boards. I finished early so I had all afternoon off. I came home and talked Jess into having a celebratory bike ride. What better way to celebrate a brief respite from months of studying. There was no way we could find a sitter on a Friday afternoon. So, we decided to do intervals and take turns watching Maggie. We drove up to heartbreak hill. It is short, about a mile. But steep. The last half is steep, I believe 12% grade. (It climbs .12 miles, 633ft, for every mile.)

Jess did the first climb. Maggie and I accompanied her during the less easier first half with Maggie in our kangaroo seat. We went back to the truck and we played in the dirt. When Jess came back, it was my turn. The last thing I remember was clicking into my pedals.

Jess started to worry because I was taking longer to return than expected. According to the accident scene I was descending. There are no hairpin corners, it is nearly straight. I was probably going fast. A passing motorist saw my bike and came over to investigate and see if a biker was in trouble, and sure enough. He called 911. Jess saw the ambulance and put Maggie in truck and came up. What I have gone through in no way compares with what my family went through. Not knowing if I would live or die. Not knowing if I would be a permanent nursing home resident. It was hard for Jess. It was hard for Krehl and the rest of my family. Blaine died July 7, 2004, so it was kind of close to home.

The anniversary of my accident fell on a Saturday this year. Being a little crazy I wanted a way to say, "I'm Still Here." I am blessed that Jess was OK with me doing a bike ride on this ominous date.

I thought about Latoja (Logan to Jackson Hole). In the end I decided to do 100 miles not 200. The Enchanted Circle is a ride I have wanted to do for a while. It is a beautiful route. It feels like southern Colorado. Mount Wheeler, the tallest peak in New Mexico 13,140 ft, and the Taos ski hill are right in the center of the loop.

Red river is the little green pushpin at the top of the circle. We went counterclockwise. All the climbs were fun. It was fun to pass the crazies that zipped by me on the descents. As you probably would have guessed. I go much slower on the downhills.

It was so beautiful and a fun ride. The last climb was the highest topping out at 9,800 feet. And you already have 85 miles on the legs.

My bike has a ride time of 6 hours 8 min.

I did not expect a century to be a spiritual experience, I had a powerful feeling of gratitude during one of my descents. I was thankful that it was part of God's plan for me to stay here to try to raise Maggie well and be a good husband.

One of my Attendings told me he was on Neuroradiology call the Saturday after my accident. So he read many of the brain CTs and MRIs. He told me how blessed I am to still be here. (And this is coming from someone who I did not know was spiritual.)

I am so blessed to still be here with my wife and daughter.