Lucky

I was lucky today. I was travelling through St Helens on the A58 towards the A580 and approaching a bend to my right. Luckily it's a wide open bend with a reasonable view round the corner. I spotted a biker's helmet behind a car coming towards me and I thought "He's gonna overtake that bleeding car!!". I simply repositioned myself into the left gutter of my lane and sure enough he came flying past the car on the bend. Had I not spotted his helmet just over the roof of the car and had I not moved into the kerbside I would have ran into him, head on. 3 years ago I was not so lucky. The left hand bend I was approaching was on was on the crest of a hill and the biker coming towards me apexed the corner onto my side of the road. We met head on. I only know this due to the police accident report, I have absolutely no memory of the events of that bright sunny Sunday afternoon on the 21st of July 2002. Nor have I any memory of the events thereafter for a whole week. Everone I tell this story to tells me I am lucky to be alive. I wish someone could tell me how this defines lucky. I wish I knew how being left for dead on the road, having 15 hours of surgery, 20 pints of someone else's blood, 6 months of depression and having one leg shorter than the other is lucky. Today was lucky. Today I got to Rivi, had a brew and a chocolate bar, a really interesting talk with someone who's mind is opening and came home to write this blog. That is lucky. There are things far worse than being dead. I appreciate I can still walk, I am thankful for the use of both arms, I am grateful my scars are on my limbs not my face, I am happy I am alive. I will never take for granted the things my body can do and the power of my mind. I know it certainly could have been a lot worse. But do not tell me my accident could have been worse and I am lucky. Lucky is to arrive at your destination intact and healthy. Lucky is to arrive at your destination and find those you care for are also intact, healthy...and alive. As for the dead, they do not care.