I can't feel sorry for "Roadrash Girl"

[PhilBiker]

Heath has a point, I guess. But we motorcyclists somehow deceive ourselves into thinking we can control our destinies. Sadly, ultimately, we cannot.

For many this believe is part of our ISTP personality type.

Chet, congrats on getting the prosthesis.  I'm sure you will do well in life with your attitude.

[Montyburns]

BL- Thanks for the update and response to my post.  FWIW, I don't think most of us have ever even thought to compare you with "Roadrash Girl."  Roadrash Girl is a kid who made a stupid mistake and paid the consequences.  From everything that I've read from and about you, you seem to be an intelligent, responsible person who knew of and respected the risks of motorcycling but loved it just the same.  In other words, you are just like most of us on this board.  Frankly, if someone sat me down today and told me that if I continued riding a motorcycle I would have to go through what you are going through, I'd never get on one again.  I think that is why your accident has had such an impact on me.  I hate to admit this but it's difficult to get rid of the belief that, although there are risks to motorcycling, as long as I'm responsible they won't happen to me.  Your accident makes it very clear how naive that belief is.  

I hope that you continue to come around and keep us apprised of your progress and help keep us all in line when we are feeling invincible.  Your story is both tragic and inspiring and, riding or not, you are an extremely valuable member of this forum.  

[PackMule]

You are a good, good man, Chet.


Thanks for the window of insight.  

[blueridgerider]

Hey, I saw your original story, roadrashgirl's got nothing on you.  Glad to see you're walking.  
 
I don't think anyone feels sorry for roadrashgirl,

Speak for yourself.


First off Chet Ubetcha/blacklabel - things happen which we have no control over and I am glad that you are walking again.  My prayers go out to you in your continued recovery and new life circumstances.

I can certainly understand your feelings towards roadrashgirl.  A certain amount of bitterness is to be expected.

I do feel sorry for roadrashgirl.  Who here can say they have never been a victim, or potential victim of their own stupidity.  In chet's situation I would probably feel differently, but I'm not there.  She made some stupid decisions, but I myself am not blameless in that and did some really stupid things in my "old enough to know better, too young to care" stage.

[TalkingHead]

Probably because your lights were off.

Doooooooood.......  

[TalkingHead]

  I plan on attending the Luthier Institute in Vancouver for guitar repair and luthiery.  I then want to possibly work for myself doing local repairs and setup as well as possibly getting contract work from larger guitar chains such as Guitar Center and Sam Ash, who usually don't do in-house repair work.  I think this would be a great possibility to supplement whatever disability/VA money I'll be getting.  We'll still get the bills paid, and that is all that matters.  I'm working on my degree (which I've started accelerating again), and may one day try to follow a path to being a Physical Therapist.  Though working with older patients (such as in the VA) doesn't really interest me, I now have a soft spot for wanting to help those with lots of life left who have been in some sort of accident or something similar.  By the same token, I still would love to finish out my Air Force career and retire.  I want to retire, not seperate.  But, I'm not the one who makes the plans...

Anyway, that's where I'm at right now, physically and mentally.  I'm not afraid or upset in the least to talk about the accident and my life afterwards.  If anyone has any specific questions, feel free to ask.  I hope I've cleared up some questions that some people have had.  Again, I can't thank everyone enough for all the thoughts, prayers, and general good karma sent my way.  I'm surprised and thrilled to see that so many people not only remember the accident, but still think about it on a regular basis and may use my misfortune to plant that bug in their ear when they may be thinking about doing something stupid, or even if it just helps keep in mind that anything can happen at any time.  

Thanks again!

You're definitely an inspiration man!

[keeptryn]

As some have said in so many words - shit happens.  One can do all the right things but shit can still happen.  I try to do what I can to manage the risks in motorcycling (wear good gear, improve my skills, defensive riding, etc) but I know there are many things beyond my control.  I have a tough time with this but I continue to ride.  If I get into a serious accident leaving me disabled or dead then all the benefits and enjoyment I would have gotten out of motorcycling will not have been worth it.  Not at all.  But, and this is what we all think if we keep riding, I believe it will not happen to me.   On the other hand I've been around long enough to realize that shit can happen anywhere to anyone at anytime.  I just don't think it will happen to me on a motorcycle.  I'm not saying I'm a better rider or more skillful.  I just don't think it will happen.

Finally, I admire anyone who can productively overcome the pain, suffering and adversity of a serious accident whether they were safety conscious or not prior and during the accident - that does not matter.  How they handle their life post-accident is what matters.  

[PhilBiker]

I do feel sorry for roadrashgirl.  Who here can say they have never been a victim, or potential victim of their own stupidity.  In chet's situation I would probably feel differently, but I'm not there.  She made some stupid decisions, but I myself am not blameless in that and did some really stupid things in my "old enough to know better, too young to care" stage.

You mean we grow out of that stage?

[SPEEDMARK]

I clearly remember the original post about your accident.  I'm more of a lurker on this forum and tend to get most of my news "in-person" from various members that I'm friends with in real life. (read: Not online!)

Your candor in this thread and your attitude toward continued recovery is inspirational.  I hope, as others have expressed, that you'll continue to keep us.....your online friends.....apprised of your progress.  Best of luck to you & your soon-to-be-larger family.

~^SPEEDMark

[sagerat]

I remember the original post because I came to a complete brainlock, jawdrop, OMIGAWD reaction.  One of our own went down and went down hard.

I am so happy that your recovery is going well and I hope you and yours have nothing but good things whether it's in the Air Force or the civvy world.

Good luck, BL.  

[jed]

Thanks for the update BL!  Keep us posted on how your doing.  And yell at us when you need to vent!

[Cricket]

Chet glad to see you doing so much better .

Been wonder about how you were doing with your accident. I see everything is starting to come back together for you .
 
Congratulation on the new one on they way that will keep you real busy.  

[Snowbird]

I'm never getting back on that horse. 

I don't "blame" you and I do not "blame" you for the bitterness you have expressed. The price you've paid is too high for nearly anyone. There *might* be someone out there who could keep on keepin' on... but it probably isn't me and I hope I never have the opportunity to find out.

At the end of August my passenger and I took a fall on spilled gasoline at a rural intersection. She was unhurt but I broke my ankle. That's a far cry from what's happened to you, but it does give me a bit of insight.... and I'll admit that an injury will give one pause. But I'm back riding.

Motorcycling is not the only activity that comes with the possiblity of injury, and you don't have to be going like hell to suffer a life-long injury. This prospect is a really tough aspect of life.

If there is one thing I take from your injury it is this: There is no need for simple road signs to be a deadly obstacle to motorcyclists. Believe me, plenty of research has gone into making sure auto drivers are not injured by signs. There's no reason motorcyclists need to be satisfied by the current sate of affairs. Contact your local MRO and bring up the issue of roadside hazards. Signs are already break-away, but there's no reason they have to be made of metal.

[bucman20]

It's all been said, but your making my bumps in the road look pretty miniscule! Keep it up!

[Snowbird]

For many this believe is part of our ISTP personality type.

Where'd you get that? It sounds like me... surprise, surprise.  

[Heath3n]

...but I broke my ankle. That's a far cry from what's happened to you, but it does give me a bit of insight.... and I'll admit that an injury will give one pause.  

You're kidding right? You broke a bone that healed itself up almost as good as new. He lost half his frking leg!! Then you bring in the psychological portion of his injury and that's just as difficult if not more difficult than the physical loss. To even think you gained insight from a broken ankle as to what it means to lose half of one of your major limbs is not only ignorant, it's an insult to those that have.

-Rob

[Memphis675]

Good for you.  Keep on keeping on.

[steve.ski]

Awesome. Courage personified.

Congrats on your new steps. No doubt you will have in mastered in no time!!

[roadrailer]

Glad to hear of the improvement, Chet! Keep making progress, we're pulling for you.

[Chet Ubetcha]

Thanks again to everyone for all the words.  

Snowbird, I understand what you meant by having "insight".  ANY incident related to your chosen sport/hobby is going to ring a bell and make you look closer at the possible consequences for every action taken.  As said, it's nowhere near what I experienced, but I truly to understand your point of view.  I don't compare my injuries to anyone else.  Every situation is different and personal to the one affected.  What you experienced was traumatic for the level of injury sustained and as stated, the psychological effects will linger much longer than the physical.  I'm glad you are riding again.

I'm not anti-motorcycle.  I still love motorcycles.  I love watcing racing.  I may even one day have the Kay-Jones to once again saddle up, but I won't do it.  As said, my priorities now lie with my family.  I can't even begin to imagine what my wife was going through when she got that call.  THAT will haunt me forever.  I never want to make her feel that way again.  If I were to start riding again, she would be going crazy with worry from the moment I leave until the moment I come home.  Doesn't matter if I'm just commuting to work...she'll worry.  And my job now is to take as much weight as I can off her shoulders.  I'll never make her worry like that again.

I had been talking to my sister who is a life-long medic, and she has a theory about how my leg was traumatically amputated...that doesn't involve a roadsign.  She thinks that when the bike tipped, it broke the bones clear in half, and the sharp edges sliced through the muscle, tendon, and skin, and the leg was "pulled" apart, rather than sheared off by a roadsign.  It makes sense.  My doc thinks it's a very good possibility, being the lack of impact evidence on my Aerostich.  It would also explain why the knee sustained so much soft tissue damage and became useless...which is why I went back in and became an AK amputee (above knee).

I don't know if it was mentioned, but I'm a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor/RiderCoach.  I've toyed with the idea of going and sitting in on a class when I'm able.  Just to watch and maybe get spun up on some of the changes.  I wouldn't be there for my story, it would be for my reintroduction to motorcycling.  

However, it's inevitable that a student is going to go down on the range.  Most of the time it is a simple dump from GRABBING the front brake lever in a corner.  Unfortunately I don't know how I'll react to that.  I don't know that I won't freak out or have flashbacks.  I can' ttake that chance around students.  It's not fair to them, and it may not be safe for them, either.  I've got until June to think about it, as I've already completed the required number of classes taught and education, but I don't think I'm going to renew my MSF instructor card.  It was something I loved to do, but I dont' know if my brain will let me still enjoy it the same way I used to.  That's the part that sucks.

Anyway, I'm falling asleep here.  Thanks again.

-nick