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LIFE?!?

Great Title, but what the hell is this guy talking about. That, my friends, is the first problem with this little essay. At this point in time I have no idea what I am talking about or the point I want to make. What I can tell you is that Life is very unpredictable. What's that little line about death and taxes? Well, I have been experiencing the taxman's visit for several years now. I don't enjoy it, but it is tolerable. Just recently though, I had the fragility of Life shoved down my throat rather forcefully.

Without going into detail of the scene itself, I will just say it involved a motorcycle, a pickup truck, a guardrail, and no helmet. I am what you would call an avid motorsports fan. As such, I enjoy speed in most any way I come across it. There is nothing like the thrill and freedom that adrenaline surging throughout your body can make you feel. It's as addicting as drugs or sex. What you can forget while enjoying the rush, is the risk factor involved. After a while a certain comfort level sets in, and the risk does not seem as bad as it may have earlier.
The risk factor for me, over the years, has dwindled. With time comes experience and comfort. I grew up racing go-karts, and jumped right on into riding dirtbikes, and then of course street bikes. During that time, I also began racing cars. When I began racing cars, there was no safety factor that went unnoticed. Rollcage, five-point seat restraints, custom fitted seat, fire extinguisher...I had it all. And all of it was the best I could buy. When I first rode street bikes, I took the same approach. Leather jacket, helmet, gloves, boots...whatever was necessary. Then I moved to South Carolina. NO HELMET LAWS! It wasn't long beforeI discovered the freedom, and comfort of riding without a helmet. It made the cruise more enjoyable. With the summer heat on the lowcountry coast, it was not long before I began riding in shorts and a cut off shirt. Man, was my tan getting dark. Life is good. Five years ago, I dumped my bike. I was burned up and down the inside of both legs.The burnsstopped just short of the do-dads. I can thank God for that. That was not what I was thinking as I lay in the emergency room of the hospital at which I was employed as a CatScan Technologist. Good thing I didn't crack my head open. Cause there would have been nobody to scan me. After a few months of physical and mental healing, I was back riding. No helmet again. There was still no fear. The only thing I had gained was

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