Dilemma

Last night Dav and I headed out to a friend's party. As usual, considering SF's difficult parking situation, we took the motorcycle. Dav is an excellent driver...I've seen him avoid the mistakes of inattentive drivers and he knows how to handle the bike. I love riding with him. Well, not even a block from where we live, we collided with a car. It's this dangerous hill that we go up and can't see the other side. In what can't be described other than immaculate timing, just as we came over the hill, a car from the other side was turning into a parking spot and was in the middle of our lane. That's why Dav didn't see any headlights as a warning as we were coming over the hill. Luckily, we were going slow, but not slow enough to miss the car.

All I remember was seeing headlights at a strange place, thinking 'hmm, that's not right,' then that slow-motion memory of falling off the bike. I don't know exactly what happened, but the inside of my right leg got bruised. Dav's legs are bruised too. We pretty quickly realized nothing was broken. For me, it was more the shock of the whole thing.

Dav, if you wanna add your perspective, feel free to since I was in the back and missed seeing much.

To brighten things up though, the guy in the car was actually on his way to visit our housemate! Our housemate had been packing his car and heard the noise, came running up, and was like, 'hey, I know you!' After the police took reports and we gathered our stuff, we shook hands with the driver and all headed home. I guess that's one memorable way to meet someone.

OK, so here is my dilemma. I obviously wanna post about this. It's not everyday that I get to show off scratches and a broken motorbike. But then I'm thinking of my parents all the way over in Tokyo and no way to come over and be reassured that I'm OK. You know what I mean? I know they will see this post...So I wrote them their very own note.

Transcription by Shaun:
Dear Mom and Dad,

Dav and I are fine so don't worry. Dav is a really good motorcycle rider, and he is always careful. This time was just Bad Timing. :-( So, don't worry, OK? I know it's hard when I'm so far away but rest assured we're not being foolish. Now I sort of know how mom felt with a sore leg.

Shaun, excellent transation. Arigato!

Comments

[kitten]

So glad you two are okay! Not fun for you, but all things considered it turned out ok...

[mikage]

ittai yo! Daijobu ne...

[Dav]

More perspective: we came over the hill and there was a car sitting sideways across my lane. I tried to swerve around behind it, to our left, but the back wheel lost traction and slid so we clipped the corner of his bumper. The steepness of the downgrade made it more difficult, I think on flat ground we could have made it, but of course on flat ground I would have seen the car :)

I was going about 20mph, but should have been more like 10mph for that hill. I'm just glad Mie didn't get seriously hurt and I'll take this as a lesson learned...

[Shaun]

I fell off my Vespa when I was still learning to ride it when I lived in Amsterdam, and although I wasn't going fast, I landed badly and had a small fracture in my arm. It was one of the worst days of my life. I have so much sympathy for you guys, and I'm very glad to hear that nothing is broken.

[Shaun]

I took the liberty of attempting to translate what you wrote into English.... is that OK?

[Mie]

Shaun,
Thanks for the translation. It is perfect! Kanshashitemasu.

[tom]

Glad that you two are both ok!

[R]

What a accident at the beginning of the year...
both of you are the luckiest people.
So glad that you are OK!

[ian]

Yikes - I'm so glad that you're ok! It's weird to think that I'm your brother and didn't even know about this accident until I checked in on kokochi! I'll call you later - I'd like to hear your voice.