Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living.

About vehicles: we’re going to have to make some changes. First, let me be clear, if it were just Nic and I, and maybe if it was just Nic, Ben and I, and I’d had this accident, I would get back on the horse. It would be my goal to be riding again by the end of the summer. Accidents happen. If I were walking, and a senile old gal hit me, I wouldn’t stop walking, just because of the newfound risk associated with the activity. If I were playing a sport, and an accident happened, I wouldn’t give up the sport. I’m not quitting just because some random fluke occurred.

But, C.S. Lewis once wrote, in the Problem of Pain (a problem I’m familiar with lately) “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains…” And in this case, God seems to have been reminding me that I now have 3 children that I am the sole financial provider for, and as much as I could genuinely feel whispers of Him while enjoying the pleasure of a gentle ride through the country on a warm summer day… clearly He’s shouting about more important priorities in my life right now.

So I’m selling the bike.

It has some minor cosmetic issues that need to be addressed, but my leg took the brunt of the hit, and the bike itself is in good condition. The insurance company will make the repairs, and then it’ll go on the market. We own it outright, so it won’t hurt that much. And God granted me enough time to reach my goal of learning to ride, and obtaining my permanent motorcycle license, in case such things should ever come in handy elsewhere in life/the world again.

And I’m selling my car.

Between my rapidly aging hip, and now the rod in my left leg, driving standard is never likely to be a comfortable experience again. Certainly it will be months before I can even try. We own it outright, and although I’d been enjoying fixing it up, it won’t hurt that much to sell it.

In the near future, we’ll look to obtain a newer, comfortable vehicle for me to drive, that will be useful for work, and other professional outings. In the meantime, my only locomotion is stretched out across the back seat of my mom’s car. I’ll look forward to improved mobility as I heal. Both the bike and the car are classy old vehicles in great shape. If you know of anyone looking for an awesome deal, send them my way!

6 thoughts on “Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living.

  1. As a mom, I’m relieved that you’re selling the bike. But keep the motorcycle license. You may never OWN a bike again, but you never know when you might HAVE to ride one. Kinda like the manual transmission in a car, you may never OWN a vehicle with one, but you should learn how to handle a clutch (you know, that 3rd pedal) in case you have to drive someone home…I also have a standard transmission and my hip has been telling me lately perhaps I should trade. Then again, it’s a lot of fun and great in the winter. Nah, not selling yet.
    Keep healing Jon!

  2. Consider the Pontiac G6. The buyout is pretty good, and we’ve got a couple of months to check out its reliability. Within the family you can buy it out without having me sell it to you, which would incur additional taxes, so you could save a bit there. I could get the guy in St. Mary’s to do the paperwork so the transfer to your name would be easy. They are nice riding car, and because the 3.5 litre engine doesn’t have to strain to reach and maintain crusing speed it is relatively easy on gas. I once drove the G6 we used to have to Cornwall at less that 6 litres per 100 kilometers (5.8 to be exact). It is roomy and would probably fit three car seats across the back (heck we could do that in the Dodge Dart!). If it wouldn’t work for you that is fine, but if you are interested we could do something. I’m sure Mom wouldn’t object to doing something of a switch with your standard shift vehicle in the short term once you are driving again so you wouldn’t have to make a decision on it until September. Think it over. There is bound to be a way to make this work if you are interested.

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