Where to begin? With the subject line. How can I begin to express my gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring...? Answer: I can't. (I got it, yer all so grateful I've not been busy consumin bandwidth w' m' silliness that ya get all mushy-and-shit about it.)

I honestly can't begin to tell y'all what it's meant to me, and I won't begin to try. Plz accept this as my wholehearted thanks. And with special mention to a-sordid NTXnetscum who went way above and beyond....

And I hereby take back every bad word I ever sed about W. TX. Well, ok, let's not be rash (heh, you should see my face! talk about being a rash), I take back 96.5% of what I've sed. In particular, the place now has a (human) face -- more than I can say about *me* right now -- and it's a very fine one indeed. From the laydown 8 miles outside of Haskell, ... The several folks who stopped and rendered asst, incl dood in HD shirt who offloaded most of the rest of the stuff off the bike (that which hadn't been "offloaded* already all over the road -- the tourpak -- and my wallet, torn from my pants -- both disintegrated) -- and told me where the bike was being transported to and how to reach them "whenever." ... The folks who literally "swept" the roadway from sholder to sholder for many many a yard (I left quite a wake) and picked up absolutely *everything* incl $258 that was blowing around (I'll bet I even got a coupla discarded soda cans in that collection.) ... The Troopers and the EMTs and everyone else incl the woman who was driving her pickemup at me, saw the whole thing and was, of course, the first (of many) to stop.

Of course there I was, immediately after the laydown, with obvious probs to wrist and ankle, running around the street trying to gather things (on a broken ankle).

The Trooper asked my for my license and before I knew I didn't have it, someone else handed it to him along with reg. He then asked for proof of ins and I sed if it wasn't with the other 2, it was out there on the road. He worked it out. He asked me how fast I was going, but I wasn't sure. Not absolutely positive. Would hate to be wrong...

The EMTs and those at the Haskell hospital, tending to urgent needs and ensuring that head/neck/back were aok. Then contacting Abeline, arranging for surgeries beyond their local capabilities... And then a 45 min ride in the ambulance.

Not fun: lying there for what seemed like the first 30-45 min or so, head in brace, feeling blood running into my eyes, into my ears, down my neck and under my jacket. Oh, the joys!

Absolutely totally *Ace* care in Abeline, and a 3 1/2 day stay. Con came in on Sat (day after laydown) and they put a cot in the room for her. Downright comfy!

I'll say it again: what a great group of folks, one and all. Small town America at its finest.

And the phone calls came pouring in. Thanks folks! The distractions were wonderful.

I *did* crack up the folks at the nursing stn. I'd hit the call button and when they answered, my usual message was (barked, of course) "Drugs! I need DRUGS!"

Yesterday, 'twas time to conclude this segment of the exquisite merriment, so at 6am we left the hospital for Abilene International Airport [sfsf]. Pretty amusing watching the circus act of them trying to gerry-rig that which they had to hoist m' sorry ass into the plane. In all seriousness, my greatest risk of severe injury in this entire ordeal was probly on that lift when I was up near the level of the plane door. Then about 45 minutes in Dallas -- of which we needed every minute -- to move to the nonstop to Oakland. 2 hours in the car and finally we slipped into our most lovely home -- more beautiful than ever, if memory serves! But then everything seems more beautiful than ever right now.

The NieghborsFromHeaven(tm) were having a little party last night, so I hobbled over there on my modified crutches (can't use my left hand). Partied for awhile, tried to put a serious dent in the beer stash, but all proved just a bit too much for me. (You *know* I must be hurt!) Left early to call it a day. Came home to freshly prepared mushy food in the fridge -- just what my mouth is up to -- left there by them NFH (tm).

A day or 2 ago I was discussin with one of y'all (sorry, I don't remember who) just what is the conversion factor from beer to Vicodin. We speculated 6 to 1. I can now tell ya: not even close. I had foresworn the Vicidin yesterday in anticipation of the party and consumed several beers. Then hit the sack. Woke up awhile later thinking I had destroyed my left ankle (lost track in a drunken stoopor?) Oh shit. It's fuckin killing me, wracked in pain like never before. But 2 Vicodin and 20 min and I'm in heaven again.

Enuf for now. Great to be home. Great to have such friends -- incl my new best friends in W.Tx. Thank y'all.

Later,

Righteous Redbeard the Emeritus (now if that ain't a joke, and yeah, payback's a bitch!)