You'll have to pardon me, but my head is still a bit fuzzy from getting a concussion a little while ago.
Don't worry, I should be fine. In fact, getting thumped in the head might have knocked a few loose screws into their appropriate place.
Of more relevance, though, is what led to these unfortunate events, and I'm afraid the whole episode can be boiled down to my one character flaw: I have a tendency to act like an adolescent. Despite all the effort I put into dispelling that rumor, it is true that sometimes my inner teen flares up and I get obstinate and ignore my elders' good advice.
Don't worry, it hasn't just come on recently. In fact, it's been an affliction I've been dealing with for quite some time now.
I only admit it to you now because I think this story could save you or your loved ones from the same gruesome consequences.
Isn't it funny the way you can recall events leading up to an accident, and in each remember a hint or clue that should have led to its avoidance?
Case in point—my girlfriend got hit on her bike by a car pulling out of a driveway, then a few days later I got hit by another car in almost the exact same fashion. Instead of taking the advice of my friends and family, I neglected to get a helmet. I mean come on, a helmet? What would the other kids think?
Really? I mean wow. I get hit by a car, and instead of using the incident as a wake-up call to take an obvious hint, I decided to ignore it altogether. A couple days later I'm back on my bike, only this time I'm a bit tipsy. I fall, hit my head and leave both my skin and dignity on a small portion of University Avenue. The big man upstairs must have thrown himself quite the irony party for thinking that one up.
The helpful folks at UHS cleaned me up the next day, but I don't think they could help but shake their heads as they handed me a coupon for 20 percent off a helmet purchase. Isn't that a great feeling? It's close to the one where your parents ""aren't mad, just disappointed.""
But the fact that these coupons actually exist in number at UHS is a frightening indicator of how prevalent the teenage boy syndrome must be on this campus.
I'm not trying to start some helmet awareness campaign, but if you use a bike to get around, consider making the purchase. Anyone with experience on Madison roads knows people do crazy things in transit, none of which involve paying any attention to surroundings. Nobody thinks it will happen to them until it does.
That being said, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to also admit that I myself still have not purchased a bicycle helmet. I've been meaning to, I really have. It's just that I've been really busy with things lately and I'll do it as soon as I get a chance. Gosh, stop trying to control my life all the time! I can do it myself.
If you have a coupon for a 50 percent off a bike helmet, e-mail gallentine@wisc.edu.
