Keresha Durham On October 24, 2008 Club member and experienced cyclist Keresha Durham was struck by an inattentive motorist pulling into the bike lane without looking at the bottom of Laurel St. hill. Although injured pretty badly, she is recovering nicely. This photo was taken on her solo 360 mile tour of California this summer. She also wrote a lovely (and cautionary) poem during her recovery about her experience.

Keresha's message to her friends and well wishers Thank you everyone for sending your healing thoughts and words. I wrote a poem to express my gratitude and to share my brush with death. Pedaling with Joy (soon I hope), Keresha. Send your "Get Well" wishes to Keresha

Contact Dance With Cars and Asphalt

Creo en los angeles y la espiritu divina

I believe in angels
Angels whom reminded me to adjust and
tighten my bike helmet snug
around my head
protect that important hard drive
as I was riding home this fateful Friday

Flying free and happy
last Friday after work
I was biking down that steep hill
near my home
as I have done so, so many times

Experience falls away
The thirty plus years of experience as a Cyclist
That I am a certified Effective Cyclist by the League of American Bicyclists
to teach Bicycle Safety to adults regularly
did not help solve the problem of
being at this certain place, at this certain moment

The distracted driver pulled out
without even looking at me or on-coming traffic
I tried to swerve out of the way
too late,
I can recall it in slow motion
with awe
with deja-vue
I slammed into her car
and went sailing...
sailing
up high then into the pavement

Angels?
must have been a spirit divine
who lifted me magically
from the middle of the road
my body managing to jump up quickly
after a heavy blow to my head
before the cars barreling down the hill
behind me could run over me!
Thinking of that miraculous instant
still takes my breath away
A second more of lingering on the road
and I would have been crushed
by another car
Angels
allowed me to somehow hop up
carry my injured shell to find a sweet, soft place
to lay down and bleed
Angels who whisper and soothe
"don't worry it will be alright
it's not your time to die"
as the car driver is sobbing over me
and I lie bleeding on the ground
pleading to her before I pass out "can you please look next time,
Be careful, a car can be a weapon..."

Angels who knock you out
at the most painful moment

Before I passed out,
I remember being concerned that the small
blurry bodies gathered around my feet on the sidewalk
were some of my impressionable students
I wanted to protect them
from staring at their teacher's blood-covered face

Angels who would have a dear, close friend
drive by at this very moment
and recognize my unconscious body
being loaded into the ambulance
" Oh those are Keresha's colorful flowered pants!!!"
A precious friend who would give up
an important engagement that evening
to follow me through the long, Friday traffic
and be with me

Angels who call this person to be present
like a true brother or sister when I awake
a familiar figure in the Emergency Room crowd
to surprise my scared and searching eyes
It meant so much to have a friend
sit with me for hours
hold my hand as I cried
a hand to squeeze as my wounds were scrubbed out
reassuring me
when they said I may need plastic surgery
with compassionate words

Angels who give me comfort now
come to my aide even when it is such an inconvenience

giving me shoes when I realized I am barefoot
(my shoes flung off and lost in the accident)
giving me clothes and warmth when I step out of the hospital
into the dark, cold, night air
and find I am dressed for a hot day
giving me a lift home
cooking me warm food

A family of Angels
surrounds me

Angels on earth who make time for me
in my misery
Angels who pick up the phone late at night
and come over right away
bearing more ice packs
finding my lost shoe in the street
tying ice packs all over me
tucking me in bed

Angels who nurse me, wash and brush my hair
who tie my shoes and button my shirt
who make me laugh though it hurts
and splits my facial wounds open
who make time to take me to the doctor
who soothe me
when I was worried about my crooked arm
who make decisions for me when I can't think very clearly

the three 8 year old students who came to my door this morning
with sad faces looking into my bruised and cut face
they promise me they will start wearing their bike helmets
Messengers, like little Ernesto who urged me with a serious face
to "please call a Substituta so you can rest Maestra"
as I was planning to return to work
the anonymous neighbor who left Guava juice
just now on my porch

many who are sending me healing thoughts
many who have called and come by to check in on me

I am learning to ask for help and support
to be humble

On this Hallowed Eve, eve of Day of the Dead
Ephemeral angel wings have fanned me awake

I am filled with the preciousness, grace
and fragility of life

Much appreciation to my Angels
of the present and of the past~~~*