May is a big day in my life--and for those who still celebrate the victory of the Soviet Union over the Nazis. While I am happy the Soviets won (and angry that Russia has returned to its Soviet/Tsarist past) for me, May 9 was twice the anniversary of a lot of broken bones and subsequent surgery.
On May 9, 1945, the Soviet Union announced victory over Nazi Germany. We and the rest of its allies declared victory on May 8, but the Soviets waited until after midnight so they could have a separate date for victory.
On May 9, 2007, I crashed at 51 mph on Turkey Hill in Lancaster County PA. A Medevac helicopter flew me to Lancaster General Hospital with ten broken bones, including a smashed 7th vertebra. I had plastic surgery that night to re-attach my forehead. The next day was surgery to scrape out C-7 and replace it with a cadaver bone. Mike Whittaker got me the Medevac. Without that, who knows.
Eight days later I walked out of the hospital in a neck and chest brace.
On May 9, 2020, I had a very low speed bike crash in Philadelphia that splintered my left elbow into twenty pieces. Five days later I had surgery to reassemble my shattered humerus, requiring breaking my forearm in the process. The next day I walked out of Lancaster General Hospital in a very large cast.
Today, I did not ride a bicycle. I know it only happened twice, but I rode yesterday and will probably ride tomorrow. For however many May 9ths I have in my life,I will be a pedestrian.
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