A fellow rider went down today.

I'd call him a friend, but I'd only met him this morning and didn't even know his name. Some people say they saw it happen, others speculate based on the remnants of a motorcycle.

Eric will be Ok. He was admitted to the ICU just as a precaution, but he is likely to be discharged within 24-48 hours. When I left the ER, it was decided that he had a bruised kidney, a gash on his tongue that would not require stitches, and a possible tear/rupture of the eardrum.

What scares me is that it could have been me. It could have been any of us. I don't know why, but when we decided to call his mother I took the phone and made the call. Did hearing it from a woman's voice make a difference? Not likely. Did I say what I needed to and avoid things that would scare her unnecessarily? Not sure. I would never want my family to be on the receiving end of that phone call.

I'm mad that a perfectly beautiful day and an amazing ride were ruined by one person's mistake. He might not remember exactly what happened, but he's got a summons in his wallet that is sure to emphsize the pain he's already in. Is it fair to be mad at someone that's lying in a hospital bed with blood crusted to his hair and face?