journal | jaime hough | ankeny lifestyle & portrait photographer

Jun 03, 2009

The Motorcycle Accident (wordy and image heavy)

The Call.

So, my husband called me shortly before 5pm to let me know he was on his way home from work, but was going to get gas so he wouldn’t have to get it in the morning. I thought to myself, well … that’s odd, he usually just runs out after dinner to do it, or gets it in the AM. I said ok, and went about getting homework done. I get a call at 5:06 pm — “Jaime, I need you to come to the front gate. I’ve been in an accident, but I’m ok. Please hurry.” So, I ran to the girls, got them dressed…thinking, he’s ok…how bad is the bike? Whose at fault? Thank God he’s alright. I get on my way, only to be stuck in a long line of cars trying to get out the front gate to go home. I look ahead to find an ambulance, two squad cars, an emergency vehicle, my husbands 2007 Harley Davidson Street Bob sitting on the sidewalk, and a lady’s car in the middle of the road — banged up!

It’s finally my turn at the light, and I am yelled at “What do you want? Where are you going?” To which I responded — “Umm, duh. That’s my husband … where can I park?” I pulled around the emergency vehicle, opened the doors so the girls wouldn’t get hot, and took two steps before someone approached me, calling my husband “Superman” … a “Champ”, etc. Before I could ask who he was or what had happened, he told me “I was right behind your husband, It’s not his fault, she pulled out and gunned it to make her turn. It’s not his fault and he’s ok, just a bit sore.” There were 4-5 paramedics checking out my husband — head, neck, eyes, face, arms, legs, etc. It was apparent he was ok though. Then, the obvious question — “How’s my bike?” You see, I bought this for him…a father’s day gift in 2007, while he was deployed over seas — he came home to a brand spanking new Harley, just sitting there waiting for him. My bike was trashed. The guy told me in as pleasant of words as he could, “Your bike’s front end — totaled.” I about lost it. I was so mad and so sad and so overtaken by anger for the moron who hit my husband. I am so thankful … to God and the Angels, his bell, his leather jacket, his helmet … and all lost riders … for keeping my husband safe, sound, alive, and in one piece.

The Accident.

So, as I said, my husband was on his way home … a mere 2.5-3 minutes from our home. His light is green, so like any normal person, he was simply making his way through the intersection here on base, at the front gate. He was heading East, she was heading West, about to make a left turn to go off base. Mind you, the lights running East and West do NOT have protected turns. So, my husband is slightly more than half way through the intersection when she guns it and turns left … leaving no where for my husband to go. If he went left, he could have lost his leg to her back bumper. If he went right, he would have hit her more head on and gone through her windshield. He chose to Superman … he grabed his brakes, hit her rear passenger side head on, and before he could get “Oh ****” out loud, it was too late — he had a birds eye view of her trunk and his bike, and he went flying! The next thing you know, he jumps up from the ground, throws down his jacket, his gloves, goes to throw the helmet (then sees it wasn’t damaged) and carefully sets it down. Then … he saw her … the OLD woman who gunned her turn on a RED light. He second thought taking the driver out, but apparently, according to numerous eye witnesses, he looked ready to kill. See, he thought it was some young kid not paying attention — we have many of them on base you know. But no, it was an elderly lady, who was apologizing profusely for NOT SEEING HIM …. in his BRIGHT NEON ORANGE RIDERS VEST!

Yeah. She didn’t see him…coming right at her. East meets West. With his brights on. And, I already mentioned the neon orange vest.

The Bike.

So, I go up to see the bike, and yeah, the front is mangled. See? Mangled!

Handlebars are not supposed to be so curled, umm, forward. And forks, yeah…they are supposed to be at a nice clean slant downward, not up … down … in! Yes, mangled. The gas can is busted and leaking fuel — he just filled up!!! What a waste of $8!!! I’m cringing just thinking about the poor thing! The whole pipe side of the bike is scratched, dinged, bruised, dented … did I mention mangled? Yes. We are not happy.

The hospital.

The paramedics are still checking him out and ask, “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital? I mean, you’re Active Duty, Military, it’s not like you have to worry about the money or anything.” To which, I interrupted, “He’s going, now, in that nice pretty ambulance you have there waiting.” To which they replied, “Thanks Ma’am.” And off he went to the hospital, which is oh, 2 minutes down the road from where he was hit.

The Incident Report.

So, the MA’s, all 5-6 of them, approach me with their big guns and knives … to get my husbands info — shocked that I actually knew it all (with the exception of 1 DL number, ah nuts!). So, I’m standing there, not looking at any paperwork, giving them all the details of the bike. They take my registration and insurance, etc., are copying it to paper. Then, it starts, with some young MA. Him: “Man, I’m feeling bad for that older woman.” Me: Ummm….she HIT MY HUSBAND!” Him: “Well, I mean, I feel bad for all of you, but she’s older…you know?” Me: I know kids half my age getting in wrecks because they are blind as bats and think it’s uncool to wear their glasses, don’t care, don’t pay attention, aren’t lucid, are messed up in the head, are smoking whatever, drinking, talking on their cell phones, texting while driving, and just being idiots…etc. I don’t think there is any excuse you can give me for hitting someone who has a green light and is wearing a BRIGHT NEON ORANGE VEST! Not to mentioned the LOUD rumble that bikes tend to make, you know?” Him: “Well….ummm.” Me: “Dude, go away.” Him: (Crawls under a rock and dies). His superior came to take over, which made me happy. 🙂 I continued filling out forms. I mean, seriously … who says that to the person who just about had their life taken from them? Really. No.

Her Car.

The Tow.

The tow arrives, and I painfull watch as the bike is dragged onto the platform with the lady’s car. Yeah, he had the key fob, and the alarm sounded wildly. To which everyone yelled, “Hey, the alarm works.” It was kinda funny. Yeah, that really bit…hard. Didn’t like watching the poor bike suffer more than it had already.

The Hospital – Part 2

So, he is taken to the hospital, and I went to take the girls to a neighbors so I could meet him up there. Only, when I get there…I was so graciously NOT GREETED by any personnel, even after ringing the bell 6 times!!!! So, I did what any wife would do — I stormed into the back area, and asked for my husband — you know, the one in the bike accident. To which they so un-graciously said, “He’s already discharged and gone.” Dirty looks accompanied. Are you serious? My husband is in a wreck and they just let him walk out of the hospital with no escort? Are you freaking kidding me? They didn’t wrap his ankle, give him crutches, ice, directions on how to care for his knee, ankle, hip, head, etc. Oh wait, the X-ray’d his ankle. He had to ASK for some meds for his INSANE pain. Then, he walks 1/2 mile through a plowed field (full of snakes) to a friends because he couldn’t get ahold of me (still with the bike). So, I take off…wondering to myself, “Where in the world is my husband?”

The Jetmart.

As I turn out of the hospital, I’m thinking…Jack and Coke. My husband really doesn’t drink a lot, and me … not at all. However, I felt this occasion called for a drink. I plowed into the Jet Mart, grabbed the Jack, grabbed the Coke, and laid it on the counter. 4-5 people watching (guess I looked angry or something … dunno why I would). I show ID, swipe my card, and wait…wait…wait. Oh, forgot to punch in my debit #. Me: “Sorry, long bad day.” Clerk: “What happened?” Me: “Well, you see…this lady gunned a turn and hit my husband on his Harley…he had a green light. The bike looks bad. Husband is fine.” 4-5 People in Jet Mart (in sync): “Oh, Gosh! That was you?” Me: “Yes, that was me. Bad day, like I said.” Them: “What happened” Me: (I told the story again). Them: “Oh man, that’s awful. We all saw — on our way back home, to work, from the store, etc., etc., etc.” Me: “Hence the Jack and Coke. Thanks, see yuh.” Them: “Tell your husband we said we’re glad he’s ok.” Then I left.

Home:

I found him. He was with a friend. All is good in the world. Now we wait.

A Note to Riders: PLEASE WEAR ONE OF THESE ON YOUR HEAD WHEN RIDING (PREFERABLY A FULL FACE). My husband’s helmet saved his life yesterday.

Peace & Love,

Jaime Hough

May 14, 2009

Miss Rhylie’s 3rd Birthday

posted in My Life with 0 Comments

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All I can say is … May 9th has come and gone, and it is definitely a birthday to remember! Here’s a few shots before the day began …

We had plans to hit San Fran, but weather changed our plans. Instead, we decided to throw together a playdate/cake fest in the park. We had a bunch of people who confirmed to be there …

We had the pizza, the cake, the drinks, loads of fun stuff to play with … and no one showed … no one called to say they weren’t showing. To make matters worse, Rhy fell and scraped her knee up pretty bad. Next, she wanted to show everyone that she was a big girl and could get off the picnic table bench solo — she fell and hit the back of her neck and head. Sounds like a day, huh? Not even finished! After an hour of waiting around, we decided to go play in the water — this thing that spouts water from the ground — pretty neat. Well, she was stung by a wasp. Poor kid just wasn’t havin’ it! So, off to Save Mart for some Benadryl and Bandaids.

When we got there, Robyn spotted these beautiful pink hydrangeas, and thought that was sure to cheer her up. We also bought her a balloon, of course. So, we check out and mosy out to the car, only to find her sleeping peacefully in her carseat, with daddy watching over her. Pack it up and head home — yes! Poor kid’s thumb was slightly swollen, and all the excitement was catching up. We got home, laid her in bed…put the flowers on her dresser, balloons by the door, and present waiting with us. It took her an hour or so before she graced us with her present, but apparently the nap was the trick to cure the blues.

We set up the pool and the kids went splashin’ about. Rhy decided it was time for cake and ice cream, so we laid out some towels and had a picnic right there in the front yard…and invited over the neighbors. Bad day was over!