awning has broken
i now have a healthy fear of windy days. i didn't always.

why?

because windy days mean flying debris and on one such day i was an unwitting casualty.

i would regularly walk down a laneway to get my lunch and this laneway had a building festooned with dirty yellow awnings about 2m x 3m, made of a sturdy metal frame and attached by screws whose best years were 1986-94.

the wind was gusting at a breathtaking rate on this particular day and the laneway created an excellent wind tunnel - the perfect storm if you will.

cue me strolling along minding my own business when a mighty gust tears an awning from its building, sends it soaring in the air where gravity then takes over causing said awning to land square on my head.

i was floored.

it got hazy at this point but i recall pushing the awning off me, putting my hand to my head and feeling something distinctly hot and wet and then being surrounded by a pack of strangers who kindly sat me down on a chair, gave me a teatowel to staunch the bleeding and who called the ambulance. i also recall things getting a bit dark around the edges and fighting not to pass out.

when i got to emergency they put 10 staples in my head, dosed me up good and proper and showed me the photos they took of the awning.

on the crossbar where i was struck was a perfect semi-circular spray of blood. honestly, it was almost beautiful.

i wear a helmet most days now.
(randomscrub, Fri 30 Jul 2010, 8:13, Reply)