Quote Originally Posted by agnut View Post
Hi gunDriller and govcheetos. How old are you guys ? The reason I ask is that as we get older we lose the ability to react as quickly, our sense of balance isn’t as good and our bones are more brittle. When getting on a roof or ladder our ego and pride says that we can do the job. But reality is a hard teacher. Let me tell you a story.

A few years ago I was at a garage sale loading items while standing on the tailgate of my pickup truck. It was wet and I slipped and fell to the concrete below. It was only a few feet but I was going head first. Incredible, a tall huge stranger caught my head before it hit. My left shoulder hit hard and still gives me a little reminder of that day. The bruise from knee to ankle faded in time. By the way, this stranger and his girlfriend became friends and have visited me and my family many times. You never know what will happen out there; good and bad. You just need the courage to do rather than only dream. I didn’t mean to turn this into a bartering and horse trading story but there it is. Threads of activities weave a most fascinating pattern throughout our lives. Sometimes we need to sit back and reflect until all the colors and designs become clear.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Dang ! now that's a wipe-out, fortunately not too bad.

When I was body-surfing regularly, I realized that most of my rides ended in wipe-outs. I realized that I enjoyed the wipe-outs. So, for a while, I decided to 'cut out the middle-man' - not even bother trying to catch wave. I would just put myself in a position to get mowed down by it, standing about 25 yards inside the impact zone on medium surf.

I knew a guy at the Y who had broken a neck vertebrae while body-surfing in La Jolla. So I learned to always have my elbows over my head. I got bottom-slammed hard once in that position - right on the elbows.

I think "out-witting" Murphy is probably more important than typical survival things like laying in a good supply of toilet paper or 5 gallon bucket.

Having toilet paper won't kill you, but a bad accident can either kill you or injure you bad enough to hasten the time of your death.

I agree, it can be a little morbid if dwelled on.

However there are plenty of opportunities for gallows humor and thoughts.

I'm 56.