What is the closest you've ever come to dying?

7 years old, on summer break. Mom yells "look both ways."

She and her friend are now 2 blocks behind.

My friend & I cross a through street on bikes. No one looks.

Roar of rubber on asphalt....BANG.

I was 2 seconds ahead of him. That was the difference between him getting hit, & not me.

Shattered the windshield of a giant 70s Cadillac with his head, in a 35 zone.

40 years later, I've no memory beyond standing over his unconscious body, tangled in the bike frame.
Thinking, "so this is what a dead person looks like."

Then there were distant sirens. That's where everything goes blank.

He was rushed to a children's hospital like St. Jude's with a fractured skull.
Spent 2 weeks, then made a surprise visit on his release.
I was so happy to have my friend back alive.

Death grazed our cheeks that day, but chose to carry on. Just to remind us boys he was always around.


We were incredibly fortunate.

He looked up to me; followed my lead. I lead him into that. I still carry that responsibility, even today.