Skylar's Sunset Paradise - Journey's of Heart and Mind

[The Duke of Oral]

View of Sunset

Please click on link above to see picture.

This is a non-sexual thread, and is dedicated to posting stories, events, real life observances, and a place where friends meet to share their own life's journeys.

Welcome. I hope you find this thread to be very informational, as well as inspirational - Rick.

Any stories, poetry, or other written information herein this thread is under the direct ownership of those posting such. Aside from Literotica's own rights which are obviously made freely, seeing how this is their community, no one may make copies, transmissions, or otherwise use of any material herein without the express written permission of the posted authors. This notice is made to protect the rights, if not personal lives of those involved through such posted materials.

 

[The Duke of Oral]

A most bizarre miracle - The Miracle of 1976

The following story is a true account of what happened the night
that it is written about. There are no exaggerations, or untruths
about any of it. I offer it as something that just might enlighten
you about how strange life can be sometimes.

It was the night of August 15th, 1976 that something
so completely unexpected happened that would forever change
my views on life. It became to be known by me as the miracle of
1976.

I was in the US Air Force, stationed at what was then Electronic
Security Command (ESC) Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas. I was
still a newlywed, having been married only 8 months, and this
was my first “permanent” assignment (PCS). At the time we
lived in an apartment complex just off the Loop 410
interchange / frontage road. I didn’t make a lot of money being
so new to the military, and as such hadn’t even purchased our
first car yet. I rode a 10 speed bike to work and back each day /
night depending on my shift, and it was adorned with headlight,
taillight, speedometer, turn signals, reflectors, and other
assorted accessories. It was at the time quite the outfitted
bicycle.

Click Here for Map Segment
{for exact location, imagine about 1/2 inch above the word Technologies on the lower right border}

I’ll never forget the movie that was on that night, of all
things “The Dirty Dozen”. My wife and I had just finished making
passionate love and just holding one another before I had to
dress in AF fatigues to go to work. We were quite close for the
longest time when we got married. I think it was those initial
years that made me the man I am today who seeks to snuggle
with his lover in afterglow of the feelings and sensations just
exchanged in such wonderful physical activity.

Unable to finish watching the movie, I exchanged hugs, and
kisses goodbye with her, got dressed, and then got on my bike
to head to work, or so I thought.

Just outside of our apartment complex was the Loop 410 access
road heading due south to the western regions of Lackland AFB,
known for being a main basic training facility. My venture to work
involved a 12 mile trek. First about 3 miles south on the loop 410
access road, (only way to go, there were no residential streets
within miles), and then east on a main street that headed to
Lackland AFB. Once at the gate I would show my military ID, get
on base, and then proceed through the basic training educational
facilities areas, on a route that allowed me to finally reach the
exit gate to MilitaryDrive, the main thoroughfare between
Lackland and Kelly AFB’s.

Not unlike any other night, when I approached the access road, I
looked both directions. I was over safe about such things. Still
am, mom did a good job raising this man! Up ahead on the
access road of 410 going south was an exit from westbound
Highway 90, known for being one of the top 50 most dangerous
highways in the United States. And then, just past the overpass
that I would ride underneath, was an entrance to circle onto
Highway 90 going east. So common sense was to stay to the left
of the access road on the shoulder mind you, which at this time of
the night being 11:00 pm, was always very light in traffic. Still I
took no chances, and would stay left until I had passed the
overpass and loops onto or off the 410 access road. From that
point on I would move over to the right side of the access road,
nearest the grass and proceed onto the road I mentioned
before.

After looking both directions, I proceeded south, all things in
normal fashion, for about a minute or so, when suddenly from
behind me, came the sound of slamming brakes, and the sound
of a car skidding very quickly upon me. In the matter of tenths of
seconds, what seemed like an eternity at the time, I felt a car
impact the rear end of my bicycle, and saw it go spinning end
over end, over end, over end, way up into the air, far from the
intended rider, me.

The next thing I know is I awake in the middle of the access road,
dazed, in a state of shock, looking around, and thinking – “Am I
dead? Am I here for real, or just not letting go of the self that
moments ago was alive and well here on planet Earth?” I took a
few seconds and looked around. My bike, or what was left of it,
was at least a good 200 feet south from me. There were two
cars on the right side of the access road about the same distance
as the bicycle. One was a small, somewhat grafittied Volkswagon, the other a larger car, the one that had hit me. I
thought once more “Well, if I’m alive, lets find out, because if I’m
alive, then I better get out of the middle of the road, and if I’m
dead, when I get up to walk, I will suddenly just not be here
anymore.”

I managed to somehow bring myself to an almost upright
position, and I attempted to walk to the grassy median on the
left side of the access road, facing south. I fell. Simply had no
way of supporting myself, and fell to the asphalt again. A bit
more anxious to say the least, I then crawled using my hands
and my one good leg that was left, my left leg, until I reached the
grass and was a safe distance, about 20 feet or so into the
median, where I collapsed and blacked out. Moments later, I was
revived by one of the guys from the Volkswagen. There were 3
hippies that had been riding in it and seen the whole incident.
My memory is good, even after such a traumatic experience. You
simply don’t forget much, when you see your life pass before your
eyes, and you get a second chance to be alive. Here is what
took place thereof:

[hippie]
“Hey man, you alright? Wow dude, that was fuckin’ far out, I
mean not like good far out, but dude wow, you should have seen
yourself man. Hey man, the driver, he tried to leave. We
stopped him, and he seems like he’s pretty drunk. One of my
buddies just went to call an ambulance. Here, I just happen to
carry a first-aid kit, and you got some blood coming down your
face. Let me give you something to cover up that cut with. Really
dude, do you hear me okay man?”

[me]
“Yeah, I hear you. I feel like I’ve been hit by a mac truck. I
looked both directions and I didn’t see anything coming. Where
did he come from?”

[hippie]
“Oh dude, he didn’t even have his headlights on. And he tried to
leave the scene man, like I said, but we wouldn’t let him. Why
don’t you just lie down and wait until the ambulance arrives
man. Dude we saw it all man. You got hit and your bicycle went
flying like a rocket out into space, and then you went directly into
his windshield ass first, busted it out, then flew up into the air
about 25 feet and floated for what seemed like a long time dude,
and then you hit the pavement back there and kinda bounced,
then rolled a few feet, and ended up where you woke up a few
moments ago.”

[me]
“Get my wife, please” I said to him. “Please go get her, we live in
apartment such-n-such right over there. I need her to know
what has happened!”

[you have to realize that tears still come to my eyes, even this
day to recount this story, so bear with me dear readers.]

He left my side just long enough for him to tell one of his buddies
to go and get my wife. Meanwhile I’m lying there head totally
dizzy, wondering if I’m going to stay alive, or if this is my last
moments. Ergo, someone get my wife… now.

Moments passed like sand through the tiniest hourglass
imaginable. At some point an ambulance arrived, and paramedics
rushed to my side. They administered topical solutions to my
various cuts and abrasions, and they had a special lift brought
over. About that time someone from Lackland AFB, arrived to
give me the wonderful news that nothing could really be done to
help me much, and that I couldn’t be taken from the scene, until I
was properly debriefed by an officer from Kelly AFB cleared to do
so.

[My wife appears on the scene]

[wife]
“Oh Rick, oh my gosh Rick, are you going to be okay. Rick,
sweetie, please don’t die on me! I love you! Oh dear god! What
happened?”

[me]
“Well I got hit by a car. I think I’m going to be okay, but I hurt all
over.

[wife]
“Well are ya’ll going to help him or not! What the hell is
everybody waiting for!”


[crowd from apartments and other vehicles started to form]

[paramedic]
“Everybody step back, and just give this man some room!
Maam, we can’t take him to the hospital yet. Your husband has a
special security clearance that requires him to be talked to by
someone before we can do anything. As soon as they get here
we will be moving him immediately to Wilford Hall Medical Center
on Lackland. We have some of the best doctors anyone could
ask for there and he will be seen first thing we promise.”

Again, moments pass like an eternity until finally I hear that the
officer from Kelly AFB has arrived and is on his way to me.

Suddenly the sound of brakes being slammed on again… and then

“WHAMM”, someone rear-ended the damn ambulance.

Oh great I thought. I’m never going to get to the hospital and
I’m just going to probably die right here! [laughing now, thinking
back on this]

Well, the officer arrived and debriefed me. Another ambulance
was summoned to the scene and I eventually got to the
hospital. I had to have a needle about 8 inches long put into my
asshole to numb me, so they could stitch my asshole shut, from
the cut I got from busting out his windshield, with my ass. They
took xrays of me to check for internal bleeding and such. I passed
out once there also during the taking of them, because the idiot
xray tech actually wanted me to stand for a extended time to
take them. So I awoke to find myself on a gurney, and him
saying he was sorry, and that he would take the xrays from me in
the laying down position as best as he could.

The next day doctors came and saw me.

[doctor]
“Well you are sad excuse for someone that got hit by a car. As
best we can tell there is no bleeding. You don’t have one broken
bone in your body. And from the looks of things all we see is that
you have a couple of contusions, one above your left eyebrow,
one on your left arm, and your right calf appears to have suffered
some muscular trauma. We will need to keep you here for at
least 2 days, to insure that no bleeding starts, and to allow you a
chance to rest your leg. We will keep a pillow under your knee, in
order to take off the strain on that muscle. Oh, and by the way,
you would have been the top story of the night on the local news
stations, but someone got hit and killed by a train shortly after
your accident.”

[All that to get on the news, and I couldn’t even get that done
right! Andy Warhol, where is my 15 minutes of fame?]

There is a lot more to this story that takes place after I got out of
the hospital. I had to walk in a great deal of pain with a bent leg,
due to the calve muscle tightening up from my knee being bent.
It was months before I could put my back facing the inside wall
of any building where there was parking on the outside, just on
the other side of the wall. Everyone said if you get knocked off
the horse, you have to get back on it, and so I faced my fear of
getting back on a bicycle a couple of weeks later, but I couldn’t
stop looking behind me while riding. That too went away after a
year or so. I learned to look at life a lot different. I was so
carefree and not thinking that my time could come so soon in life,
but from then on, and even today, I thank God for each and
every morning I wake, and I thank him for not taking me that
night. I’ve had four wonderful children since then, and I would
just hate to think that they wouldn’t be here if I had died that
night.

It had to be a miracle folks. Not one broken bone even?! This
man hit me at 40 miles per hour dead on, his brakes only slowed
him from his speed which was in excess of 60 miles per hour at
the time he began to brake. The car’s entire windshield was
obliterated by my own flesh and blood rear-end. Yes, it was the
miracle of 1976. At least this writer believes so!

 

[dragonhearted]

Hmmmmmmmmm..

Nice place you have here....Mind if I sit a spell and brainstorm?

 

[The Duke of Oral]

Re: Hmmmmmmmmm..

Nice place you have here....Mind if I sit a spell and brainstorm?

You most certainly may. In fact Suzi, I look forward to reading of some of your own inputs to this thread, and as such please be so kind as to notice the copyright's notice I'm adding to the first post.

 

[The Duke of Oral]

dolphin

a beautiful one at that:

 

[The Duke of Oral]

The Miracle of 1976 is now here for reading.

 

[English Lady]

Wow dukey you must have one hell of a tough butt!

thats a really heartwarming tale. Glad you didn't suffer anything too bad from it all.

I think that people so often take life for granted. I know i do. Its good to think about what we have and how easily it could be taken away sometimes.

A few weeks ago there was a gas explosion in the house next to mine. My baby girl was next to the blast asleep in her cot. There was no damage from this, my baby didn't even wake up and i didn't realise what was happening till i fireman knocked on my door.

After things had quietened down I just thought about how lucky we had been. How my daughter could have easily been killed, how we all could have died in that blast. It really made me thankful for my life, my health and my family.


Count your blessings every day folks.

 

[BlondBombshell]

=)

Wonderful story Rick........

Yes, I too believe in miracles........

BB

 

[The Duke of Oral]

Wow dukey you must have one hell of a tough butt!

thats a really heartwarming tale. Glad you didn't suffer anything too bad from it all.

I think that people so often take life for granted. I know i do. Its good to think about what we have and how easily it could be taken away sometimes.

A few weeks ago there was a gas explosion in the house next to mine. My baby girl was next to the blast asleep in her cot. There was no damage from this, my baby didn't even wake up and i didn't realise what was happening till i fireman knocked on my door.

After things had quietened down I just thought about how lucky we had been. How my daughter could have easily been killed, how we all could have died in that blast. It really made me thankful for my life, my health and my family.


Count your blessings every day folks.

That would be something of a scary event indeed. Yes everyday is a new day, and one that we just can't afford to take for granted. As far as my butt? Well it's not a big one, and for some of the things it's been through, I guess it is a bit of a wonder itself. Still, sometimes I feel so out of things, I have to look back to make sure it is still intact! Thank you for your feedback, and you're own insights to what happened the other night.

 

[English Lady]

My pleasure dukey....and if you need someone to check your butt for ya..well I'd be happy to volunteer

 

[dragonhearted]

Bike accidents & close brushes with death.......

I had a close brush myself, but not nearly so traumatic as yours! I was goin' like a bat outta hell down this very steep hill back in Rutland, VT where I grew up...I mean I was goin' really fast for a bike! (on gravity mostly, and some momentum I had built up). This car in the oncoming lane, no signal, turned LEFT right in front of me...I had only seconds to react and very little space to maneuver. (must have been 3 yards or so...) It all happened so quickly...I remember saying "Oh help" kinda loud...and somehow managed to zip left of that car, just in time (it was right in my path no less). I tell you---my heart was pounding like a jackhammer in my chest afterward. Luckily I was skinny and still had a healthy heart!

I firmly believe that there are spirits that watch over us...call 'em angels, call 'em ghosts...or maybe the Goddess in her mercy just carries us out of danger, just in a nick of time. All I know is, I feel lucky to be alive. I am glad you are too, Duke

 

[cajunpeach]

Close encounters

Wow Duke, it's amazing that you weren't hurt worse than you were.

Thankfully, I haven't had any accidents quite that bad, but one accident back in '84 really had me scared.

I was driving home from work on a rainy afternoon in Perrineville, NJ when a car twice as large as my small station wagon crossed the line and sideswiped my car, pushing my car to the side of the road and a deep ditch.

I hit my head on the door and saw stars unaware that my left elbow had also hit the door. I wrestled with the wheels trying to stay out of the ditch for several terrifying seconds. I finally managed to miss the ditch and stop the car. That's when my left elbow started shouting PAIN in a big way and I blacked out.

When I came to, the woman who had hit me was pounding on my window, screeching at me that I had tried to run her off the road. Thankfully the accident had been witnessed by another driver who called 911 and reported the accident. He also pulled her away from my car, telling her that she was the one who had caused the accident.

He took her car keys and told her to wait for the state police - Perrineville was too small for its own police force. He came back to check on me. He tried to open the driver's side door, but it was so damaged by the force of the other car hitting it, it wouldn't open.

When the state police came, the woman tried once again to blame me, but the man told them what happened and the state police also said that they could follow the evidence of the tire tracks. In additon, the state police said that I had just managed to stay out of the ditch by three inches. If my car had gone into the ditch, it would have rolled over several times down a steep embankment - that was and still is a scary thought.

An ambulance finally arrived an hour later - I was still stuck in my car. No one could get the door open nor could they get my car to move because the accident or my attempts to keep from entering the ditch had blown the right front tires.

The paramedics had to inch me across the front seat to the passenger side of the car - mind you, they didn't have much room to work because of that ditch. I was taken to the hosipital in Princeton.

The emergency room doctor asked me where I hurt and I told him that my left elbow hurt more than anything else. I then told him that I though that I had injured the ulnar nerve. He blinked and just stared at me.

He finally replied that I must have sustained a concussion and that I would need X-rays. I told him to have my elbow X-rayed too. He just shook his head, unwilling to believe that I knew what I was talking about - after all, I wasn't a doctor just an artist with a good knowledge of anatomy.

I finally convinced the X-ray technicial to take a picture of my elbow and when the doctor saw it - he was amazed. He admited that I was right - no concussion, just some damage in my left elbow - a bone splinter was pressing on my nerve.

It took me nearly six months to go from 35% use of my left arm to 60% use and another two years of therapy to reach 75% use. The therapy I chose was obedience training my Siberian Husky - and it worked too.

Nowadays, I'm fairly good at predicting the barometer pressure changes - thanks to that accident.

 

[The Duke of Oral]

cajunpeach, life moves in mysterious ways, sometimes taking us places we don't want to go, and at the same time, giving us glimpses of how much farther we could have been swept, such as that ditch that loomed ever so large on you that afternoon. The very fact that inches alone prevented perhaps hundreds of feet, is a miracle of its own. And to think you were even blessed with a special gift that only those near death experiences seem to embody us with in the strangest of blessings. Courage no doubt was something that pulled you through those seemingly eternal moments. Thank you for sharing this story.

And dragonhearted, you too, must know that it is a blessing that you were able to escape, narrowly, an impact that could have forever changed your life in a way I don't want to have to envision. If you think about it, there doesn't have to be some big explosion, or major impact of accident to hurt, and possibly end lives, just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Dale Earnhardt was my one true favorite race car driver. So many times he was in situations that were life threatening, and that one, unfortunate turn of events, that impact of the particular type was all it took to take his life, and end his own journey here with us on Earth.

I feel very blessed to still be here, but even more blessed that each of us are here at this moment, to tell of those moments when we were so vulnerable to the grasp of life's ending.

Thank you all for sharing your insights and your comments.

 

[English Lady]

I firmly believe in gaurdian angels. Every time i have a brush with death,however slight I always thank my angel. I know God has set one to guard me and it is another thing I am thankful for.

One thing though, as my mum always says Gaurdian angels cannot keep up after the speed limit*grins*

 

[The Duke of Oral]

I firmly believe in gaurdian angels. Every time i have a brush with death,however slight I always thank my angel. I know God has set one to guard me and it is another thing I am thankful for.

One thing though, as my mum always says Gaurdian angels cannot keep up after the speed limit*grins*

There is one Very powerful guardian angel looking over this man, and has been all of his life, especially since the age of 8, and I will relate that story of that time to all soon. Today, I'm going to write and post the story of another miracle, and one that happened just one year and one month after the accident.

 

[English Lady]

Yes i think my gaurdian angel is very strong and probably bald from worry and exertion by now!

 

[The Duke of Oral]

Angel Now Next To Me

For my dearest cajunpeach, here's a poem from me.

Angel Now Next To Me

I’ve had so many pleasures in life,
as well as times that were hard to bear.
My journey has often been very lonely,
causing yearnings for love I could share.

And through it all, I’ve saved mortal grace,
spiritually knelt before those good and bad.
For I didn't want to be treated as one special,
anymore than one some could make so sad.

Human nature looks upon such as me weak,
measure of strength, by showing such outward proud.
But the reward I've sought throughout time,
was one for my very own angel, not asked aloud.

Time and again, it seemed not meant to be,
yet hopeful kept were my dreams deep within.
I wondered if I were even worthy of such,
for mortal man am I, equally instinctive with sin.

How could I ask for such a blessing to be,
though time and again I sought doing good deed..
For only in that respect, could I have the hope,
that such an angel to me life would lead.

Throughout my journey, I crossed other paths,
offering care and love as my only tidings to see.
Many times, I wondered if that too were not right,
for time and again, no angel ever appeared unto me.

And just as I was about to lose my very hopes,
when I thought all my prayers and efforts had failed.
There came to me an angel beyond expectation,
one to me not as apparent, her being humbly veiled.

I reached out with hesitation of her at the first,
for I knew not she had also been looking for me.
In the flash of an instant, in the blink of an eye,
mine eyes were fixed to gaze, sight angelic to see.

Oh Lord, you truly have answered my prayers,
tearful eyes I use as I gaze heavenly toward thee.
For all the suffering and the losses I've endured,
could only worthy tribute for this angel now next to me.

For it was only four days ago now that have passed,
that I broke down, and had the courage to say,
Oh Lord, if you mean for me to ever have that angel,
please send her to be with me, and please let it be today.

Suddenly, there you were! Waiting with open arms. I Love You so very, very much, my angel on earth. Thank you choosing to fly down and allow my journey to meet with thee.

Rick James © January 29, 2003

 

[cajunpeach]

Re: Angel Now Next To Me

For my dearest cajunpeach, here's a poem from me.

Angel Now Next To Me

I’ve had so many pleasures in life,
as well as times that were hard to bear.
My journey has often been very lonely,
causing yearnings for love I could share.

And through it all, I’ve saved mortal grace,
spiritually knelt before those good and bad.
For I didn't want to be treated as one special,
anymore than one some could make so sad.

Human nature looks upon such as me weak,
measure of strength, by showing such outward proud.
But the reward I've sought throughout time,
was one for my very own angel, not asked aloud.

Time and again, it seemed not meant to be,
yet hopeful kept were my dreams deep within.
I wondered if I were even worthy of such,
for mortal man am I, equally instinctive with sin.

How could I ask for such a blessing to be,
though time and again I sought doing good deed..
For only in that respect, could I have the hope,
that such an angel to me life would lead.

Throughout my journey, I crossed other paths,
offering care and love as my only tidings to see.
Many times, I wondered if that too were not right,
for time and again, no angel ever appeared unto me.

And just as I was about to lose my very hopes,
when I thought all my prayers and efforts had failed.
There came to me an angel beyond expectation,
one to me not as apparent, her being humbly veiled.

I reached out with hesitation of her at the first,
for I knew not she had also been looking for me.
In the flash of an instant, in the blink of an eye,
mine eyes were fixed to gaze, sight angelic to see.

Oh Lord, you truly have answered my prayers,
tearful eyes I use as I gaze heavenly toward thee.
For all the suffering and the losses I've endured,
could only worthy tribute for this angel now next to me.

For it was only four days ago now that have passed,
that I broke down, and had the courage to say,
Oh Lord, if you mean for me to ever have that angel,
please send her to be with me, and please let it be today.

Suddenly, there you were! Waiting with open arms. I Love You so very, very much, my angel on earth. Thank you choosing to fly down and allow my journey to meet with thee. The Duke of Oral, January 29th, 2003.

We have both been blessed by the hand of God
For you are the answer to my hidden prayers.
Your love has freed my heart and soul and
Allowed me to fly free straight into your arms.
Soon we will meet, kiss and embrace and
I will know heaven on earth.

CajunPeach, Janurary 29th, 2003

 

[cajunpeach]

Your Words

For the love of my life, The Duke

Your Words

Your words spoke to me across the miles
They spoke of yearning for a special woman
To enter your life to become yours and yours alone.
They spoke to my mind and heart
For they echoed my own yearnings.

Doubtful, though, was I that
Something other than friendship might grow
When first I responded to your words.
A friend I wanted, a friend I have
For now and all my tomorrows.

We have chatted despite the miles,
Sharing receipes and ideas,
Jokes and laughter, music and joys.
Getting to know each other so well
And now I find, that you have become so much more to me.

I never knew I would find such bliss
Just hearing your voice
Or feel my heart race with joy when you call
Once and always, “a friend to each other” we promised
And now, my heart and mind are yours.

Your heart reaches for me across the miles
I am blessed by your love and friendship
For they have made me feel such joy
That I wish I could dance,
Or fly among the stars with you.

M. Kathleen Crouch © January 26, 2003

 

[dragonhearted]

I just had to do it!!!

BUMP