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You're gonna miss this.

Written on June 3, 2008 by Bridget in Bridget Blogs
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Ok, my friend over at CityStreams had a post up today that had a link to a song by Trace Adkins called “You’re Gonna Miss This”.  I have to admit that I hardly listen to any kind of music that’s not kid-approved…which doesn’t usually include much country music.  So I figured this song was an old one I just hadn’t heard before, but it’s not; it’s a brand new single.  You probably all know it, and I’m just light years behind the rest of you.  But…in case you haven’t heard it, you can hear it and see the music video here.  It’s cheesy.  It’s sappy.  And he’s not my favorite singer ever, but I like the words-especially in the chorus:

You’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this

As we get oh-so-close to the end of our time in Augusta, I find that I’m being overwhelmed by conflicting feelings.  (I’ve blogged about this before, but it’s a recurring theme in my mind so you guys are just going to have to hear it all again!)  When we first moved here, I HATED it here!  I hated my job. I hated that my friends and family were so far away(a whopping hour-and-a-half…I know, I’m pathetic!).  There were even times I claimed to hate Marshall for dragging me to “Dis-gusta”.  We had a hard time finding a church we liked.  And we met most of our friends through medical school-which was great for Marshall, but left me home alone a lot while they all studied.  I would always beg them to study at our house, and I would make all kinds of food and snacks to entice them to come back again.  I was so lonely.

Then I found my dream job.  I met my best friend Jesse, and consequently her family who took us in as their own.  We found a good church.  We had kids, which connected us with some non-medicine people.  Augusta didn’t seem so bad any more.  But after painting it in such a negative light, it was hard for me to change my perception of the town.  I think I probably could have enjoyed it much better if I’d just quit looking so far forward.  From day one here, I was always focused on day 2557.  Four years of medical school, three years of residency…2557 days.  525,600 minutes…times seven.

And as I prepare to move back “home”, I realize that in many ways, I know more about Augusta than I do “home”.  I know how to get from here to the zoo in Columbia(finally, after 3 mis-guided attempts).  I know where the best dessert can be found(Boll Weevil), where to eat the yummiest pizza(Pizza Joint), and where to get the coolest toys(The Toy Box).  I know who to call when I need a babysitter.  I know which grocery stores have which of my favorite items.  I know where the cheapest gas can be found.  And as I think about all the things I know about this place that’s been home for 7 years now, I’m amazed at just how much I don’t know or remember about home.  When I moved away from home 10 years ago, our little town was just a map dot.  We had a Huddle House and a Subway.  That was about it.  Now there are plenty of little restaurants, lots of new subdivisions, schools, and businesses.  My “little town” has grown up.  There’s still only one grocery store, though.  I sure do hope they carry my favorite pop-tarts and my favorite hummus.  I wonder if they’ll order it just for me if they don’t already have it in stock?

But I’m ready to go.  I am.  Considering how I came in kicking and screaming, it’s kind of ironic how much I’m going to miss it here.  I’m gonna miss this.  I might even want this back.  I’m going to wonder how it all went so fast.  These are good times.  And I’m glad that I finally realized-before it was too late-to look around and take it all in.  I’m gonna miss this.

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This is why I don't like my husband riding a bike on the road.

Written on June 3, 2008 by Bridget in Bridget Blogs
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(Picture from Jose Fidelino Vera Hernandez via the AP.)

I trust my husband.  I really do!  But he does one thing every day that makes me so nervous…I’m glad I’m usually asleep when he does it!   See, each morning he gets up and goes on a pretty long bike ride.  I’m proud of him for getting up before the sun to exercise.  And I’m constantly amazed that he continues to be so enthusiastic about working out.  (I never seem to have that problem!)  BUT…he has been in 2 different accidents while on his bike.  Neither accident was his fault, but he was injured all the same.   He’s been lucky so far, and hasn’t been seriously hurt, thank goodness!  But I have seen a person hit by a car, and it ain’t pretty, folks.  It’s down-right scary to see just how little and insignifcant a human body is when up against a whopping 3,000 pound car!

And look at these poor cyclist doing their thing in what was supposed to be a safe area. A drunk and sleepy driver hit 11 people, killing one.  Even though they all seem to be wearing proper safety gear, it can’t hold up to something like that! 

So I guess what I’m saying is…if you see a someone tootling along on their bike on the road, PLEASE be careful!!  I know it’s tempting to try to squeeze past them on a road that doesn’t have a bike lane, or fly by them at 80mph when you finally get a chance, or show them just how you feel by honking your horn, flipping them the bird, or yelling at them.   I know it’s tempting; I want to do it sometimes, too.  But when you’re stuck going 25 miles per hour with screaming, hungry kids in the back seat and a dinner to get started and dogs to feed and laundry to do and so on…please think(even if you don’t live near me) “What if that cyclist was Bridget’s husband?  Would I still want to risk his life to save 2 minutes?”

If you’re wondering how you, as a motorist, should handle car/bicycle situations, I’ve found a wonderful article from the League of American Bicyclist about know how to Share the Road effectively.  Some key points for drivers that they had listed are:

  • Drive Cautiously: Reduce speed when encountering cyclists, and don’t tailgate (especially in bad weather).
  • Yeild to Cyclists: Bicycles are considered vehicles, and cyclists should be given the appropriate right of way.
  • Be Considerate: Do not blast your horn in close proximity to cyclists.
  • Pass with Care: When passing, leave four feet between you and a cyclist; wait for safe road and traffic conditions before you pass; and check over your shoulder before moving back.
  • Take extra caution to WATCH FOR CHILDREN: Because of their size, they are often hard to see. Children also don’t often know traffic laws or understand traffic patterns.  Expect the unexpected, and slow down.