Hey.

Today I was involved in a car accident. I’m okay – car has seen better days but.

One thing that flashes through your mind as you look seeming death in the face (imagine as in a movie. Watching slow motion as the other car spins out of control in the wet heading straight for you and – there is nowhere to hide) is “oh crap!”

Yeah no great insights or anything like that.

Afterwards.

It is afterwards when you think about other things.

Family. Friends.

Friends like you all. Folk who are there when I need you and have been there for years now. Folk who, recently, I’ve been remiss about staying in touch with.

To be honest this year has turned into a real shitter. My mum was diagnosed with cancer in September. As the sole member of her immediate family living in our city I’ve been looking after her as she goes through major surgery and subsequent chemo. She’s okay, well, getting there anyway. We hope.

Sadly the douche in the other car (this morning, in the accident above) gave a false name and false contact details. So just when you think the best in folk you get let down.

But yeah. That is when you think about folk that matter and your faith in humanity is reaffirmed.

So ... Hey folk!

How ya been?

Just wanted to let you all know I appreciate you all, and the things you write, and the fact that you’re all here. For me.

Here’s to 2011. A month early I know. I can’t promise 100% to be here full-time again for a while. But I wanted to take the time to touch base now and see how you all are. And let you know.

Know this – you are appreciated. And loved.

You matter.



Cheers.

Brendon.

aka Al B. Harper.

Sorry to hear you're having a bad time of it. Having had the big-crash experience I know it can shake you up a bit - and make you consider the "what ifs". And having nursed my mother through terminal cancer this year I can only sympathise with the situation you're facing. You are of course very welcome to contact me if there's any counsel I can offer or support I can afford.

I'm glad you're okay after the car wreck. I had a guy rear-end my car at a stop-light and give me fake insurance information once. Luckily there was no real damage done to my car, but still... what an incredible &%&^%. I'm sorry to hear you had a far worse (and scarier) experience.

I'm also sorry to hear about your mom, though glad she's getting better. Both of my parents were diagnosed with cancer in the last 2 years and thankfully both have come through with good results following treatment.

These have been a monstrously bad 2 years for me, with everything hitting all at once. It is nice to be able to take stock in what you still have and be thankful for it, and that really does improve things.

I hope things continue to improve for you and yours, and I thank you for the fun and friendship you've offered over the years. The people here are aces.

Unless the car was stolen. Either way the police have an interest in that driver.

That aside, helping a loved one through surgery and chemotherapy is simultaneously noble and draining, as many of us can attest. But there are great, human rewards at the end of it all. God bless you and your family.

...someone ran a red light and crashed into my car, and he had a fake out-of-state driver's license, the car was registered to a fake company, and he had fake insurance papers.

Fortunately I had decent insurance that covered the repairs. Even the police investigators couldn't find him.