Things you never want to hear when you answer the phone.

"Renee?"
"Yeah."
"My name is [so-and-so]. Your husband is okay, but there's been an accident."

Oy.

The SUV in front of Ben hit the car in front of him and therefore came to a sudden, complete stop. Ben hit the brakes on the motorcycle, hard, and the wheels locked up. He began skidding and didn't think he'd stop before he hit the SUV in front of him. So, he laid the bike down (which, incidentally, sounds MUCH gentler than it really was). At some point they skidded together and at some point Ben came off the bike. He landed in another lane of traffic but miraculously did not get runover.

Thanks to the full protective gear he was wearing, he was able to walk away from the accident with a dislocated finger and several bumps and bruises, but that's it. THIS IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO WEAR FULL PROTECTIVE GEAR WHEN YOU RIDE A MOTORCYCLE, PEOPLE. Even if it makes you hot. Even if you can't feel the wind as much. Even if you don't like it. Because then you don't end up dead or with bones sticking out of your leg, like the guy in the triage room next to Ben in the ER this morning.

We are very thankful. And tired.