This is a tale (completely true) about the love of my life ( I mean besides my bike ). Her name is VICKIE and she has a deep deep heart. As the saying goes "It is not if you ever go down on your bike, but when...". Well, I have had my share. I have been riding some 39 or 40 years now. I have gone down 4 times. Three of these times have been due to a car hitting me. The last time I was hit, I had just left work about 6:30 pm on a beautiful summer evening. Newport Beach was the city. Pacific Coast Highway was the road.I was on my way home for dinner, enjoying the breeze and thoughts of relaxing with my lady.A Suburban SUV makes an illegal left turn directly in front of me. Heart races... Brakes squeeze...BOOM!The inevitable happens....After the impact, I am hurled upwards. As some of you may know time changes during an accident. Things can become very vivid and seem to be in slow motion. I know that there was only a short period between the impact and my final landing in the street (perhaps 10 or 15 yards away). The memory I recall the strongest is that during this short flight, I was able to repeat for three complete times.... "I should have landed by now..... I should have landed by now..... I SHOULD HAVE LANDED BY NOW !!! I seemed to float forever.Anyways, I am drifting from my point.... Instinct kicked in and I recall dragging myself to the curb and assessing my condition. I tried to stand. NOPE! Standing was not an option. The sirens came through. The crowd that had appeared now separated to allow the medical staff an opening to reach me. I remember the paramedics as they eased me on to the back board and then they placed me into the back of the ambulance.Upon arriving at the emergency room it was determined that my left leg and hand had been broken by the impact. I lay awaiting the further tests and diagnosis. An orderly had brought a phone to my bed so that I could contact Vickie. I had a hard time telling her because I knew that she would be hurt. She so loves me and when I am hurting, she is always beside me and is a true partner, but she fears ever losing me to a motorcycle accident, or through any other method (As I fear ever losing her).Within a short time, I saw Vickie's face come around the curtain that surrounded my bed. Her face was red and moist. She had been crying all the way to the hospital.As our eyes met, Vickie, who was dying inside to view me broken up in an emergency room bed, uttered the words that to this day get me misty eyed...."I UNDERSTAND IF YOU GET ANOTHER BIKE....."These were her first words, so you know she had been churning this thought over and over on the drive to the hospital.I know many friends who have had to put up their bikes. They have children. They have wives. There are many reasons, but I am blessed with a wonderful woman who knew that along with my love for her I possessed a deep love for motorcycles. And even after an accident that took many many operations and months of rehab, I remember that I have an "OLD LADY" that would look at me, understand and say......."I UNDERSTAND IF YOU GET ANOTHER BIKE....." I love you Vickie with all my heart and soul! Stephen Chetkin