Also, wear a helmet.

So I haven’t been posting daily… I’m sure many wonder why? Where is Jess? Right. Well on Sunday after biking to Huntington Beach, hanging around, swimming, etc. I jumped on my bike to head home. My two friends were ahead of me, so no one saw except this poor solo bicyclist. I don’t feel like going into detail, but essentially I face-planted into the pavement. Not essentially. Literally. I ate it. Fortunately, I didn’t black out but instead jumped up to feel blood gushing down my face. I had my face covered with my hands and asked the nice bicyclist to tell me, honestly, how bad it was and also not to freak out. I moved my hands. He freaked out, saying stuff about hospitals and ambulances. One of my friends came back while the other got lost in the shuffle (poor thing…I’m so sorry Angelica!). I wrapped my scarf around my head like I was back in India and decided to ride on.

At a bike rental stand I acquired some peroxide and band-aids to clean it out and prove that it just looked messy but was, in fact, no biggy. After more ER talk, I stood my ground and completed the 15-ish mile ride back to Marina del Rey. By “stood my ground” I mean I was stubborn and would not let anyone help me or take me to the hospital because I always feel confident in helping myself. In this case, I stand by my decision. I needed to feel it out first. Back at a friends place in Playa Vista I attempted a thorough cleaning. With less blood, I could finally clearly see my eyelid flop open…the wrong way. I may be stubborn, but I am not stupid. This little lady needed stitches.

After 3+ hours, x-rays, having pavement razored out of my face and 13 stitches I went home–face throbbing, swollen, bloody. I happen to have the best roommate in the world who woke me up every two hours to ask me lame questions to ensure I was concussion-less. By the third wake up the questions became a joke and every answer I gave had an undertone of sarcasm or perhaps self-resentment… I was clearly myself.

It is painful and I ended up back in the ER on night 2 for headaches that came a bit too late in the healing process. The CT scan, however, confirmed no broken bones or bleeding. So it’s been a really fun week. Lots of pain. Black eye. Scraped up face–I was told no sun for 6 months. Hi, I live in southern California. However, today is day 4 and my headaches are nearly gone, my eye can open, swelling has gone down and I have a good skincare regimen working in my favor so I think it’ll heal fast. A close friend had fallen off a scooter in India and had the same injuries. Her face looks great and she just has a small bump of scar tissue on her forehead that I didn’t even notice before her pointing it out. So I am feeling ok, though I look like a monster and children get uncomfortable (some have even cowered behind mom) when they see me. Also, I spend at least 1 hour everyday outside in the sun, love hiking and want to live in a tent… The outdoors thing is going to be the toughest part, but I think this will work out fine. I’m starting a very large hat collection. Not just large like “I have a lot of hats” but large like the hats are going to be huge, easter-Sunday-like hats that let no sun on my face. It’ll be the latest trend.

Lesson: Wear a helmet. I always wear one on my scooter, but didn’t on my bike. Why? No idea. I do in other places, why not LA? Had I worn a helmet I would  not have HUGE hospital bills (love being young and uninsured), a messed up face, lots of discomfort and a sad heart that has been deprived of light all week. Simple things go a long way…I’m bummed I overlooked this one. Kids (and adults!) always protect yourself..because it’s so easy to do and the consequences can really hurt. Goooo helmets! If my words are not enough…here are some photos:

At the bike stand, cleaning my wounds (About 7 miles after the fall)

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