First Fall

Blue sky.

Bare trees.

Cold air, clean light.

A summer day this past Wednesday in February.

A curve I had taken before.

Gravel from snow melt.

Felt it.

Changed the line.

Ran wide.

Narrow shoulder.

Peg caught the edge.

Down.

Knee scraped.

Pocket torn.

Wallet still in the pocket.

Full of pesos.

Took the scrape.

Front brake locked.

Tow truck coming.

A few drivers pulled over.

Asked if I needed help.

I thanked them.

Told them a truck was on the way.

Sent a photo to my son.

He had his first fall once.

He handled it.

In October, I ride the rim of the Himalayas.

The truck arrived.