Scarey Semi Experience

[Xrayted]

First, welcome Michelle.
I live in an area where they don't respect biking very much, even though we have a Tour de France winner from here. **yelling** FLOYYYYD!!!!!
We have either major highway here or thin, windy country roads. There are only a few in between types with pull offs. I don't go anywhere near the highways. Too dangerous.
I get whizzed almost everytime I go out for a ride. I've found that if I take the lane more, I'm given safer margins overall. I do get a lot more horn blowing though and I don't think it's from checking out my azz. Now, I've already been hit by a car as many here know. It took years for me to even semi-recover so, I'm an extra careful rider out there.
The closest lately was just a few weeks ago when it was cold out and I had on a jacket that was a bit baggy. I got whizzed so close that the mirror on the vehicle actually tapped the elbow of my jacket and it felt like it was gonna suck my bike under. I was in the right half of the pulloff area when it happened so they must have been way across the white line. I had to stop and sit by the side of the road for about 20 minutes to get myself composed again. It took everything I had to not puke.
It gave me a real attitude adjustment for these last few weeks. Grass seems greener, life is funnier, people more interesting. Not the way you wanna get reminded of the value of those things though.
I guess I fear how I'm gonna die but not death itself because after all, it's not like you gotta live with that. (it's actually rather peaceful) I fear lifelong, debilitating injury much more. The kind of things that stick with you and get worse as the years progress. The kind that keep you from doing the things you enjoy and being with the ones you love. I've had enough of that already, and emotionally, I really don't think I'm strong enough to take another major hit in this lifetime. But, here I am, riding around with a foolish grin on my face. I don't know, maybe I'm just too dense to know when to stop.

I understand your anxiety, dear. I'm so glad you're alright. Biking is a wonderful sport but it is a dangerous one from the perspective of the added automobile element. We all take that chance everytime we go out. We have a right to be on the road too. But not all motorists see it that way.
I hope you find a safer place to 'get your fix' on the bike. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to more posts from you. There is a Getting To Know You thread where you can go introduce yourself. We'd love to get to know you better. (Gotta warn you now, these TE ladies love pics! )

X.