Invincible at 18

Most of our students get around on foot.   

A lot of them use the city bus.

A handful ride bikes.

And a few brave souls skateboard throughout our urban terrain.

Skating is cool.  It is quiet efficient.   But it can also be a meat grinder. 

I was headed from UrbanLife, back home, with Amare and Atsede in the car.   Our summer farm crew had just finished work.  Ernesto was headed home too.  He was on a 5 foot long skateboard, built for speed and 'carving.' We happened to be leaving at the same time.

Heading west from campus, I realized that Ernesto was going to have to deal with one giant, no gargantuan, hill.   Urbanlife sits atop the highest point of City Heights, overlooking the whole community.

As Ernesto approached the drop-in point beyond the crosswalk, my chest became tight.  In a moment, I experienced a significant portion of his adrenaline rush.  In a flash, I was transported back to 1997 at the University of San Diego.  In that place and time, I dropped in on an asphalt mountain, riding a skateboard and carrying a surfboard under my arm. I didn't make it that day.  And neither did my right clavicle bone.    

"Is he really gonna do that?" I breathed again.  "No!"

He was 18 and invincible though.

Accelerating our minivan through the stop sign to follow Ernesto, I saw it.

He dropped in.  

He picked up speed.

He picked up more speed.

Then he leaned into a turn.  He leaned the opposite way, into the hill.   

It seemed to be controlling his speed!

He made it half way down and then pointed the nose of the board straight down.

Ernesto was going to make it!

Then a wheel popped off.

Metal trucks, once spinning four wheels, dug into the concrete.  Sparks flew.   And so did Ernesto.  

Something was going to take the hit.   He sacrificed his rear, elbow and palm, forcing them to act like brakes.   

The skid lasted way too long.   I hated watching it.   I still hate thinking about it.

Speeding up and then pulling over, I rushed out to check his condition.  He was shaken up.  But seemed okay.

"Did my wheel come off? That was so weird."   I didn't know.  It happened too fast.

Like a good soccer mom, I had a full blown first aid kit ready to go in the minivan.

We stopped the bleeding.   We got him some water.  And we transported him to his mother.

"Thanks a lot JP" Earnesto repeated.

"No worries man.   I am just glad you are okay."

With one more thing to say, I added, "Oh yeah, Ernesto?"

"Yeah JP"

"I know that you are 18 bro.   But you are not invincible."

"I got you JP."