In early July 1997, my then girlfriend and I decided to take up inline skating. Both of us were in our early 20s so we felt young and invincible so safety was the last thing on our mind. We went out and bought some good skates and some elbow and knee pads. First weekend we went down to Edworthy park and got fairly good at it since it was relatively flat so our confidence grew fairly rapidly. The following Sunday, July 13th 1997, we went to Edworthy park to skate and had a great time. In fact we had so much fun we decided to go again after dinner. Being kind of late we opted to go somewhere closer to her house to skate a bit. As some of you might know the bike path to Laycock Park off Blackthorne Road NE is a long and steep decent.
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=51.108...75.52,,0,16.14
We were both very nervous since we are pretty novice with the skates so I decided to go down first and if she is having problems I can "stop" her at the bottom of the hill. Down I went, I think I used up half my brakes pads going down that massive hill. None the less I made it down safely with no issues and then I signal her to do the same.
Even 16 years later I still cry as I type this. She made it down half way before she lost control and fell backwards smashing her head onto the pavement. She lost consciousness immediately and I never heard a word from her since and she died from massive head injuries on Monday July 14th. Watching her Mom collapse and basically started begging on her hands and knees, the neurologist to save her daughter's life was forever burned in my head.
Life was not the same going forward. I blamed myself for what has happened, how can I be so stupid and not get the most basic safety equipment. For sure a helmut would have saved her life but now a sister is missing her big sister, parents are mourning their daughter.
This was the summer I found out that I was accepted into the Computer Science program at U of C as well so by September I basically gave up on my own life. I just did not know how to cope. I just wanted to turn back time, get that helmut, choose to stay home and watch some tv that night...so many if this and if that in my head. To this day I don't know how I managed to finish and graduate from my program. I guess somebody was looking out for me in that regards.
I maintained a very close relationship with her family over the years. Her little sister actually works with my now wife and she kind of became her big sister over time and I am forever grateful for meeting this woman that eventually became my wife, because without her I don't think I would've made it. We became friends at school and I think out of sympathy she made me her pet project to "get me better"....anyways that's a whole different chapter.
Yeah the choices we make...sometimes there isn't a second chance to make another choice so make wise choices my friend.