It has been 3 months. On the 18th of April, while walking on the Huckleberry Multi-use Loop in Tucson, I was struck from behind by a careless, distracted bicyclist. I was severely injured through absolutely no fault of my own. As a result, my life has been altered. Tomorrow will be the 18th of July which is three calendar months from the unfortunate incident. Tonight I’ll attempt to walk in the Sabino Canyon with the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group. It is a walk that I’ve been leading for well over 10 years. It’s called the Friday Night Sabino Stroll. I lead the 7 P.M. portion which goes 2 miles up the canyon before heading back to the meeting location near the parking lot. I may not make it the entire way. For sure, I won’t be moving as fast as I have in the past.
Night time in the Sabino Canyon
Small Steps
Life since the incident that put me in the hospital has been abbreviated. I left the hospital on the 24th of April after surgery to repair my 9 broken ribs. I was flat on my back for most of the time. Eventually, I was able to get out of bed and walk with assistance short distances. Once, I was able to walk on my own, I was discharged with a tag on my wrist that said, “Fall Risk.” My broken scapula was left to heal on its own, but I was given a sling to support my shoulder. The chest tube was removed. I left the hospital with a bag of pain meds, and 41 pages of discharge instructions. Since then, I’ve been sleeping in a Lazy Boy recliner. I can lay on the bed, but I have trouble getting up due to the shoulder injury. Things are slowly getting better, but I’m told that it may be up to a year before my shoulder will work properly again. This is hell for me. Prior to the incident, I was constantly in my workshop. If I wasn’t working in my workshop, I would have been working ON my workshop. I love being retired. If I wasn’t in my current condition, I would be preparing for Halloween. We’re halfway there and I haven’t started. I can’t. Also, I’d be traveling to California to attend my first Open Sauce Convention—The Festival for People Who Make Things. (Open Sauce Technology & Creator Festival | July 17 – 19, 2026) It starts today! I’m missing it.
Instead, I’ve spent the last three months trying to find other ways to pass the time that don’t involve my favorite creative outlet—making things. Streaming Video and YouTube are sad replacements.
“Walking is recovery in motion — each step gently reminds the body how to heal.”
— An AI Quote, who knows where Copilot got it!
Walking
More from AI: “Walking captures the idea that movement doesn’t fight the healing process; it guides it. Walking boosts circulation, reduces stiffness, calms the nervous system, and helps the mind settle — all without overwhelming the body.”
As soon as I could, I started walking in the neighborhood. The surgeon that performed my rib repair, Dr Ali-Osman, remarked on a follow-up visit on how well my recovery was going. He chalked it up to my health prior to the incident. He knew that I walked about four miles every day. Of course, I haven’t been able to do that since the incident. Daily, I usually get about half that. I walk just after the sun comes up for about a mile and finish the day when the sun goes down with another mile. I walk slowly. I carry treats for the dogs I meet. Sometimes I chat with folks who also walk in the neighborhood.
The Next Step Toward Normalcy
Tonight I’ll try to walk a bit longer in the Sabino Canyon. The neighborhood walks are fine by not the same as a stroll in the canyon with a group of fellow hikers and surrounded by wild vegetation and natural noises. In fact, there are no cars on the tram road when we walk on Friday evening. There is an occasional bicycle, however. That may cause me some concern.
Sabino Canyon is one of the few places in the Sonoran Desert where water flows almost year‑round, thanks to winter snowmelt from Mount Lemmon and the summer monsoon storms that recharge Sabino Creek. (US Forest Service)
The Canyon is Alive
A walk in the canyon, particularly at night, feels almost magical. Wildlife along the trail is often seen and heard. Some folks, particularly the tourists, like the fact that many people carry black lights so that they can observer the small bark scorpions fluoresce green under the ultra-violet light. They are often impressed with the fact that: The Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) is the most venomous scorpion in North America and the only scorpion in the United States capable of causing human fatalities. Often, I like to tell them that they are in luck because this time of year, they don’t fly. (That’s a joke!)
I like to tell them that they are in luck because this time of year, they don’t fly
Conclusion
In short, I’m looking forward to tonight’s stroll. I hope I’m able to complete it.
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