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The Best Hug

2017 April 22
by Mike Vial

“The Best Hug You Will Get”
 
I’ve had a soul-recharging run of cool shows this year. I’ve been making up for the lost time after cancelling my winter tour because of the accident in October.
 
Honestly, it’s not really “lost time.” I was given a second chance.
 
Three days after my record, A World That’s Bigger came out in October 2016, I was hit by the car while crossing Huron Street, walking to the Ark to play a gig.
 
I saw the walk sign, started crossing, excited to get to my favorite venue. Once I walked three quarters through the intersection, I saw blue sky.
 
I guess a U of M professor just didn’t see me in the road as he turned left, and ran me over. 
 
My Taylor guitar shielded my body from the initial impact and saved my head from hitting the ground. (Thank God I was carrying a gig bag, and not a hardshell case.)
 
As I was waiting in the ambulance, a police office came up to the door and said, “Hi, Mr. Vial!” (Yep. The police officer on the scene was a graduate of Holly High School, from my first year teaching.)
 
Anyways, my guitar and I got off easy.
 
I had a broken foot and a hurt back that needed physical therapy. My guitar is covered in cracks, but only needed a $115 dollar set up from my tech to play right again.
 
And then…
 
Three days after I was hit by the car, Natalie leaned over and said, “Mike, I’m pregnant.” Ginny was going to be a big sister in June!
 
Surreal. Three days and a second changes everything.
 
My record is about the struggles of miscarriage, the birth of Ginny, love, life, and death. If the driver had been going 10, 15, 20 miles faster, it might have been a final statement…Just like Nick Drake’s Pink Moon…
 
* * * * * * * 
 
Wild Rose Moon shared the live video of my song “I Will (If Your Plane Is Late”). I didn’t plan to play it that night, but it felt right in the second set.

It’s a song about the best hug one can get: in the airport, right when a loved one gets off the plane.

 
However, that best hug scene has been replaced for me.
 
The best hug I’ll remember is hobbling to my (unknowingly pregnant) wife and giving her a hug before being sent to the hospital.
 
Give someone a hug today.
 
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