Welcome back, Nathan Abbott.

For those of you who don’t know him (and for any of you who DO know him and have been in a coma of your own for the past six weeks), our good friend Nathan Abbott went on quite a little expedition out west.  The details of his short, strange trip have been well documented and can be found here:

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/the-short-strange-trip-of-nathan-abbott-a-cautionary-tale/ 

Yeah, the author of that article paints the grand picture of a man and his electric motorcycle, boldly riding across this great nation of ours to prove that electric vehicles ARE our future.  In Atlanta, however, a few of us who know Nathan figured it was more like the inability to connect the dots between “Oooh! Me likey shiny vroom-vroom bike!” and “How the fuck do I get it home?”  Either way, it was shaping up to be a monumental adventure, and it was one that many of us were preparing to follow closely through Nathan’s blog posts.  We looked forward to seeing Nathan go from “just a bit off” to “I’m not sure it’s human” after a few dozen 42-mile jaunts.  We couldn’t wait to hear about the dearth of electrical outlets (and non-hellish driving conditions) in Death Valley, CA.   We expected to see pictures of him, “Dumb and Dumber”-style, cruising on his electric hog with a maniacal grin and frozen snot adorning his face.  Long before any of THAT hilarity ensued, however, Nathan and a young lady in an Audi had a chance meeting they’d both probably rather forget (no, Nathan…we don’t know if she was hot).

It was a quite an ordeal…weeks in the hospital and likely many hours of physical therapy yet to come, but Nathan Abbott was able to return triumphantly to Atlanta just after New Year’s Day.  He returned even sooner to our Facebook pages, as he was able to start posting again just a few short days after he emerged from his coma.  Facebook Nathan is the one we’re most familiar with…the guy who will post nonsensical ramblings about Keebler Elves one minute (“Nathan Abbott wishes to befriend Keebler Elves & learn their skills, with only the most respectful intentions.  I assure them”) and thought-provoking insights about religion and existence the next (Nathan Abbott has no concern of a mystical sky entity, making arbitrary mortality decisions & morality calls. Life is not determined this way… any more than the final score of Monday Night Football is predetermined by a ref. What we do is up to us. And it determines everything.”).  I was glad to have him back, as we share an odd passion for zealot-baiting and often became e-wingmen in epic religious battles fought in comment threads.  To me, the return of Nathan meant the return of a comrade and a voice of reason. (Yes, I know what I just said.  I’m just as scared as you are.)  If nothing else, Nathan will make you think.  You might be thinking that he’s batshit insane, but you’re THINKING, dammit.

So once again, I’d like to welcome the father of Wednesday Night Drinking Club and the steward of Atlanta Illustrated back home.  We’re all relieved that he has returned in one (plastic-armored) piece and that he can enrich our lives anew with his trademark smartassery.  His is a tale of a cross-country dream, a harrowing near-tragedy, the heroism of medical professionals, and the love and support of family and friends.  His story cautions us that life is fleeting and that nothing should be taken for granted.  Nathan himself sums it up best, in his most recent Facebook post.  If ever there were words for the ages, these are those words:

“Honestly, pants are pretty much just something I do to not get arrested.”