Monday I got hit by a car.I didn’t push a pedal again until Friday, and though I had lots of excuses — my bike was in the shop, I was still sore, etc. — I have to admit I was a little leery about getting back on that horse.Three days sans cycle is an eternity for me. I can’t remember the last time I went so long without riding a bike. Heck, I even made the family ride over the Golden Gate Bridge during our summer vacation to San Francisco so I wouldn’t have to go a whole week without riding.For three days I languished, but by Friday I decided it was time, so I swung a leg over my bike, took a glance at my rebuilt wheel, strapped on my brand-spanking-new helmet and set out for work.It was, fortunately, an uneventful ride in, but I have to admit to being a little jittery on the ride home in the dark. I was half convinced cars were going to roll through every perpendicular stop sign (none did). Every overtaking vehicle seemed a little closer than normal (they weren’t). Every cornering auto seemed to take every turn just a little bit wide (they didn’t). After dinner, I almost didn’t ride back, but managed to convince myself. I approached the fateful intersection with a bit of trepidation, but this time there was no menacing SUV waiting, and I breezed through without so much as a flashback.Fortunately, the rest of the night’s rides went without incident.I figured I’d be a bit tentative for the next few rides after my run-in, but I didn’t know just how skittish I’d be until I got a couple of rides behind me.I imagine my comfort level will climb steadily over the next few days.My goal is to cut down on the “I hope” moments. As in, “I hope that car’s not going to pull out,” or, “I hope that driver sees me before he plows into me,” or, “I hope this doesn’t hurt as much as I think it’s going to,” or, “I hope this recurring headache isn’t a concussion and the lingering leg pain a fracture.”I don’t expect ever to feel invincible. Nor do I want to.But I sure wouldn’t mind if I didn’t feel so vulnerable.