My mantra for years has been, "God takes care of His people."  Since the Garden prepared for his beloved creation, God has always looked out for His own.  Consider the decades that God's people wandered in the wilderness - He continued to provide for them.  It was hard, but they made it to the promised land.  Upon reaching the promised land, God told Joshua that if you continue to obey my commandments and be strong and courageous, then you will have success wherever you go (Joshua 1:6-9).  God went on to say that if Joshua did so, God would be with them wherever they went.  God's always going to take care of His own, as Jesus illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34).

I've reached a point in my life where I cannot imagine turning my back on the Lord, knowing the ways He has blessed me.  James said that every good gift comes from the Father.  (James 1:17)  (Consider also that Jesus said God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, Matthew 5:45).  I know that God's blessings are not rewards for faithfulness (as Job lost everything, despite his faithfulness to God) but I am fully aware of the fact that when I am blessed, God is to be thanked.  I remember being quite young on a Sunday just prior to worship service when my older sister asked me to request to the song leader that he lead "Count Your Blessings."  It is a fond memory, for a number of reason, but that song continues to ring true in my life.

If I were to count my many blessings, I would go on for days.  Most people in this world would say that I, Eric Yow, accomplished/achieved/obtained that which I have.  No.  I would have nothing, were it not for the Lord.  Paul said to boast only in the Lord (I Corinthians 1:31) and so I must do just that.  When you're blessed, you know it, and praises should be to God for such. 

At 25 years old, I have already lived a lifetime.  God has taken care of me.  He has given me an education (Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies and Juris Doctor, law degree).  He has given me an ability, the ambition, and the drive to use such in public speaking and counseling, both in the ministry and in my law practice.  He has taken me to dozens of pulpits to minister to Churches of Christ.  He has brought me to Clarksville, Tennessee, to practice law, where I've helped innumerable people in ways that only a practicing attorney could.  He has established me as pulpit minister in White Bluff, Tennessee, for the Chapel Hill Church of Christ.  He has blessed me with the income to be able to keep from going hungry and still pay my bills at the end of the day.  He blessed me such that I could pay off my credit card and cut it up, never to use one again (Lord willing).  He blessed me to be able to pay off my 04 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab.  He blessed me to be able to obtain an 03 Suzuki Hayabusa, paid for in full.  He has blessed me thus far with safety along the way, preserving me in my May '06 wreck and every minute of every day thereafter.  He has taken me around the country and around the world competing and performing Artistic Pool (Trick Shots), winning national and world titles, competing on ESPN, and receiving invites to be on again and do so much more.  He has established me in the Billiard Industry with considerable notoriety.  He has given me a great best friend and confidant, Matt Yuhas, with whom I share the joys of the ministry, pool, and our respective lady friends.  He has given me a great family, which, though having gone through turmoil, nevertheless presses on with a strong bond.  He has given me friends, girlfriends, colleagues, and associates, all along the way, which have served in their role to help make me who I am, teach me the things I need to know, and show me the love that I need so dearly.  And He has given me a lot of love to give and a desire to give it wholly and completely to the ones who have absolutely stolen my heart.  They have my love in a way that I have never been able to express before and I pray that, if the Lord wills, I may continue to give it to them indefinitely.

My friends, I could go on for days.  Suffice it to say, when you're blessed, you know it.  I know that I am blessed.  For that and so much more, I praise the Lord God Almighty.  And you?

THE LEAF CHRONICLE

Local man shows pool skills in trip to Russia
By STACY SMITH SEGOVIA
The Leaf-Chronicle

Someone once asked, "do you ever wish you could go back to Freed-Hardeman?"  (My undergrad university.)  The basis of that question lies in the assumption that college is supposed to be the best four years of your life.  While I enjoyed my college years - being surrounded by Christian friends, dating an amazing girl named Anna, learning to play pool, gaining experience in the pulpit ministry, dorm life, etc. - I can no longer say that those were the best years of my life.  As you read this, take note that I am too far away for you to smack some sense into me, but, truth be told, my three years in law school have been the best three years of my life.  Let me tell you about what has made me "me" over the last three years.

When I graduated from FHU in December of 03, I had no job lined up.  I went on a mission trip to Lima, Peru in January 04, instead of beginning my job search.  Upon my return, I landed a preaching position at the Brinkley Church of Christ in Brinkley, Arkansas, about an hour and a half from 'home'.  I took the job and moved there in February.  That summer I got a pool table and started working on shooting trick shots, hoping one day to compete professionally, but expecting the dream wouldn't come true until after law school.  I took the LSAT and was admitted to the law school at memphis, to start the fall of 04.  All the while I had a girl I was planning to marry.  On that note, know that she was a great girl, we just had 'conflicting interests', we'll say, and I decided she wasn't the one.  It was hard, and it hurt, but it was the right thing to do.  I doubted my decision on occasion, but years later I am glad that wisdom prevailed, knowing now what I have accomplished instead. 

So, all the while I'm in law school, studying hard, pushing myself to keep up with the rest of the class, most of which have only one task, and that's law school, I'm busy maintaining the ministry and chasing a dream on the pool table.  In school, my grades didn't raise any eyebrows, but I've passed all my classes and gotten a few As.  In two of my classes I got the highest grade, awarding me a CALI award to hang on the wall.  That's pretty cool.  I've excelled in oral advocacy, more than anything else, likely because of my preaching experience and my dynamic demeanor behind a podium.  I really enjoyed moot court and mock trial.  My partners, Jan and Carly, along the way, were great fun to work with.  Funny story about that though, mock trial stuff.  See, I didn't try out for Law Review or any other 'top of the class' kind of stuff, as I wouldn't have had the time to do it anyway.  But, I did hope to be on Moot Court Board in my last semester.  Only 20, I think, make it on board and you have to be of the best at oral/written advocacy to make it.  Well, I made it!  But, as soon as I made Board, we had to fill out 'conflict' sheets, to let the rest know when we'd be out of town.  In the spring of 06, I was planning on competing in my first pro artistic pool tournament, and it conflicted with a few days when my services were needed on Board.  I was given an ultimatum - resign, or forego the pro tournament.  I went pro, and never turned back.  I still competed in future oral advocacy competitions in school and got credit for it to go toward graduation.  But, I sacrificed that one line on my resume so that I could chase a dream.

About that dream...  I placed 13th in my first pro tournament - not bad for a first tourney in a field of 20 of the best.  Then, May 14th 2006, I wrecked my motorcycle.  It almost killed me.  (See blog about the wreck for more.)  Thanks be to God, I made a full recovery.  I am now even more conscientious about safety on the bike and I praise God for giving me a second chance, as it were.  After I recovered, I practiced all summer, and into the fall 07 semester for the 2007 World Artistic Pool Championship.  In short, I took 3rd place and won the title WPA Masse World Champion!  Praise Him!  It is this recognition that got me an invitation to compete with Semih Sayginer, my hero, on the 3-cushion billiard table for ESPN.  We are set to film "Artistic Billiards Grand Master" in Vegas in a month or so.  All along the way, mind you, I've been traveling to perform my exhibition whenever possible - Eric Yow's Trick Shot Madness - and it has taken be to places like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida, with more invites coming in by the week.  A colleague recently said, "just imagine what you could do if law school wasn't holding you back!"  But, rest assured, I want to be a lawyer.

People ask, "what do you want to do - preach, play pool, or be a lawyer?"  I answer, "yes."  God has given me the ability for the last three years to do all three, and if He continues to do so, so be it.  You only live once, so live!

As of less than two weeks ago, I have resigned from my position at the Brinkley Church, which has been my home for the last 3 years.  It is different not being in the pulpit, it's different not being in Brinkley.  I miss a lot of things about Brinkley.  It's a small town, and I didn't have many friends my age, but when I moved away I left behind a part of me.  About 10 houses down from my house in Brinkley lives my best friend, Tammy.  She'll be my best friend until and beyond death.  Over the last year, she and I have grown closer than any others I have known.  Her daughter, Jackie, had a daughter, Emma-Grace Issabella (see blog about "perspective").  Emma-Grace is my goddaughter and is the most precious little girl in the world.  I miss this family of mine.  I also left behind my Church family, who, I trust, misses me as well.  But, "God takes care of His people," I preached.  I miss my 'other' family, the Henards, but I will be back in Brinkley on occasion to see those I love.  Lord willing.

And so, I express to you, these last three years have been the best three years of my life.  I haven't found a wife, I don't have a job, and I've yet to start worrying about whether I'll pass the bar exam - but in light of God's unimaginable blessings, I have no fear.  He's taken care of me this far; He'll take care of me all along the way.

To those who ask "why" I do what I do - Because Jesus Lives (Colossians 3:17).

(The following is an article I wrote for Professor Q Ball's National Pool and 3 Cushion News - www.professorqball.com)

"Dr. Cue" WINS 2006 WPA World Artistic Pool Championship!

By Eric Yow!

The scene is set on a clear but cool weekend in December, in Fridley, Minnesota at an amazing pool room called Two Stooges.  Twenty five of the world's greatest artistic pool players came from all over, some as far as Taiwan, Ecuador, and Argentina, to take part in the battle.  But only one could dethrone Mike Massey and become the current acclaimed WPA WORLD ARTISTIC POOL CHAMPION!

In the preliminaries, all players shoot 40 specific shots in 8 different disciplines to achieve a cumulative score.  The top 12 finishers in the prelims make it to the bracketed finals where head to head matches ensue in single elimination.  The top 4 of the 12 get a bye in the first round of the finals so finishing high certainly pays off.  It is no surprise that Nick Nikolaidis scored the high score of 238, as "Quick Nick" was the winner of the 2006 Masters.  Eric Yow and Matt MacPhail tied at 222, Yow placing second by having more first attempt makes.  A close fourth in the prelims was Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman with 218.  Crowd favorites Mike Massey, Charles Darling, Andy Segal, and Sebastian Giumelli followed. 

The quarterfinals entailed some very exciting matches including Yow defeating Segal, Rossman edging out "Stellar" Geller, and Massey overcoming high scorer "No Fail" MacPhail.  Arguably the most electrifying match was "Quick Nick" the Canadian versus Sebastian Guimelli from Argentina, both ESPN Trick Shot Magic veterans.  The other quarterfinals matches having been completed, every eye was on table two where the players' combined score nearing the end of the match reached over 250 points!  It came down to the last tie-breaking shot, a 5/4/3 kick shot, where the players shot three balls in 4 seconds hoping to make a 5 rail kick, 4 rail kick, and a 3 rail kick, each facet comprising 5 points, 4 points, and 3 points, respectively, with a total possible of 12.  Giumelli won by a single point and showed the room how high he could jump in excitement after winning such an incredible match.

In the semi-finals the audience was in for a treat as three of the four players were ESPN Trick Shot Magic veterans and accomplished, international players.  The fourth was Eric "The Preacher" Yow, your author, a relative unknown in the game, making only his second appearance at a professional tournament.  Giumelli tried to capitalize on his momentum from the quarterfinals but was defeated by last year's champ Mike Massey.  The balls were falling for him but Massey just seemed unbeatable, overtaking Giumelli 111 to 76.  Yow maintained the lead over Rossman throughout their match until being overtaken by him after 15 shots.  Yow fought hard for an underdog, but Rossman proved too formidable a foe, winning 126 to 112.

The packed house was on the edge of their seats for the finals match, a heated, turbulent battle between the renowned "Dr. Cue" and Hall of Famer Mike Massey.  The score stayed within 5 points until the end when Rossman stretched out his lead.  It came down to the last shot!  Massey was down by 9 points so he had to pick a shot worth at least that, make it, and hope that Tom missed.  You could've heard a pin drop onto a pillow as Massey set up the most difficult follow shot in the program – circular follow.  The crowd gasped at Massey's failed attempts, then cried out with cheer as he raised the hand of the new, 2006 WPA World Artistic Pool Champion, Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman!

The name Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman is one synonymous with Artistic Pool.  If there is something to be accomplished in the game, he's probably done it.  If there is a frontier to be pursued, he intends to pioneer it.  The level of acclamation this genre of billiards has achieved is much to his credit.  But, Dr. Cue had yet to win a World Championship, often coming close, but falling short.  This victory for him was a monumental one, a well deserved victory, both in his game and in his life.  The tears of joy he shed while exclaiming to the audience his gratitude, they spoke volumes.  Tom's win wasn't just a win for Tom; it was a victory for Artistic Pool as we know it.  And it surprised no one that Tom gave credit where credit was due, to the glory of God the Father and His majestic Son Jesus Christ.

At the awards ceremony, medals were given to the players that scored the highest in each of the 8 disciplines during the preliminaries.  "Quick Nick" took home the medals for Trick/Fancy and Bank/Kick; Dusty Geller dominated Prop/Novelty; Rossman and Mike took Draw and Follow, respectively; the Stroke champion was Matt MacPhail; Dr. Popper jump cue inventor Mark Dimick took the Jump discipline; and Yow excelled in Masse, making all 5 shots with four first attempts in a row, using his Dieckman Masse Cue.  The Sportsmanship Award is an honor that went to Okinawa Slim, as he was voted by the players as having exhibited the most professional image, demeanor, and skill.  Slim was the necessary catalyst to make the tournament possible, as the President of the WPA Artistic Pool Division.  Honorably, when presented with his medal and a McDermott sponsored cue, Slim called to the front a member of the audience he knew to be recently diagnosed with cancer.  Melting everyone's heart, Slim showed why he deserved the award when he presented the cue to the fan and friend. 

Winning third place overall was Masse World Champion Eric "The Preacher" Yow, to whom was presented the Bronze Medal and plaque.  The second place trophy and Silver Medal went to the great Mike Massey.  And the audience was on their feet for the presentation of a Gold Medal and trophy to Tom "Dr. Cue" Rossman, this year's WPA World Artistic Pool Champion!  A special thanks goes out to all of the sponsors, to Ty and Greg of Two Stooges for hosting the event, and congratulations to all of the players who came out.  With more events planned for 2007, the competition should only become more intense!

-----------------------------

Yow's Masse Winning Performance - (right click and save as, please) http://www.ericyow.com/videos/MasseWinYow.wmv

Pictures:

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Thursday, July 20th, 2006 - changed my life.  A few weeks prior I was at my friend Jacklyn's house visiting with the family.  Her brother is my best friend and I have become quite close with the whole family.  Jacklyn was pregnant and expecting to give birth any day now.  One day at their house I said, "I want to be there," as in, there in the waiting room to see the baby after she's out.  Tammy, Jacklyn's mother, jokingly said, "yeah, you can hold the video camera."  We laughed.  But I began considering whether or not I really would hold the camera if I was able to.

On the 20th, I had a doctor's appointment in Memphis for some leg problems I have.  Afterwards I got a call from Patrick saying that his sister was going into labor today, and rather than it being in Forrest City, AR, as was planned, she's in Memphis!  I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world, so I packed up and went to the hospital.  When I got there, Tammy asked, "did you bring the video camera?"  This time she was serious.  I called around until I found that my buddy Carlos had a camera, I went and got it, and I was ready to go.  I filmed her laying in the hospital bed and all of the family that visited, even the doctors and nurses that came by.  Let me take a moment to say that Jacklyn looked incredibly beautiful laying in that hospital bed waiting for the time to come. 

As the time approached, I was nervous, but prepared to film this solemn occasion.  Jacklyn pushed for about 2 hours giving birth to the most beautiful little girl in the whole world, Emma-Grace Issabella Reynolds.  Watching Jackie give birth to little Emma-Grace was AMAZING!  Seeing such a beautiful child be born into this world to breathe her first breaths of air was the most incredible experience of my life.  I asked, how could anyone see something like that and say that God had nothing to do with it.  God was there in that room as he created that little child, just like He did the rest of us. ("For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb."  Ps 139:13) ("For this is what the Lord says - He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:  Do not be afraid..."  Isaiah 44:2)

I have a completely new perspective on life now, having seen something so amazing.  I took the video footage that I got and made a 4 minute video presentation, set to music, for all the family to see and enjoy.  The compliments that I have gotten about the video make me so happy that I could be a part of something like this, that I could contribute to the joy of the occasion, doing everything that I can do to repay Jacklyn and the family for allowing me to become...seemingly, a part of the family.  I love them like my own.

The following Sunday I preached about the consequences of sin, looking primarily at Genesis 2 and 3, where Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, sinned, and were punished for that sin.  The serpent was cursed, but so were Adam and Eve.  Adam, and consequently all of man, was cursed by being forced to toil the ground to survive for all of his life, and all of man's life to come.  Eve, though, was cursed with the pain of childbirth.  I finally understand.  Praise God for His ability to open our eyes, when we need it the most.

I wanted to fill all of my friends in on what happened to me when I wrecked my motorcycle and how I am doing thus far.  On May 13th, 2006, I had come back to my home in Brinkley, Arkansas after a very enjoyable trip to Panama City Beach.  I preached a Mother's Day sermon at the worship service the following Sunday morning, May 14th.  That afternoon I was to go with the Henard family to a graduation celebration dinner for Kacey at her "Papaw's" house, and would be leaving around 3:15. 

After worship, I needed to do some things before dinner.  I went home, finished unpacking some things, made sure my evening sermon was printed properly, and began separating the clean clothes from the dirty clothes, which I planned to wash later that night.  I also needed to do some ministerial visitation that afternoon.  Ms. Argo, an elderly member of the Brinkley Church of Christ, was to be admitted into the hospital the following day.  I haven't seen her in a while so I rode the motorcycle to see her and we sat and talked for about 20 minutes.

Also, a good friend and member of the congregation, Ms. Betty, had passed away while I was gone to Florida on vacation.  As I had come back to Brinkley to experience the continued despair and grief shared by the members of the congregation during our loss, I regretted being five hundred miles away when she passed.  So, I took it upon myself to go visit her brother after leaving Ms. Argo.  Ms. Betty lived with her brother Robert in Brinkley, neither married.  Robert and I shared a good half hour or more of joy and tears, reminiscing shared memories of his eccentric yet overtly spiritual sister, who we loved dearly.  She will be missed terribly, of course, but we rejoice.  We rejoice because she was prepared to meet the Lord and she died peacefully in her sleep, having a heart attack.  What is beautiful about her passing is that firstly, she was spiritually prepared, but that she didn't suffer at all, and will never suffer again.  She had just passed a number of kidney stones and was released from the hospital 3 days before her death.  She had no doubt suffered enough in the weeks before her death, so her peaceful passing is a reason to rejoice.  Praise Him.

As I prepare to leave Ms. Betty's brother, he walks me outside and we spark conversation about my motorcycle.  We spoke about fun roads to ride in Arkansas, though he never actually rode, he just knows the twisty scenic routes.  Ironically enough, I told him that I planned on putting about 10k miles on my bike this summer.  Then I saddled up and rode to the Henard's.

From the Henard's, I followed their vehicle as I rode the bike just a few miles outside of town to "Papaw" Henard's house for a graduation dinner/mother's day celebration.  I ate until I was more than full and it was gooood.  Naturally, the bike I arrived on sparked more conversations and everyone had to tell others of the typical "I saw this guy do a wheelie once", "I know of this person who died on a bike", and other generic conversation pieces that come up whenever a motorcycle is talked about.  I, of course, sat back and didn't say how fast mine would go or how far I could ride a wheelie, or how many people I know that have been hurt on them.  It was good dinner conversation as it was.  These were some really nice folks, good new friends.

As much as I was enjoying my time spent with this lovely family, I decided that I had better head home a little early and get my sermon stuff together.  As I am leaving, I have plenty of time to get home, brush my teeth (etc), and make it to evening services, so I was not in a hurry.  I just wanted to make sure that I had my sermon notebook with my Bible and I was going to use my own restroom before heading off to worship.

Leaving Papaw's house, I pull out on Highway 70 heading back towards Brinkley, about 5 miles away.  Since I'm not in a hurry, I ride at a normal pace.  Now, I am no stranger to driving fast, in relation to the speed limit, however.  On sport bikes, like sports cars, it's simply easy to drive "fast" and not really feel that you are driving "fast" because you are capable of going so much faster.  Normal cruising speed for me on the interstate for instance is upwards of 80.  On this day, I would venture to say that I was doing about 60 or 70 most of the way.  Yes, I am guilty of breaking the 55mph speed limit when I travel that fast, but that is not at issue here.  Also, on this ride, as with most leisure rides, when there is no traffic, I am no stranger to doing a skilled, controlled, balanced wheelie for a short, straight stretch of road.  I am not reckless in my wheelies, but rather limit them to wheelies done sitting down (as opposed to standing on the pegs, or seat, or sitting on the tank, etc.) and I don't ride them out very far, my longest ones being about a quarter mile.  I say all of this to impress this upon the reader, I know how to drive fast and I know how to wheelie, but I was doing NEITHER of these when I wrecked my motorcycle.

------------------ THE WRECK -------------------

Here are the details that I can remember vividly, though during the hour or two after the accident they were hazy.  I did a wheelie on a straight stretch of Highway 70.  This was probably my 3rd or 4th since pulling out of Papaw's driveway, as I was just popping the wheelies, riding a short stretch, and setting them down.  During this final stretch, I saw cars coming up ahead of me so I set it down, since I ride safely and generally don't do these around other cars, especially on a narrow two lane.  Moments later (take note, moments later), I prepare for an upcoming curve, slightly to left, I believe.  I remember distinctly a hard gust of wind press against me on the left side.  This forced me to lean into the wind, leaning left, to counter the wind.  I remember thinking to myself that this was the most I've ever had to lean left strictly because of the wind and that something bad was about to happen.  Well, something did.  Highway 70 happens to have a lot of bumpy places in the asphalt.  As I am leaned left hard into the wind, I hit a big bump or pothole or something.  This forces the weight to press hard into the front wheel, compressing the shocks, then the weight leaves momentarily as the shocks decompress, and when the return to the original form, normally all would be fine, but I was leaned hard left combating this wind.  Leaned left, the wheel was turned a bit to the right, which opens up the face of the left side of the tire; this is what allows motorcyclists to turn corners sharply by leaning in the direction of the curve and turning the bars outward.  If I had hit such a bump straight on, things would've been fine, but because of that fierce wind causing me to lean, hitting that bump caused the front end of my bike to go into something called a tankslapper.  This is where, for instance here, the bike's weight leaves the front wheel for an instant, and then the weight returns to the front wheel with the wheel cocked sideways in regards to the direction of travel.  Picture riding a bicycle at speed, pulling up on the front wheel and turning the wheel to the right about 80 degrees.  When the weight of you and the bicycle goes back to the front wheel, what does it do?  It jerks it back straight.  Well, here, I was compensating for the wind by turning the handlebars a little, then as I hit this big bump, my turning of the handlebars became too much, as the weight left the front for an instant, then returned to the front with the wheel cocked a little sideways from the actual direction of travel.  Just as in my bicycle illustration, motorcycles tend to self-correct (jerking back straight), but more often than not, over-correct.  They jerk left too far, then right too far, then back left too far...etc. causing the entire front end to oscillate.  From the rear it looks like the bike is fishtailing.  This kind of wreck is called a tankslapper because as the rider loses control of the bars due to the oscillation of the forks, it is so violent that the handlebars often actually slap the tank (after breaking the steering stops!).  It has been said that if a rider were strong enough to maintain control of the bars and hang on to them, it would literally break the rider's arms.  I believe it.  I simply could not hold on to the bars.

(Watch this video of another rider wrecking in a tankslapper, for illustration:  http://video.bikepics.com/wmv-416-96/Anonymous-TT-Tankslapper-19sec.wmv )

As soon as my front end started oscillating, I engaged the clutch, more in an effort to grab tightly the bars, out of instinct.  This is not the best thing to do, but again, it was almost instinctual to grab the clutch in a scary situation.  But, I know to avoid a tankslapper you should accelerate out of it, so I dumped the clutch and got in the gas hard.  If I remember correctly, I had already begun cruising the speed limit (55) in sixth gear, so I was at so low RPMs that there simply wasn't enough power to accelerate out of it.  When I got back in the gas, the tankslapper got worse.  My hands came off the bars and the last memory I recall before waking up on my back is that I knew I didn't want to go down on the asphalt.  I had my helmet on but didn't wear my boots, gloves, or jacket.  I was in my Sunday clothes!  The road rash would've been horrific from neck to toe and I might have gotten run over by a car.  So, with my hands not on the bars anymore, I thought to lean right (incidentally, the direction the wind was blowing me anyway) to try and go down off the road to the right. The last thing I saw while upright was a gravel driveway that I was approaching and I thought "when I hit this I'm going flying!"

I woke up on my back in 5" of muddy water in a ditch.  I couldn't breathe, felt like I was choking.  I struggled to get my helmet off of my head, so I could breathe.  This was the scariest moment of my life.  I thought it was my end.  At this point, I didn't even know that I wrecked, or had been riding; to me, I just woke up in the mud and was suffocating.  I take note of the fact that I was able to get my helmet off without much difficulty, since I didn't have my gloves on.  If I wore my gloves, like I usually do, I might not have been able to get the helmet off, whose strap might have further induced suffocation.

Laying on my back, I saw several people standing around me, one or two particulars talking to me.  (At this time, I can't include in this blog the names of those who were there, for at the time of this writing, I'm still in a hospital bed.)  I scream in short bursts of what little breath I have.  "Ah!"  "Help!"  "Call 911!"  "I can't!...(gasp)  breathe!"  Struggling to breathe, I would cough violently, eventually coughing up blood.  This is seriously, the scariest moment I have ever experienced in my life and I thought I was going to die.  I don't remember all that was done or said then, but I think I even said a curse word, but it may be that I heard someone else say it nearby.  The memory at this point is a little hazy.  They call an ambulance which arrives very shortly.  I was told that the woman who called 911, conveniently was in her front yard nearby with a phone in her hand, when the accident happened.  Another convenient circumstance is that, I was told, the ambulance was in route right around the corner from us, just a stone's throw away, and arrived in record time.  Then EMTs put me on a stretcher, pulled me out of this ditch, and proceeded to take me to Stuttgart's Hospital.

------------------ THE AMBULANCE -------------------

The ride to the ER in Stuttgart was not the most exciting experience of my life either.  One of the 3 EMTs knew what he was doing.  I was in a lot of pain and was coughing up more blood.  They couldn't give me pain medication simply because I might have needed surgery when I got to the hospital, so I was in intense pain the whole 20 min bumpy ride to the hospital.  For those who know the drive, the bridge leaving Clarendon and the following several miles are incredibly, painfully bumpy.  I significantly remember the one EMT who knew what he was doing, as he was working on stabilizing me, he stopped what he was doing, stood up, turned around, and "gave the finger" to cars that were behind the ambulance.  He said something to the effect of, "I'm sorry, I just hate it when people use an ambulance to get through traffic."  I'm not sure, but he might've been flipping off my church members that were racing to meet me in Stuttgart.  Either way, it was upsetting that I was in so much pain, needed so much help, and he took time to curse other drivers.

------------------ STUTTGART -------------------

I was taken to the ER in Stuttgart, about 20 minutes away.  Our story gets a bit more interestingly complicated here.  In short, the diagnosis at Stuttgart was that my liver was shattered, my kidney was bruised badly, my ribs were broken, and one of my fractured ribs had punctured my lungs, hence the blood I was spitting up.  Of primary importance, we were told, is that my liver was shattered.  I got word later in the week that many were told at this point that there was a good chance that I was not going to make it.  Evidently this is the "big scare" that I "gave" everybody. 

I am honored, though, that such a large number of my church family came to visit me.  As I was unable to make it to evening worship, obviously, Wayne Whitson covered for me, delivering a short lesson, then evidently, everyone packed up in their cars and drove to see me.  It is a blessing to have so many care for me and love me as more than just a minister, but a dear friend.  (I love you all so deeply in return.)

From Stuttgart,  I had to be airlifted in a helicopter to Little Rock.  Ironically, I had passed on the opportunity to ride in a helicopter a few days prior in Panama City.  This ride was considerably more expensive than the one I would've taken in Florida, which I passed on because of the price.  The flight to Little Rock was quick, but before they could get me airborne, they had to do something about the air in my chest.  I had air that had escaped from my right lung and was trapped between it and the chest cavity wall.  If we went airborne, the elevation would've caused the air in my chest cavity to expand and consequently put more pressure on my lungs.  While it was already hard to breath, this might have made it impossible, ending tragically.  So, the helicopter EMT's put a hole in my chest and a tube with a one way valve in the hole so that air could escape as we gained elevation, but not reenter the chest cavity.  It worked a little like a snorkel.  With this, we were airborne.  Once airborne, they gave me Morphine (finally!) and I started feeling less pain.  Upon descent, I got queasy, but never vomited, then they took me to the ER, then ICU of the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.

------------------ LITTLE ROCK -------------------

Once at the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in LR, things started looking up.  This was not particularly because a job requirement imposed by the board of health is that female nurses need to be very attractive, but I theorized they had such a policy.  I was in the hands of angels, for sure.  Things were looking up more because I was getting pain mediation to help me deal with the pain and specialists were assigned to my specific ailments.  Upon a more accurate diagnosis (than that at Stuttgart), we were actually looking at bruised lungs, lacerated liver, and bruised kidney.  I broke NO bones and my liver was certainly NOT shattered.  The most significant problem was the hematoma, the pool of blood on my lungs, that kept showing up in x-rays.  After 4 days in ICU, they admitted me into a room upstairs in the critical care wing.

I wish to note that many came to visit me in the ER and the ICU at Little Rock.  This meant so much to me.  I greatly appreciate your love and encouragement then, and now.  I especially thank you, Philip Martin, for being a kind-of spokesman, during the first days of the ordeal, chasing me to the hospitals and making sure that others got the proper information.

So, as the ICU saw me improving, they put me in a room on the 6th floor.  I've been doing considerably better, all things considered, and am improving rapidly.  As I write this, it is the Saturday after the accident, which occurred on Sunday.  I'll update this writing again, when I get out, Lord willing. 

I will write further about the wonderful nurses, the spectacular visitors and their gifts, the roommate I had one of the nights (Mr. Tatum), the most excruciatingly painful hour of my life (Wed 1:45-2:45pm), the one time I've thrown up, and so much more.

Praise Jehovah for all that I have overcome and that he has been with me every step of the way.  Praise Jehovah, as the Father has been with me by the fact that  my own father (Bill Yow) has literally been with me since Sunday night in Little Rock.

I hope to impress upon the reader of this depiction of my accident that I, contrary to popular opinion, was not "lucky".  There is not a single ounce of belief within me that I was "lucky" that day, nor this week.  I have been fortunate, rather.  God has blessed me so incredibly richly.  I refuse to succumb to the temptation to say that anything here happened by luck.  God blessed me with the happenings of that day:  that I landed in a puddle of mud and water on my back; that I happened to not have gloves on so I could easily get the helmet off; that people happened to be nearby with phones already in their hands as they stood in their front yard watching the accident; the fact that the ambulance was already staffed and in route my direction when the call was made; etc. etc.

Praise the Lord God Almighty for the manner in which He blesses His people!  Amen.

 Here are the pictures taken by Lisa Martin Saturday May 20, the 6th day after the accident.  The Whitsons and the Martins were so incredibly compassionate that Wayne and his help (Kevin?) took Philip's trailer, picked up the bike from the wrecker's shop and took it back to the Martins'.  In the pictures, the bike is still laying on its side on the trailer.  Again, though, at the time of the writing of this blog, I still haven't been released from the hospital, so I haven't seen the bike to be able to say what kind of condition it is truly in.  The pictures don't do much but depress me, especially when looked at next to the pctures of it on the beaches of Panama City, Florida, where it was the week before.  The pictures are posted in reverse order of significance.  For instance, the last picture here, 1492, gives the best view of the destruction.

May 12, 2006
Panama City Beach, Florida
"The Watering Hole"
7:00pm - 9:00pm

Eric Yow's Trick Shot Madness is going on tour!  Come see the show May 12th at Frank Valencia's "Watering Hole" in Panama City Beach, Florida!

__________________________________

THE SHOW WAS AWESOME!!!  This was quite possibly my best show yet, which further proves my theory that they get better every time.  Frank Valencia's place was top-notch.  I played on sharp Valley 7-footers with new Simonis and my show table played great.  The shots were spectacular and the audience seemed to enjoy every minute of the madness.  I chose a young woman from the crowd to shoot a few shots and she shot them better than I did!!!   And I must say, the women of Panama City Beach are oh-so-friendly.  I made a lot of friends while I was down there, to say the least.  I look forward to going back down there either later this year or next for another show.  Once again I had my publicist Ben with me, who was able to take photographs of me with the fans, and print them on the spot.  He sold numerous autographed pictures tthat day.

Well, I did it!  I went pro!  I played in my first pro tournament - Masters Artistic Pool Championship, March 16-19, 2006 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania held contemporaneously with the Super Billiard Expo at the Hopkins Convention Center.  The Lord blessed me richly as this was the greatest weekend in my pool history, for sure.  I placed 13th of 21 (tying with Bill Meima for 12th, losing the tie breaker of # of first attempts.  He had 13 to my 9.).  And I received the Sportsmanship Medal, voted for by the other players.  It was truly an honor.  Not only this, but I was able to do quite a bit of announcing during the event, which was very enjoyable.  I was also able to participate in Billiard for Benefit, a charity show raising money for Toys for Tots, where I did a lot of trick shots, including jumping a cue ball over Jennifer Baretta, as she lay on the table.  Beautiful.  I was honored to be able to play with and against my heroes in the game.  It is my prayer that in the near future I will not only be more competition for them, but will take what help they have given me and rise to the top.  Meucci sponsored me with a cue for my next events and Joe Porper sponsored me with a case. 

Thanks for checking to see how I played.  I'll keep this and the website updated as time goes on.

I am still looking for financial backing for future events, however.  If you would like to sponsor me, please do so.  For more information, psykoyow@hotmail.com.  Thanks.

"Eric Yow's Trick Shot Madness" appeared March 10th, 2006 in Clarkesville, Georgia at Stick's Billiards.   That show was a blast!  "Stick" is a great room owner and now a great friend.  I'll be going back some time next year for an encore, for sure!

Would you like to have "Eric Yow's Trick Shot Madness" in your hometown?  Email me - psykoyow@hotmail.com