For those of you who don't already know, Jeff Wilson (aka, Crackbass), Sigmund Bloom, and Kim Bloom were involved in an accident on Monday night. I was out of town at the time visiting my family down in Houston. The Wilsons and the Blooms were leaving a Black Crowes concert at the Backyard (an Austin concert venue) and were standing on the side of the road waiting for sheriff's deputies (who were directing traffic) to wave them across the highway so that they could reach their car when a drunk driver jumped the curb and struck Kim, Sigmund, and Jeff as well as two other people that I don't know. Kim and Sigmund were transported by ambulance to Brackenridge and Jeff was transported by lifeflight helicopter. Kim suffered broken bones in her foot as well as many bruises and scrapes, and Sigmund suffered a concussion, broken bones in his hand, and many scrapes and bruises, including a black eye. Jeff suffered a fractured skull and brain injury. He remains unconscious as I write this, and has gone through surgery to alleviate swelling to his brain. His prognosis is uncertain, and we're all just waiting, hoping, and praying to see what the extent of the damage and what his recovery will be.
Apparently one of the other people who was struck was also placed in Brackenridge's ICU with Jeff and is making some progress. The fifth individual suffered serious, but non life threatening injuries.
Mandy, Jeff's wife, was present at the scene of the accident, but was not struck by the vehicle.
I know that the Travis County criminal courthouse community and everyone within Jeff's very wide circle of friends is filled with a sense of shock and grief at this turn of events, though we remain hopeful for his recovery. Please extend your thoughts, prayers, and support in whatever way you see fit to Jeff and his family. Jeff has already beaten the odds several times in simply surviving this far (when he was initially brought to the trauma center, doctors said they didn't expect him to live through the night), and I believe that he can and will continue to make progress, but this is also a sad and scary time.

I know Jeff and I have often bickered on this blog and others like a couple of old hens, but I really do love the guy like a brother (I think it's actually because we're such good friends that we manage to argue so much and then hang out together on a daily basis). My heart and the best wishes that I can possibly muster go out to Jeff, Mandy, Jeff's family, and Jeff's other friends.
Likewise, I wish the Blooms a speedy recovery in both body and spirit. They've suffered tremedously in this ordeal and I hope they get better fast.
I'm not an overtly religious person, but I'm not without sprituality, and I believe strongly in the power of connections between people and their ability to change the world in many ways. Please, please, please send Jeff your positive thoughts and/or prayers and lend he and Mandy your support. They're among the best folks that I've known and I love them both.
I'm very tired. I'll try to let you guys know what's going on as things develop.