I remember the first time I met Marshall Allen. It must have been about 1999 or 2000. I was out on my bike, just about five miles from home in the next little town, when a tall, athletic-looking cyclist crossed my path. We rode together for a while, introducing ourselves and chatting like old buddies. Marshall told me he was a firefighter, and talked about his family in his deep, resonant voice.

What a delightful guy. I told Brent about Marshall, and Brent remembered meeting him too, on one of those casual rides that meets at a local bike shop.

Marshall and I ran into each other (not literally; don’t worry) again after a few weeks and swapped some more stories about our kids and such. I knew Marshall was a faster rider than me and appreciated his camaraderie all the more because he could have merely smiled, waved and disappeared over the horizon.

Some months later I heard the horrifying news that Marshall had sustained a serious spinal injury in a cycling accident. I talked with him on the phone once, and tried to offer encouragement. After that I lost touch, but often wondered how he was doing.

Then, just last summer, I learned that one of my fellow freelancers had written a book about a firefighter who had become a quadriplegic. “Um… that wasn’t Marshall Allen, was it?” Yes. Yes, it was. The author, Alexandra Allred, and Marshall himself, were going to speak at the next meeting of the writers’ group I attend. Oh, yeah, I would be there.

Come to find out, Marshall’s life was much more complicated than I ever could have imagined. I read the book, which weaves Marshall’s story — quest, really — with the author’s own quests. I love Allred’s humorous account of how she and Marshall met.

The book is called Swingman: What a Difference a Decade Makes. Just last night I got a link to a video clip that filmmaker Mark Birnbaum posted on Oprah’s website, apparently to be considered for inclusion on a future broadcast. Watch it here. 09-2013: Sorry, the link is no longer live.

My understanding is that lots of views and comments will increase the chances of Marshall getting on the air, which would be great. BUT if you want to comment, please read the Terms of Use first. Either way, enjoy the excerpt!

Thanks for reading!
Jan