Tuesday, April 21, 2009

breathe.

I was watching this.


and this.
We lost by 1 point after 2 hours of game play, so a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cone seemed in order.

A few seconds after pulling out of Braum's parking lot, the van in front of me was broadsided by a car running a red light.

The van flipped end over end, then flipped again horizontally, spinning silently in the air before crashing to the pavement on its side. It rolled to a stop upside down. Somehow the flying metal pieces of car and glass missed us.

The driver of the van crawled out of the window and collapsed on the highway. Passengers left their cars and raced to her side. She tried to get back into the van. Someone was still trapped inside.

It was in slow motion, the entire thing. When the van went airborne, I just happened to be directly beside a drive through, and could leave the road. I dialed 911, ice cream cone still in hand. I turned to hand it to Lu, feeling incongruous dripping peanut butter cup while giving specifics to the dispatcher.

When the dispatcher let me go, I got back in the car to leave for home, sirens in the distance. I turned to look at my Lu and her sweaty, dirty, post-softball game face was the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

Two seconds quicker through the drive through at Braums, and that van was us.

Kiss your babies tonight. I did.

20 comments:

  1. Wow! I'm so thankful y'all weren't hurt. That really makes me think about all the times I'm in such a rush to get somewhere or get out of somewhere. You never know what you might just miss.

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  2. Yikes close call. I'm so glad you weren't hurt. A similar thing happened to me about three months ago. We were at an intersection and a car perpendicular ran the red light. The car to my right was t-boned. If I had been quicker on the gas it would have been us. Luckily no one was hurt but holy sh%@#%. It does make you thankful.

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  3. Anonymous11:13 PM

    Wow!!!! That's about all I can think to say.

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  4. Anonymous11:48 PM

    I am so glad you are safe. How scary for you. I hope the others in the van were/are okay. Good for you for reporting it. Hug those babies tight. g

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  5. I am glad so you are well. I hope the others involved are okay too.

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  6. Thank the lord you weren't hurt . These things really do put things into perspective.

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  7. While driving on an interstate, I looked in my rearview mirror and I saw a motorcyclist rear end a car. I saw him fly at least 20 ft. into the air. I felt so helpless. I was in the left lane and traveling about 70 mph so all I could do was call 911. It's frightening to see something like that. Thank God you weren't here.

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  8. Wow,that is pretty scary!
    SO happy to hear you weren't hurt and I hope the people in the van are OK too!

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  9. So, have you started breathing yet? Thank goodness you were unhurt.

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  10. So glad you and Lu are okay. Thinking about what could've happened can really shake you up, so thanks for reminding us to count our blessings.

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  11. Glad your family is okay. How scary. Hopefully who ever was still left in the car was okay to. I hate when something like that happens, you just keep reliving it over and over. It does make you remember how fleeting life can be.

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  12. Anonymous10:02 AM

    We are so glad to hear you are alright!! Wishing the best to the other family too.

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  13. Yikes!!! Thank goodness you and Lu are okay...I read your post last night as I was getting ready to leave work and was thinking about you all the way home...what happened next was freaky...some @$$hole veered into my lane and started turning before the cross street. Almost hit me!!! I think I was being more cautious and aware thanks to your warning. Thank you!!!

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  14. Wow what a story!!! So happy to hear that you and your family are okay!! Your guardian angels were all working double time!

    Lindsay

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  15. Something like this puts things in the right perspective, doesn't it. I'm so glad you got that ice cream and you hadn't pulled out yet. i hope the person in the van was ok!! My first cousin was killed when a lady on a cell phone ran a red light and hit his motorcycle. His fiance was hurt very badly.

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  16. Gulp. There but for the grace of God...

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  17. Now *that* is a really good reason to eat ice cream. So glad you and your family are ok. I'll send out a wish to the cosmos for the safety and recovery of the other people involved.

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  18. Oh wow. I am in tears. What an amazing story. I hope those people are okay, but I'm glad it wasn't you and your daughter. And you wrote it so beautifully. And you are so right. Kiss our babies tonight. I know I will.

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  19. I am so glad you & Lu are safe, I know that was scary.
    Prayers, Bo

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  20. Oh my gosh! That's awful. So glad you and the family are okay.

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