(no subject)
Dec. 27th, 2009 | 12:50 pm
mood: 
drained
posted by: ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
aruth
I'm going to make this quick, since I have to get ready for work soon.
Yesterday, I was supposed to work from 1-5; I wasn't originally scheduled for this shift, but my boss had asked me if I wanted to work and I figured it was a short enough shift that I wouldn't mind it, and it'd be a little extra money.
Well, after a morning of rushed shopping with Rachel and Kevin, I was already running late. I had to stop for gas on my way to work, so I called and let the store manager know I'd be late. I wasn't going to let myself worry about time, because the roads were a little slick. After I'd been on the freeway for about 7 miles, I noticed an SUV in the median on my left, and a truck that slid down off the road on my right. In the split-second it had taken me to notice these slide-offs, all the traffic in front of me slowed down abruptly. Without thinking, I slammed on my brakes, and immediately started drifting forward and around, spinning in the middle of the freeway. I was face-to-face with an oncoming SUV, which masterfully maneuvered out of my way and avoided its own demise, then slid backwards into the median, kitty-corner to oncoming traffic.
It is all too real to me that I very well could have died yesterday. The traffic was heavy, considering people traveling after Christmas and out shopping for deals. I sat in my car for an hour and a half waiting for the towing service I had called to arrive. I watched car after car after car either speed by or slow down to glance down at me, and prayed no one else would slide off into me.
What's amazing is that the other two vehicles that had slide off – one, a truck that slide way down into a ditch on the right side of the freeway – drove away with people and auto unscathed. And I and my Focus are fine, too. I am quite shaken up, though, and am having a hard time putting the experience out of my mind. I am not looking forward to driving to work in an hour.
I am so grateful that all the experience had cost me was a very expensive towing job ($179). I do think of today, tomorrow, and the rest of my life as a second chance, and I don't want to take anything for granted.
Yesterday, I was supposed to work from 1-5; I wasn't originally scheduled for this shift, but my boss had asked me if I wanted to work and I figured it was a short enough shift that I wouldn't mind it, and it'd be a little extra money.
Well, after a morning of rushed shopping with Rachel and Kevin, I was already running late. I had to stop for gas on my way to work, so I called and let the store manager know I'd be late. I wasn't going to let myself worry about time, because the roads were a little slick. After I'd been on the freeway for about 7 miles, I noticed an SUV in the median on my left, and a truck that slid down off the road on my right. In the split-second it had taken me to notice these slide-offs, all the traffic in front of me slowed down abruptly. Without thinking, I slammed on my brakes, and immediately started drifting forward and around, spinning in the middle of the freeway. I was face-to-face with an oncoming SUV, which masterfully maneuvered out of my way and avoided its own demise, then slid backwards into the median, kitty-corner to oncoming traffic.
It is all too real to me that I very well could have died yesterday. The traffic was heavy, considering people traveling after Christmas and out shopping for deals. I sat in my car for an hour and a half waiting for the towing service I had called to arrive. I watched car after car after car either speed by or slow down to glance down at me, and prayed no one else would slide off into me.
What's amazing is that the other two vehicles that had slide off – one, a truck that slide way down into a ditch on the right side of the freeway – drove away with people and auto unscathed. And I and my Focus are fine, too. I am quite shaken up, though, and am having a hard time putting the experience out of my mind. I am not looking forward to driving to work in an hour.
I am so grateful that all the experience had cost me was a very expensive towing job ($179). I do think of today, tomorrow, and the rest of my life as a second chance, and I don't want to take anything for granted.