Monday, August 04, 2008

A Second from Death

Unbeknownst to me at the time, that was almost my last post yesterday — the one about missing undies.

Yesterday morning, Cuppa and I got up early and drove the back roads to Riverwood, a wonderful cottage property belonging to her sister. After stopping at Tim's for an extra large coffee and a breakfast sandwich, we settled in for a relaxing, country drive and arrived at Riverwood three hours later in a fine frame of mind.

After a day of visiting and catching up with family, a walk in the buggy woods, and an excellent dinner we were ready to head home. It was getting dark, so we took the easier, more travelled highway. I hesitate to call it a highway, however, because it's only a two lane road, and the stretch that we were to drive is not very busy.

By the time we navigated our way from the secondary roads onto the highway darkness had settled. Very shortly after getting onto the highway, I saw a car up ahead, lights on approaching in my lane. He was trying to pass three cars when I showed up speeding towards him in the opposite direction. Naturally, I went onto alert but began to breathe easy when I saw him beginning to edge back into his own lane. Except that he didn't. I assume that he couldn't find a space in the midst of the cars he was passing, so in his great wisdom his solution was to straighten up and barrel right towards me.

I was travelling at almost 100 kph (60mph) and he was doing the same, probably faster. We were close to impact and certain death. Instantly, I pulled over onto the shoulder, and we whizzed passed each other.

Talk about a close call: about as close as you can come and live to tell about it. I'd say we were about a second from catastrophe when I pulled onto the gravel shoulder at great speed. If there had been no shoulder, or a sloping one, or a less hard packed one, our trip and our lives would have ended. If he had also attempted to make for the shoulder at the same time as I, we still would have had a fatal crash for there would have been no time for another correction. I cannot fathom why he didn't head for the shoulder, why he chose to drive right at us, but apparently it's good that he didn't, for we didn't crash.

In an instant it was over. I was very calm both during and after. I sort of said to myself, "That was close, but we're here, and life goes on." There was nothing else to do but keep driving and hoping that the other driver had learned a lesson about driving in such a reckless hurry.

Now, I have another day to live, actually not a day, just this moment and then perhaps another and another. It's a gift, a gift to savour. Life always is a gift and not just after a close call, but we all get caught up in our doings and forget that all too frequently. We forget to slow our frenzied minds and simply revel in our breath and the beating of our hearts. Today, I will make an extra effort taste and appreciate the gift of life that I and Cuppa have been given, and I invite you to do the same.

18 comments:

Ruth said...

What a frightening experience! and how fortunate that you had a place to pull over in the nick if time. I wondered if it scared the other driver (and everyone else watching). Life truly is a gift and moments like that are revealing. How true...we get caught up in things that do not really matter in the big picture.

KGMom said...

Your invitation--to enjoy LIFE--is most apt. We should all do that, without "close call" reminders.
Thank goodnes you were quick witted; thank goodness you & Cuppa are unscathed.
Now, can someone find that thoughtless driver, grab him by the scruff of the neck, give him a good shaking, and say--what were you thinking? Or WERE you thinking?

Amanda said...

I'm so relieved that the two of you are alright. There was certainly someone looking out for the two of you that evening.
Again, i'm just so glad that your both ok.
Take Care AC
Amanda x

Jules said...

Oh my goodness...what an ordeal. I'm so glad you & Cuppa are ok. You definitely have a couple of angels looking out for you! I'm glad they decided you weren't ready to get your wings yet.

Ginnie said...

Your post gave me chills, AC. I had something similar a few years back and it wasn't until the next morning that I started to shake. I'm soooooooo glad that you two are OK.

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

I am glad you are still with us. The Daub deserves to know his Grands.

We have all had such experieces. Mine was on a dark night on a divided highway when a car without lights on travelling in the passing lane, the wrong way on my side of the highway passed me. For a moment I thought it was unreal, then the reality set in. Scary!

Lorna said...

I hope you've written a nice thank-you note to Tim's----that large coffee was obviously what kept your brain in such good form.

ChrisB said...

I came hot foot from cuppa's post to see what happened. Talk about a close shave...luckily you were able to stay calm and take evasive action must have been so scary for you both.

megz_mum said...

How awful, I feel quite sick at the thought of it. Thank goodness you had the presence of mind to veer safely. You never know what's around the corner in life, do you ...

Donna said...

Your Angels were flying beside your car...thank God....Neither one of you are finished "here" yet...You have Tons left to do!!! Smudge...Beans....singing and dancing, loving. I Always say, just live in the Now...PS- What happened to that big coffee???lolol....Great Big ((((((HUG))))))))) tonight fellow!!!hughugs

Judy said...

So glad you two are still in the land of the living!

mreddie said...

Nothing like a close call to make us appreciate the life we have. ec

Janet said...

oh my goodness - I'm SO glad you're both all right. It makes me worried that the other driver will eventually go on to hurt someone else though. Maybe someone in one of the cars he was passing witnessed everything and called police.
I had a frightening experience the other day as well - we live on a one lane road and you have to pull over on wide spots so people can pass. I pulled over on a wide spot that turned out to be only vines. Fortunately the man who I was allowing to pass helped get the kids out of the car, because I was convinced that it was going over the side. It took a tow truck to get it back on the pavement. I haven't blogged about it because I don't want my in-laws to know about it.

Valerie - Still Riding Forward said...

Anvil, thank you for your well developed reflexes.

But, yes - every day is a gift.Hug Cuppa for me.

Pearl said...

That's scary. Those close calls make a person hold close the people that matter. A second either way. (shiver)

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

Have a good rest and restoration of your real Life before returning back to cyper-reality full of interesting postings for your fans.

Anonymous said...

There are far too many of these idiots on the road. Thank goodness that both you and Cuppa are safe. My heart jumped into my throat just reading your works. Yes... life is such a marvelous gift. I too will try to remember that today.

Dogman said...

Wow. What an experience! A cool head (yours) and good reflexes (yours) and smart decisions (yours) and the luck of the road saved you.
[OR]
Thanks to God and all the angels that they were on guard for you. You might as well have been asleep. Thankfully God timed everything perfectly so that you were in the right place at the right time! Therefore both of you as well as the blithering idiot driving toward you had your lives spared. Praise the LORD!