Wednesday, July 16, 2008

If I Never Made It Home





Yesterday afternoon there was a horrible accident just a few minutes away from where I live. There was a line of cars sitting in the exit lane to get onto another highway, a situation that is never uncommon for this particular highway. As these cars sat, a semi slammed into the line – literally running over the cars. 11 cars were involved in this accident. 2 people are dead, 3 are in critical condition, and another 11 people have sustained serious to moderate injuries. The semi driver was uninjured and sent home for the evening. This accident caused the highway (a major highway) to be shut down for 6 hours. Why or how this happened has not yet been released to the public. And the semi driver has not yet been indicted for any charges. (Please note, I was not in this accident, I'm just writing about it)

This accident is really bothering me. I worry about this type of thing a lot, and a situation like this only cause my thoughts to worsen. I drive 60 miles every day to get to work and back down these interstates. Almost everyday I sidestep accidents, left and right. I like to think of myself as a good driver, who plays both the defensive and the offensive, always on alert. You HAVE to be on the constant alert … I don’t see how people who aren’t manage to drive around all day without getting into accidents. I guess it’s us folks who watch out for them that saves those people. Regardless, I could be the most alert driver in the world, but there wouldn’t have been a damn thing I could have done to prevent myself from being a part of that accident. Not. One. Single. Thing.

It pains me to think of those people who didn’t come home. Those people were probably just coming home from work, like any other day. But they never made it home. I think about what would happen if, one day, I never made it home. I think about this as I kiss my girls each morning before I leave for work. Each morning as I leave, I think to myself, “I hope they know how much I love them. I hope they FEEL how much I love them. I hope, that if something happened, they would at least have this to carry on.” And then I pray that I make it home safely, and that they are always there to greet me.

6 comments:

lynda w said...

I couldnt' have said it better. Aside from losing one of my kids, my other biggest worry is that they'll lose one of us. I never want them to feel the pain that comes with losing a parent way too soon!

Thanks for giving us a reality check. I'm going to go kiss and hug my kids and tell them I love them.

Mz Diva said...

I agree with what you said Lynda, it is hard losing a parent at a young age...When I was in Cabbridge, the driving is CRAZY there! There was a guy directing traffic because of an accident and a girl who was driving was on her cell phone and not paying a bit of attention! He starting screaming in a thick Bostonian accent," HANG UP THE PHONE AND DRIVE!" She hung up the cell phone and was totally embarrassed for holding up traffic in an accident situation. I need to remember I should be DRIVING and not talking, dialing a number, etc in the car. I think that stuff causes more accidents then we realize.
Peace,
Diva

Anonymous said...

Brandie, I am just glad that you were not involved in anyway with that accident and yet I feel sorry for those who did not make it home. It is accidents and events like these that always make one realise how fragile life is. There is never a better time than now to let loved ones around us know, through our words and actions, that we love them - keeping in mind that we or them will not be here always. Thank you for sharing this. Wishing you goodness in all areas of your life.

Anonymous said...

Chills. You just never know, and that's very creepy.

Manager Mom said...

Word. I have been trying especially hard lately to remember all of the good things in my life, and appreciate them in the now...

Pollye said...

a reminder to live each day to the fullest.