Normally I like to delve into some wrestling topics on my
blog, but today I feel compelled to go a different direction, so bear with me
here.
This past weekend I went back to Oklahoma to visit my
girlfriend Claire and spend some quality time with her on her birthday weekend.
I had planned out a nice day on Saturday for us, but something unexpected
happened that really shook things up.
After eating lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant,
Chelino’s, we thought we would go back to her apartment and catch the Oklahoma
vs. Texas Tech football game then go eat a nice meal. Like I said, we thought.
After finishing up lunch we started the drive home. I pulled
up to the main street the restaurant is on, looked both ways to turn left and
went for it. Milliseconds later all I know is I am being thrust around in a
million different directions. All I can hear is a loud crash and Claire
screaming. Then it was over.
While I was turning left at a stop sign another car came
roaring down the road, out of my view, at what I am guessing was about 50 mph.
This car hit directly into my side with a force. It was as straight a shot as
they come.
It was such a blur. All I can remember is coming to my
senses, making sure Claire wasn’t hurt and checking myself to see what had
happened. By some miracle we were both uninjured.
The paramedics, fire department and police were on the scene
within a few minutes and we were able to catch our breath and cherish the fact
that we were all right, no matter what happened to the car.
The woman that hit us ended up going to the hospital with
what we were told was a broken wrist, perhaps broken ribs and also a head injury
from hitting her windshield. It appeared she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
Claire’s roommate was able to pick us up and we went about
our day. Yes we did get to see the football game, but having gone through that
did shake us both up a bit.
At first all I could think about was what could have gone
wrong. What if my airbag deployed a second later? What if I had just waited one
more second to turn? What if the worst happened and someone was seriously
injured or killed? And on and on.
It has been a couple days now since the accident and I am
still sore from the impact and have some jitters when driving my jeep. But I
think the most important thing I can take away from this is perspective.
Now this isn’t my first brush with something like this. I
had a serious leg injury in high school that could have been deadly had my bone
shifted a millimeter in another direction. That is another story for another
time, but it still weighs on my mind to this day. Now being in a different, but
similar scenario, with my life being spared by what could have been inches
again, it just makes we wonder. Why me?
Who is looking out for me that I am constantly being saved
by what I can only consider a miracle? You may think I am over exaggerating but
when you go through this type of thing so many thoughts wander in your head
that the only conclusion you can come to is it is a miracle I am alive.
All I can say is I am so thankful to be alive. More
importantly Claire is too.
I will be the first to admit I let small things stress me
out or bring me down. Some days I absolutely hate getting out of bed. I dread
going into work. It always seems I take those frustrations out on others, even
if that is not my intent.
Life truly is a blessing and this experience is just another
reminder of that to me. I implore you not to let the small things get in your
way of happiness. Enjoy what you have, when you have it. You never know when it
will be gone. All it takes is one instance and your life can change forever.
Just something to think about.
-Rich
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