As I skid to a stop or around the corner because of our recent snowstorm, I am reminded of what started out as a peaceful ride to work several years ago.
I was commuting from Chilton to Plymouth, Wisconsin to teach at St. John's Lutheran School there. We had a staff meeting that day so I was headed in a little earlier than usual. When I came to the stop in Kiel, about half way, in my "93 blue gray Taurus, I remember being thankful that it had been a fairly calm winter. Little did I know...
Ten or fifteen minutes later, I was turning the last little curve on my way to school. A car or two passed facing me. Within a few seconds, my car slipped over the yellow line. As I did what I could to maneuver it back to my side of the road, I saw a post and hoped I wouldn't hit it.
The next thing I knew I was upside down in my car off the road to the side. I later found out that I hit that pole but it wasn't a very sturdy one. Cell phones were more scarce then but I had one because of this very thing. However, our daughter Katie was home from college and I had left it with her that day. (I know. It figures:). I realized the radio was still on so I quickly thought that the horn must work too so I pressed it.
A very nice lady, also a teacher at a nearby public school, came to my aid. She called my school to tell them what happened and the ambulance/police.
The seat belt felt tight on my stomach so I asked if I should release it. Definitely not!
Help came before long. I was able to push back my seat, release my belt and crawl out somehow. The passenger side of the car was caved in and the Taurus was totalled.
Guess what I thought of? Where were those loose dollars that had been on the top of my purse? Where was my other mitten?
The paramedics took my vitals - my blood pressure was high - and asked me where I wanted to be taken. Since I was just a couple of blocks from school, I suggested going there. I calmly called my husband who didn't think it was exactly a calm situation
My principal was a character - great sense of humor. When he saw me walk by with my book bag, now filled with a few remnants of glass from my windshield, he said he thought he was seeing an angel.
I taught that day. I teased my principal, saying he walked by once in awhile just to see if I was still standing. I mainly worked mornings so it wasn't a long day.
Tom picked me up later and we went to the junk yard to clear out my things - and to take a picture of me in front of the car. I doubt anyone would have survived in the passenger seat.
Since that time, I have been driving my '99 tan Escort which I hope to trade in for a blue gray Focus - probably when it dies.
No comments:
Post a Comment