I'm going to stray away from updating my blog for tonight to blog about something that happened to me today. This afternoon I was driving to take Ayla to open gym time at her gymnastics center. Of course I was runnig late, shocker. Anyway I was braking to stop at a red light when a man in a pick up truck next to me ran full speed into the back of a stopped semi. It was terrible! The front of his truck was under the semi, most of the cab of the pick up were gone. The roof was gone, the passenger seat was gone, the dashboard was gone. The man had two dogs with him and one was barking hysterically over the man, trying to get him to wake up probably. The other dog immediately jumped out of the truck and ran away. The man was slumped over to the side with his face turned away from me, probably a blessing for me, it couldn't have been pretty. All I could see was his right arm, his shoulder, and part of his back. I immediately stopped and it took me a couple of seconds to think what should I do. It's weird because of course I knew I needed to call 911 but I was so shocked and my first thought was to get out and help him. Anyway, I dug my phone out of my purse and called 911. As I was explaining to them what happened and where we were a fire engine pulled up and fire fighters got out to help him. I couldn't believe it, I mean it hadn't even been a full minute. They must have been driving by. I said to the 911 operator "a fire engine is here," and she said " a fire engine is there are you sure." I said "yes but he still is going to need more help he will need one of those things..." I couldn't think of the word for ambulance. The operator said "one of what things?" I told her "the thing that takes people to the hospital." She knew what I was talking about. It's weird how when something traumatic like that happens your brain starts working really fast and trying to figure out what to do, yet you can't remember simple things. Anyway, I waited around awhile, I was pretty shook up and shaking and trying to not cry. Then I remembered the dog that had run away and figured the poor dog was probably terrified and it was a busy road we were on so I decided to drive around and look for the dog. After about 10 minutes or so common sense returned to me and I realized what the heck am I going to do if I do find the dog, it was probably scared and didn't know me. What was I going to try to lure it into my car with Ayla who is terrified of dogs and me who is allergic to dogs. So I called 911 back and explained who I was and told them about the dog. It's a good thing I did because no-one else had seen the dog. At least I don't think so. The 911 operator took a description of it and told me that she was sending animal control out to pick it up. After that I drove to Ayla's gymnastics center and sat in the parking lot and cried. Poor Ayla I think I really freaked her out. She was in the back and kept saying "Uh oh, mama, wassat?" Over and over. I was crying because of so many things. I was really shocked and it was a horrific thing to witness, it happened literally right next to me. Maybe 5 feet away. I cried because I felt horribly bad for the man and couldn't help but think about him and wonder does he have a family? A wife? Parents? I couldn't tell anything about him other than that he was a white male with a white t-shirt on. I have no idea how old or anything. I was also crying because I was so glad it wasn't me. What if I had been in that lane he would have run into me at top speed. There are so many what ifs... I was still left with the feeling that I had to do something. I talked to Lucas and my friend Megan and both of them convinced me I had done all I could, except pray.
As I've been going throughout the rest of my day I keep thinking was there a reason that I needed to see this. Did the Lord need to teach me a lesson. After pondering this for most of the day I think the Lord wants me to be thankful for what I have. Not that I'm not normally. I love my wonderful husband and my gorgeous little girl. I realize how lucky we are to be American, have jobs, have the gospel, all the blessings we have. But lately I have been coveting things, a bigger house, more money, for me to be able to stay home with Ayla and not work. Maybe this was a lesson to me to be thankful for what I have. Maybe that's what I need to learn. Anyway, I am so thankful for my many blessings. Sure there are things I want, but when I think about it there is really nothing I am desperately in need of. The majority of the world cannot say that. When it comes to my way of life I am probably in the top 5% of the world. I'm not bragging I'm just stating what I think is true. Probably most of the people I know are right up there with me. Think about what people in other parts of the world deal with everyday. Anyway, I'm straying from my point, I am so thankful for all I have, the gospel, my job, Lucas's job, our home, my family, Lucas's family, and of course Lucas and Ayla.
I tried to find out what happened to the man in the pick up truck but so far have not found anything. I will continue to pray for him and his family. I will also continue to be thankful for my life, right here, right now. You never know when it could all change literally in the blink of an eye.
7 comments:
thats a crazy story! i can't imagine seeing something so horrific!
It was horrific. I still can't find out anything about him. I want to know if he made it.
Yikes...not good...but...these things can surely help us stay focus on the important things in our life...our family and the Gospel.
On Thursday, there was a tragic accident in Washington Fields where a father accidently shot his 8 yr old son with an arrow in the back of his head coming out the front. His son died the next day. In times like these you darn well better have some faith and have a loving family that cares about you.
Keep the important things first and foremost in our lives at all times...so when our own personal Gethsemane comes, and come it will, we will be prepared. You did great Amber....I'm proud of you :)
amber, it's chris mccabe. one thing you might try is to contact the police department. at any accident like that, the police are supposed to be dispatched. since you are a primary witness, you might be able to find out from them what happened. when our neighbor's basement blew up and he came stumbling out with some horrifically burned legs, we called 911 and got him calmed down and helped with the cold compresses until the ambulance and fire crew showed up (NOT within a minute, which is sad because we live A BLOCK from the fire dept. I could have run there and gotten their attention faster than 911 responded.). Anyway, because we didn't know his status or anything, we called the police department (again, literally within a block of hour house) to see if we could find out anything. they were able to tell us how the explosion occurred and gave us contact numbers to the burn unit at the U of U hospital, where he was life-flighted.
anyway, you might try that, if you can't find out through normal news channels.
as for why you witnessed that, who knows. maybe Heavenly Father was ready to bring him home; maybe you needed to learn a lesson; maybe ... it just happened. who knows. all i know is that nothing in life happens circumstantially. it happened for a reason. i could tell you of the horror story lori and i are mired in at the moment, but the time constrains alone compel me to hold off. i do know that Heavenly Father is watching over us and our family, and that's all i need to know. yah, the situation is psychotically twisted and unfair, but if life were always fair, we wouldn't have to bother coming down to earth in the first place, would we? :)
anyway, chin up. life is wonderful. short, but wonderful. some people don't get to live as long as others, while others suffer through life with debilitating diseases that drive them to their knees and pray for an end. others are rich and lack for nothing, while others can't even afford to provide the basics for themselves, much less a family. but life is what we make of it! if you choose to take away a lesson from this horrible tragic accident, you've chosen wisely and will be better for it. that's dang impressive.
sorry for the melville-esque diatribe. :)
Wow, Amber. I'm am truly impressed with how you handled it all. And you even thought to look for the dog. You might be contacted to testify if the gentleman survived. (The lady [luckily a nurse] who was first on the scene for Andy's accident came to court on Andy's behalf.) I can't help but thing the man had a heart attack or a seizure or something; I mean, no one just runs into a stopped vehicle for no good reason. But, with all that said and the other comments here, I'm just sorry you had to witness it at all, but appreciate your insight, nonetheless.
Wow, what an experience. I'm glad you took the time to write down your feelings. It's so important for you to remember this experience. The Lord definitely wants you to learn something from it. Maybe it's not even for now in your life but for the future. You're good to have contemplated the lesson.
I can relate to how you couldnt remember the name of an ambulance. That happened to me when dad died. Mom and sherri were distraught so I knew I had to call everyone (including you) but get them to the hospital before telling them. I remember I had to ask the people that were there with us what the name of the hospital was (Kenmore Mercy) like a million times.
i would probably call the local police to find out about the guy.they might need more info from you too. crazy but so glad you and ayla are fine!
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