Lucky Us

 

October 2000

     Ten years ago this month my friend Angie and I were traveling from Nashville to Memphis on a business trip when we were run off the interstate by a semi. Angie's car rolled several times before landing right side up in the median.  The guy driving the truck didn't stop.  Several other people stopped though and one gentleman in particular stood by the side of the car and helped me remain calm until the paramedics arrived.  Angie had gotten out of the car and I can remember looking over and seeing her sitting on the grass and listening as she called 911.  In a story that has become funnier with time, she told the 911 operator that we had been in an accident and that they needed to send someone because her friend who was with her (me) was 14 MONTHS pregnant.  I leaned over as far as I could and said to her "Hey - I'm not an elephant . I'm only 14 weeks pregnant."  Good times. The two of us got to ride together in an ambulance to a "hospital" in Lexington, TN where the staff seemed more concerned with ordering pizza than assessing our situation.  Amazingly - miraculously even - we weren't injured much.  We were bruised and sore with a few minor cuts and scrapes (and I lost a patch of hair off the top of my head where it hit the ceiling of the car) but compared to what could have happened we were fine (even Owen, who was only 14 weeks at the time*).  I can remember calling Joel to tell him about the accident and hearing the panic in his voice and I can remember seeing the relief on his face when he finally got to the hospital to take us home.

 



April 2010

Fast forward to April 2010. My parents were driving from Knoxville to Nashville on Good Friday when they were run over by a semi truck. Their car ended up in the truck's wheel well. Both of them survived the crash with only minimal injuries.  Their car was a total loss but my parents were fine-ish.  Things could have been much much worse.  Looking at the photos of the car it is a miracle that neither one of them was killed. According to the State Trooper who investigated the accident, the truck driver was 100% at fault.  Yeah, I hate big trucks. Hate them. 







October 2010

     This bring us to last Monday. The kids and I were in Orange Beach, AL when Joel called to tell me that he'd been in an accident and he was pretty sure the car was totaled.  I kept asking him if he was alright and he kept telling me he was but I didn't believe him.  He finally asked if I wanted to talk to the State Trooper who was with him and I said no.  He is mostly alright but after seeing the photos of the car I find it amazing that he walked away with no significant injuries.  It was not a minor accident.  So, it's been an emotional week here at Casa de Vallejo, one filled with Sliding Doors moments and bad dreams and gratitude.  It's been exhausting but I am well aware that things could have turned out so much worse.  Once again, all we have lost is a car. Lucky us. Lucky lucky lucky us.



*Owen's nickname for the duration of my pregnancy was Crash and I think it's more than just a little bit ironic that he is one of the most cautious children I have ever known.