Like You’ll Never See Me Again February 19, 2008

It’s a brand new year – 2008 to be exact — but already I feel like I’ve been through a lifetime during the first three weeks of ‘08.

Beginning with New Year’s Eve, my significant other and I spent a quiet evening in a hotel suite, reflecting and just enjoying each other’s company. Both of us laughed about the new year’s superstitions our mother’s taught us (hey, we’re southern), like eating greens will bring you good luck, washing will wash someone out your family, etc. Then we prayed together (the PG version) and then got it on (the X-rated flick)!! I think that can pretty much sum up the night.

I was thinking 2008 was beginning off right. Until the night of January 5…

That was the night I was involved in a hit-and-run accident.

I was driving home from a farewell dinner for my sister’s mother-in-law, around 9:30 down a dark highway toward town. As I get about two miles from any gas station or stop light, I see bright lights of a black or dark-colored truck coming closer. He (or she) was driving so fast that I’m worried he’s going to slam into the back of my car. He doesn’t but decides to go around me.

In my mind I’m thinking, Yes, he can go around me cause I definitely don’t want him driving behind me. So relieved, I watch the front cab of his truck go around.

But I don’t see his back. And the rear of his truck, moving at what had to be 60 mph, pushes my car clear off the road. I see myself veering into a pitch-black wooded area. An then I see my car rolling over once, then twice, then three times, with me landing upside down.

I’m still in my seat belt, right side up, trying to figure out how I ended up like this in a matter of seconds. I unbuckle my seat belt, crawl toward the passenger side door, and can’t push it open to save my life. (Funny how we use expressions like that not knowing how true they can become.)

I start to panic, my next thought about trying to get help. I try to locate my cell phone, and after a minute, I grab for it once I see the light of my Bluetooth. I call 911, then my sister. What seems like two seconds later, a sheriff comes up to my car and asks me if I’m okay. I say yes, but I can’t get out.

Minutes later my car is surrounded by a fire truck and ambulance. It takes about five of them to open my car door. Then I’m slid out of the car and given a ride to the nearest hospital.

It all transpired to be a typical night spent on a hospital gurney in crowded hallway, waiting for doctors and ex-rays and paperwork.

Then the sheriff who first saw my turned-over car shows up. He tells me, as a lot of people did that night, that I am lucky to be here. When I rolled over, a pile of brush, and not the nearby pine trees, helped soften my fall.

Alicia Keys’ Like I’ll Never See You Again takes on a whole new meaning every time I hear it.

I could hardly bring myself to write about this, considering some things about the night remain in my mind. Mostly the flipping over again and again…

But I remain blessed beyond measure, cause only it was only the Lord that spared me, and He’s been helping me through the rest.