It Was That Close...

What thoughts flash across your mind as you approach the abyss, the abyss being where one ends up after careening out of control on Deerfoot Trail at 110+ km/hr? I’ve heard people see their loved ones or recall their grand achievements in those last moments; I’ve heard that others pray.

So, driving along, minding my own business and thank goodness, paying attention, the van in front of me, which I cannot see past, suddenly swerves to the right. Directly in front of me is a completely stopped small, dark car (details escape me at the best of times – I can’t even remember exactly where on Deerfoot I was – somewhere between Country Hills and 32 Avenue, I’m thinking.) I swerve to the left, as left handed people do, and think ever so briefly, whew, that was really close, I barely missed him.

I am, of course, headed for the median and in trying to correct, I swerve back into the centre lane – still going – into the right hand lane. Correct again, back over to the median, correct again, back to the right. And again. Not sure how many times this happened – three, maybe four – all in a matter of a few seconds, then back to the centre lane and thank goodness, in control again, clear sailing –  I’m on my way, albeit with my heart in my throat.

In that few seconds of flying around on the freeway, what flashed across my mind? It was not my wonderful husband, nor my fabulous kids, not my beloved grandchildren either. I thought, maybe this is it, maybe I’m going to die – I said words over and over in my head but regrettably they probably formed a swear rather than a prayer. I thought of my dogs and how they would miss me – how bizarre is that – my dogs and not my family?

Then a long-ago warning flickered and I calmly thought, okay, I’m dressed for the occasion – I have on clean underwear. Then to the future – good thing we’re having the winter tires put on the car on Monday, they’ll need to be balanced after all this jerking around. Somehow I thought the car would survive while I would not?

Then I was in control again. No abyss this time. I drove slower, unsteady, not at the wheel but in my mind. There was another tie-up on Deerfoot closer to my destination which gave me time to think, to compose myself. Many thoughts crossed my mind, thoughts of my family and how much they mean to me, and I to them. I thought about getting my stuff in order, cleaning drawers and closets, updating my will, wondering who would want my stash of quilting material, my books.

And I thought a great deal about the recent distracted driving (cell phone) law and was truly thankful for it. I have often talked on my cell phone on straight stretches of road with traffic running smoothly. I know with 100% certainty that, had I been talking on the phone, or even drinking a coffee for that matter, I would not have had time to think about anything…ever again. I would have hit the stalled car. It was that close.