7/14/2005

A screeching halt

So this morning I wrote about my over-flowing to do list, I was determined to make a huge dent in this list before I collapse out of exhaustion at 10 pm.
That determination came to a screeching halt around 3:00 pm. Actually it sounded like this: THUD, screeeeeeeeeeeech, is everyone ok?
No I wasn’t the one in the accident, it happened right in front of my house. 2 cars going 60+ miles an hour, one was supposed to stop, but didn’t. The driver of the car who missed the stop sign was alive, but taken away on a stretcher, the other walked to my house to borrow my phone.
All of a sudden the to do list doesn’t matter. I need to see if there’s anyway I can help. Thoughts are scattered. Anxiety is running high. I’m so shaken that I don’t really care that my kids aren’t napping, and my to do list isn’t getting done.
I took Alex down to the corner (where the accident occurred) so we could watch the ambulances, squad car, and fire engine. (Always looking for a teaching experience) I held him while we talked about what happened. We talked about what all the emergency vehicles were doing, what all the people were doing, and why all this happened (people weren’t driving safe). He has been in love with emergency vehicles for a long time now, so it was good for him to be able to see what these vehicles do, and to learn the value of safety.
So for us the accident was good; a learning experience for the boy, a grounding experience for Mom. I also got to meet my neighbor, the one who lives on the corner. He’s an 80 year old black man. Life hasn’t dealt him a very good hand, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He’s thoughtful and kind. He kinda reminds me of Bill Cosby…
Oh well. Enough rambling. Back to business. I don’t think my kids are taking a nap today…

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Puts things back in perspective, doesn't it?
I think your neighbor could use a jar of homemade jelly. Maybe you should adopt him.

Anonymous said...

I agree with dad. Brighten his day. You'll brighten yours, as well. (like yours need brightening lol) It's amazing how doing something nice for someone you barely know makes everything right in the world for you (for a little while anyway.)

Anonymous said...

do you remember the accident in front of our house in new albany? i wonder if dad does...

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