Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Windshield Nightmare

It started off a good day. I had gone to bed early. Got up to the sound of Wife taking a shower, around 5:15am. Went downstairs, made coffee, started planning my day. Kissed Wife good-bye at 5:45am.

Then the phone rings 10 minutes later. Sobbing. "I've been in an accident." My mind flashes white. Adrenaline pumping. Mind racing.

Are you OK?

Yes. I think so.

What happened?

Something flew into my windshield. I'm stopped on the side of the road. I don't know what to do.

Neither did I. Two kids, sound asleep upstairs. A wife on the side of the road at 6am.

She'd called 911. They told her to move from the left shoulder to the right. Fortunately, there was little traffic, or a little traffic as you get near downtown Chicago. This happened in the Southbound lanes of the Kennedy expressway between North and Division.

I'll cut to the chase. Another car had changed lanes in front of her. Not dangerously or anything. A moment later, something flew up and lodged into the dead center of her windshield. A metal grate about 5 feet long by 1 foot wide.

A state trooper helped guide her to the next exit and wrote up an accident report. I ordered a cab for her. She was home by 6:30 or 7. When Toodles woke up, I took her to see the car for myself and take some pictures.

That's when I got scared.








I was sick. All I could think about is what if . . . what if . . . one more inch; 5 MPH faster . . .

I called a glass place we used when I worked for my family business. Majestic Auto Glass went to the scene, changed out the windshield, and did an admirable job vacuuming the glass. It still needed to be detailed, but it was good. It was ready by 11am. The same day.

But a car wash and a new windshield do not erase memories.

I have, on occasion, thought about my Wife's and my mortality. The sadness. The utter sadness I would feel if she were gone. Frankly, I don't know what I would do.

We have safeguards in place, but I mean, what would I do without her?

At least I know that, for now, I can go upstairs and watch her sleep. I could go into JD and Toodle's room and watch them sleep. The night is wonderfully peaceful.

41 comments:

  1. Yest goin thrue blogs and I spot your article, very glad your wife is ok.
    Unfortunatley you see all those trucks with loose material on the hiways and do not undestain the driver and owners way of thinking .
    ? Is that les danger than a loader gun ? .
    ? How often do they kill some one with loose items like that one ?, Ranulfo Ramirez with
    Immigrated Heart.com

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  2. shocking. I am glad that if the same were to happen to me and the worst I know I wouldspend eternity in heaven. It gives me peace of mind knowing my sins are forgiven.
    Praying for your family.

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  3. That could have been a decapitation!
    Count your many blessing!

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  4. Glad everything turned out okay. Hopefully, soon, you won't think of it so often.

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  5. Just stumbled across your blog. Of course, there are no accidents. Thanks for reminding us of what is truly important.

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  6. God Bless! I had something similar happen last June, but it went through the passenger portion of the window. I'm glad your wife is okay!

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  7. Some times these skrimishes with death, bring to the fore the unassailable truth of our motality. I too went through a similar experience, when my wife barely escaped the terrorist attack on 26-Nov-'08. (http://mhaisalmusings.blogspot.com/2008/11/terror-attack-26-11-2008-it-does-not.html)

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  8. My God! I am glad your wife is safe! Whatever happened???

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  9. This experience is astonishing! It is the luck of your family that the danger is over.

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  10. Your wife definatley had a angel on her side.

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  11. Your family is very blessed. Glad that she is ok. Anything can happen at anytime. Did the gate come off a car or something?

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  12. I am glad to see that everyone is okay after that thing hit the windshield. That really must of been scarey!

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  13. OMG is all I can say. I am sorry sorry for that terrible accident to happen, so glad your wife is okay!

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  14. That is really scary. I am glad everyone was ok.

    http://silentdemosthenes.blogspot.com/

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  15. Wow, i'm glad your wife is ok. She was really lucky that she wasn't hurt .

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  16. I had been looking through blogs at random when I ran into yours and read this post. Thank God that your wife is safe and sound! God certainly sent her guardian angel to be with her the morning of the accident! I once had been in an car accident with my dad that could've killed us, but by the blessing of the Lord we came out with only scratches. Your post is another example on how life could in so soon and so suddenly and how life is so precious. Glad to hear your wife is safe!

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  17. they say nothing opens your eyes more and brings you closer togther than a near death experience.
    Glad that she was umhurt.

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  18. Your blog caught my eye and I began to read. At first I thought you might have an over-sensitive wife when she said "something flew into my windshield" and she's called 911...as I imagined it to be a rock - as so often happens - BUT then I saw the pictures and OH MY... that is definitely NOT a rock or something to be over-sensitive about - I would have been a wreck on the side of the road!!

    SO glad your wife is OK and that you were able to handle the repairs so quickly. I hope that since the accident, those vivid memories will have faded.

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  19. Wow! That is what I constitute as a miracle. It is scary to view our lives hanging in a balance like that isn't it? Glad to hear your wife made it through that physically unhurt. Hoping that her (and your's) mind is calmed after this incident too.

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  20. God bless!!! Thanks God your family is safe...

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  21. wow!Prett6y scary stuff!Just goes to show you never know what the day will bring and to always lave loved ones with words of love and kindness.
    So happy your wife is OK-

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  22. I stumbled accross your blog and just had to comment.. how horridly scary for you and your wife. I am so glad she is ok, blessings to you all

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  23. Oh my gosh, i dont know you and yet i feel your pain. i am so glad that your wife is ok. you are very lucky, so are your children. ps nice blog.

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  24. Wow.. really close shave. The car pictures really do look scary.. I am glad that your wife is OK..

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  25. As an unemployed truck driver, I can say for sure that the object is a step from the side of a tractor. You know the kind I'm thinking of;the ones used to get into & out of the truck. Those MUST always be checked by the driver prior to the start of each day &/or trip. If loose or damaged they must be repaired prior to leaving. This could've cost a life! I'm just thankful you wife is OK & hope that perhaps it will morph into an interesting story to recount when you are both bouncing grandchildren on your knee! Best for the New Year!

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  26. linkwheel-I really visualise your pain and glad that everything is fine....

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  27. Oh, my! I am so glad your wife is okay.

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  28. An angel caught that grate before it had a time to come all the way thru the window.

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  31. Thank god your wife was safe.I dont know why these truck drivers go like that,if anything happens who will take responsibility for that.

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  32. Your blog is absolutely interesting. I don't know you ofcourse, but Im awfully happy no one was hurt in collision with your BMW. Your children are also adorable. Good luck with this new year :)

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  33. I showed your pictures and story to my fiance. We have been plagued with car accidents in 2009. In February a car hit the vehicle he was travelling in. In April right after his knee surgery because of the accident my daughter was riding in a car that was hit and she suffered a broken clavicle. Finally in December my fiance was stopped in traffic when a teenager rear ended him and was then re-rear ended by another teenager following the first.

    We take safety in cars very seriously.

    I am so glad your wife wasn't injured. Cars can be replaced but people can't!

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  34. I'm so glad to hear your wife was alright, especially after seeing those photos! Wow, that is scary! Indeed, a see trucks all the time around here (smaller pick-ups not the commercial trucks) that carry loose stuff in the back. Very bad and they don't think of the danger they cause. You also have beautiful children! You sound like a wonderful dad and husband!

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  35. Hey! I just stumbled upon your blog, I'll be back to read often. This story is amazing! Your wife is very lucky... I am a Firefighter and I've seen some nasty things go wrong like this... I used to run my blog anonymously but I since decided it wasn't worth it so I blog freely. Check it out.
    www.thespinoflife.blogspot.com

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  36. Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes. It was terribly scary for all of us. We are blessed that this accident didn't result in serious injury. (Though I do consider mental injuries still injuries.) She's been dealing with the PTSD in a positive way and no longer fears getting behind the wheel every day.

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  37. Stumbled across your blog as well. I am so thankful that your wife is Ok :) God bless you and your family.

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  38. So glad to read that your wife is doing well. PTSD is a tough thing to deal with. I am a stay-at-home parent of 2 young men (ages 20 and 17 now). The youngest has high-functioning autism and OCD, so things can get rather difficult on a daily basis. Walking, focusing on your breath and noticing details in your surroundings can help the brain relax from stressful situations. I really like your blog, just started one myself and have pretty much no idea what I'm doing. You're a good role model for blogging and for living. Please keep sharing.

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  39. Nice car.. Terrible windshield. :-) It's interesting how sometimes we need a little tragedy to remind us of the all the good things that are around us. Glad everyone is ok.

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