Thanksgiving 2010

This time last year I was still living with the family that I was a nanny for. We were in the process of moving and wanted to have Thanksgiving at the new place but had to get everything ready at the old house first because none of what we needed was moved yet.

So my boyfriend stayed the night with me and we got up early the next day to help cook/pack.

Later in the day we found out we needed some things for dinner that we didn't have, I can't recall now what they were, so bf and I volunteered to go into town. Since we lived in the middle of nowhere, the closest store (Wal-Mart) was 20ish minutes away. I had to drive because Will didn't know where things were out there. We get in the car and set off, fully prepared to battle the last minute shoppers. What we weren't prepared for, however, was what happened next. 

We made it to Wal-Mart no problem, grabbed what we needed and decide to look at a few non needed, unimportant things before leaving. A few minutes later we make our way to the front and check out. As we get to the doors we realize it's POURING and are going to have to make a dash for the car. So we RUN, hoping to make it inside without looking like drowned cats. (Good thing I wasn't dressed for dinner yet!)

Safely inside, only slightly drenched, with the wipers on full blast and the heat cranked, we begin our trek back to the house. I'm driving at least 10 under the speed limit because it's now raining sideways and impossible to see 15 feet in front of you.  About 5-10 miles from the house is the curviest part of the road, the speed limit is 50 mph. No WAY am I gonna drive that fast in THIS weather! As we get to the bend in the road I slow even more, I'm going about 30 now. There's a car coming towards us in the other lane and by the time we've gotten to the straight part of the road I realize that the car is REALLY coming towards us!

"Their gonna hit us!" I remember telling Will as I slightly turned my wheel to the right. Being that we were on a two lane road, there isn't really anywhere to go to get outta the way. We prepared for impact. 

She hit us on my side of the car and put us in the ditch. I can't remember if I hit the breaks or if it was the huge dirt mound that stopped us but either way we were no longer on the road. I opened my eyes and saw smoke. I freaked out.

"The car's on fire! Get out! Get outta the car" I screamed.

I flung the door open, tumbled out and looked around for Will. I couldn't see him. So I ran around to his side of the car. He was getting out as I got there. 

"The car isn't on fire, it's okay." He said as he wrapped me in a hug. 

I calmed down and asked him if he was okay. He was. (I've never been in an accident before and didn't know that the airbags make "smoke" when they pop.)

My instincts took over then and I looked for the other car, it was still in the middle of the road and I couldn't see movement. I went back to my side of the car to get my flip flop, which had fell off in my panic to get out, and grab my phone. I ran towards the road to check on the occupant of the other vehicle. As I approached, I saw the window start to roll down. 

Good, their conscious. I get to the open window and this little old lady, about 75-80, tries to hand me her insurance card and starts apologizing. I ask her if she's hurt at all and she says no. I ask her if there's someone I can call for her and leave a message on her daughters machine. Then I tell her we need to get her car out of the road before someone comes around the bend and hits her. I look down and notice that her whole left front side is smashed and she can't move the wheel. 

I have Will go block traffic in the front and I head towards the back. That's when I see a truck has stopped and a woman got out. She has her husband block traffic and tells me that 911 has been called. Then she tells me she's a nurse, asks if I was involved in the accident and if I was alright. I tell her I was and that I'm fine. She goes to check on the other lady. 

I call B, my roommate, and tell her what has happened. She says she'll be there asap. 

About the time I hear the sirens, I realize that I'm cold and completely soaked from head to toe. The rest of the stuff at the scene was a blur, being asked what happened, cleaning out the car and going home. 

The fact that I was just in a collision didn't sink in until I was in a warm shower. I called my mom and told her about it. We got dinner and everything loaded in B's truck and headed to the new house. We had a nice laid back meal, where I actually had wine I liked! (and can't for the life of me remember what it's called!) 

Thanksgiving has a whole new meaning to me now. 

I was THANKFUL to be ALIVE and that no one was injured!

*The lady told the police she swerved into our lane because she was trying to wipe the fog off her windshield.