So its been about three weeks since I've written here. I planned on logging in so often to tell you about the dreams I'd had. The one with Ben Winter and our secret handshake. The one with the oversized gremlin that called me Mummy. The one with Milchael Yeldz's mum and her newborn baby that was about 4 feet tall and had an alien head - WHICH they decided to keep in an oven because it was cold.... It was just too hard to log in and type - I've been exhausted and ever so slightly lazy of late.
Last night changed that though. Last night was possibly the scariest, weirdest, most interesting thing that has happened to me thus far. I had a major car accident last night. I walked away from a crash that could have killed me without a scratch. Just some tender muscles. Allow me to explain....
I was caught up at work. My normal work day finishes at 4 pm - I was stuck there until 7:30 pm. During my final two hours there my mother was texting me to tell me the Royal Wedding was on and I needed to hurry up and get home or I'd miss it. We were having a laugh as she gave me guilt trips about Jazz being home alone in the rain wondering where his mother is and so on. I finished up what I needed to and went to leave.
As I was leaving I stopped at Nick's desk and we had a 30 second conversation about if I just stay another half an hour I can see Kate Middleton walk down the aisle (on the plasma's at work) and THEN go home. I laughed and said "No, I just want to go home." and I walked to the doors. On my way I stopped at the bathroom (I was busting) and then went down to the carpark to get into my car.
On my way through the carpark, I bumped into Adrian who was on his way home in his car. He stopped for less than 30 seconds to remind me about the bobblehead monkey he wants me to get him and he was off. I got into my car, plugged my phone into the iPod connection, set my bag down and started to drive.
Driving home the rain was coming down hard and I found myself driving slower than usual. My tyres aren't great in the rain so I take extra caution and generally drive 10kms UNDER the speed limit.
I stopped at a red light on the corner of Kensington and Railway Pde and decided to change the music on my phone. When I finally looked up the light was green - God knows how long for. So I took off and kept on my way. Instead of going straight down Railway Pde right down to the King George's RD intersection, I turned right off Railway Pde to go under the train bridge - the backway through Carlton. This is the way I always go home...
On my way I stopped at another red light on the corner of Croydon and Queens Rd. When it finally went green I travelled up Queens Rd through Hurstville - still under the speed limit.
As I came up the straight road I noticed (from afar) a dark, flashy car come to the end of his street and stop (adjacent to the road I was already travelling on). I noticed he'd stopped and so I kept going (especially because I have right of way anyway since I was on a STRAIGHT ROAD and he was waiting to cross it to the opposite side). As I came closer I noticed he'd nudged out more. I remember thinking "He'll stop, he has to have seen me. How could he not?" Again I was drawing closer and again he was pulling out more. Again I thought "He's going to stop....". Nevertheless I slowed down ever so slightly. But it was too late...
By the time I realised he wasn't 'nudging out' but 'pulling out' there was no time to react. All I could do was brace myself. I remember screaming "OH MY GOD!" and grabbing the steering wheel while I threw my body back against my seat. All I heard was a massive BANG and suddenly I couldn't see. Suddenly there was an airbag in my face and smoke everywhere. My only thought was "You're wearing your glasses - the glass could be shattered in your eyes." so I threw them off and grabbed the steering wheel.
I had no sense of space or time and didn't realize I was still moving. I finally managed to push the airbag down in front of me and that's when I saw I was on the other side of the road slowly travelling towards the curb. Other cars just moved around me as they drove by... When I finally stopped against the curb I realised I wasn't breathing and my entire body was shaking. Being so focused on that I forgot that the brakes would probably help - I was starting to roll backwards. Trying to figure out where my feet were I searched for the brakes while I was choking on smoke, struggling to breathe and searching for my phone.
Now because I don't know anything about cars I was concerned that the smoke was coming from the engine and started to panic that it was going to explode. I'm now frantically searching for my phone with one thought in mind "Call Ken." I find the phone by pulling on the iPod connection but the phone is stuck somewhere on the floor under my handbag. Being that my hands and body are hysterically shaking it took what felt like forever to finally pull it free.
With it finally in my hands I tried to open the door. It wouldn't budge. I shouldered it open as much as I could and had to use my foot to push it the rest of the way. When I got out I was choking on that horrible smoke and I still couldn't breathe. That airbag had winded me..
I'm standing there hyperventilating and shaking and all of a sudden there is a man in front of me. He's grabbing my arms and screaming "Are you ok???". I was so confused I'm just looking at him trying to form words. He keeps yelling "Are you ok? Are you hurt? Can you breathe? I'm so sorry. So, so sorry. ARE YOU OK???" I finally manage to stutter "I think so...." because I really wasn't sure. Then he's trying to calm me down and I said "I'm ok, just winded. I'll be fine." He told me he only lived four doors down and was leaving the house to get a pizza. "I'm just going to get my phone, ok? I promise I'm coming back." I just nodded at him. He said "I PROMISE I will be back. I'm going to call you a tow truck - don't worry I'll pay for EVERYTHING." All of a sudden I was laughing. "I can't believe we just crashed." Then I was panicking "OMG! Where is your car? I'm sorry I hit it." He looked at me, incredulously, and said "Are you fucking kidding?? Who cares about MY car. It was MY fault. I'm just glad you're ok. When you didn't get out of the car at first I thought 'Oh God, I've killed her...'" He then introduced himself as Terry.
By this stage I was starting to calm down. I just wanted a cigarette and to call Ken. While Terry was off getting his phone I rumaged through my beaten up car for my handbag. I lit a cigarette and called Ken - my voice was still trembling and my hands were still shaking. He freaked out and was on his way to come and get me. Because Terry was still gone when we hung up I called Leila. I needed SOMEONE to talk to me... She didn't answer but by this stage Terry was back and on the phone to the tow truck guy.
We killed time in idle prattle about his job as an auto electrician and how I tempted fate. Suddenly Leila called back and Ken had arrived and the rest is a bit of a blur.
We finally did all of the mundane stuff - swapping details, towing the car etc. Then Ken brought me home and I was still in good spirits. Then my mother called to see if I had gotten home in time for the wedding. I explained about the car accident and endured 10 minutes of her abuse about how I was obviously rushing to get home to see the wedding. Here's a fun fact for everyone out there - if someone you love just walked away from a horrific accident, DO NOT yell at them and spike their temper. So mum and I argued violently about the logistics of the crash before she finally let me be. Three times I had to use the phrase "MUM! THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS CAVED IN!!!"
When we got home Ken ordered pizza, I called Leila to tell her the finer details and we watched The Big Bank Theory. As I started to really calm down my body started to ache - particularly my left hand. Then my brain started ticking...
When I collided with Terry and ricocheted into oncoming traffic I missed every other car - and there were at least three at the time. When I collided with Terry I was travelling AT LEAST 10kms under the speed limit. When I collided with Terry the airbag hit me in the face and on the chest - blinding and winding me. If one thing had been different this whole thing could have been a lot worse... Which brings me to the 'sliding doors' effect....
If I had left work on time.. If I hadn't stopped by Nick's desk to talk about the wedding or if I hadn't gone to the bathroom on the way out - I would've beaten Adrian through the carpark and left before we could spend 30 seconds chatting. If I hadn't lingered at that red light changing the song on my iPod or gone straight down Railway Pde (which I do on the odd occassion) - I wouldn't have been stopped at the red light at the bottom of Queens Rd when Terry was just getting into his car at home to go pick up his pizza. If I had driven the speed limit and not 10 kms below I would have been driving PAST Terry's street as he was approaching the intersection. If I had done ONE THING differently we would not have collided. Isn't that CRAZY?!?!?
Anyway... More than anything I'm just glad to be alive and unparalyzed. That crash could have been SOOOOO much worse. I have been thanking God since the minute I realised what happened. Now I'm just trying to work out His message.
Thank you to my darling friends and family who have been so supportive through this whole event - my mother included! Haha. She did call back to see if I was ok and finally accepted that I'm not a fuckwit driver who speeds in the rain! :p
I'm unharmed and alive - simply dealing with the emotional aftershocks. Be prepared for a lot of "I FUCKING LOVE YOU GUYS" over the next few days. Oh and for the "I need a lift" phone calls since I uh...don't have a car.. :p
LOVE! xx
Last night changed that though. Last night was possibly the scariest, weirdest, most interesting thing that has happened to me thus far. I had a major car accident last night. I walked away from a crash that could have killed me without a scratch. Just some tender muscles. Allow me to explain....
I was caught up at work. My normal work day finishes at 4 pm - I was stuck there until 7:30 pm. During my final two hours there my mother was texting me to tell me the Royal Wedding was on and I needed to hurry up and get home or I'd miss it. We were having a laugh as she gave me guilt trips about Jazz being home alone in the rain wondering where his mother is and so on. I finished up what I needed to and went to leave.
As I was leaving I stopped at Nick's desk and we had a 30 second conversation about if I just stay another half an hour I can see Kate Middleton walk down the aisle (on the plasma's at work) and THEN go home. I laughed and said "No, I just want to go home." and I walked to the doors. On my way I stopped at the bathroom (I was busting) and then went down to the carpark to get into my car.
On my way through the carpark, I bumped into Adrian who was on his way home in his car. He stopped for less than 30 seconds to remind me about the bobblehead monkey he wants me to get him and he was off. I got into my car, plugged my phone into the iPod connection, set my bag down and started to drive.
Driving home the rain was coming down hard and I found myself driving slower than usual. My tyres aren't great in the rain so I take extra caution and generally drive 10kms UNDER the speed limit.
I stopped at a red light on the corner of Kensington and Railway Pde and decided to change the music on my phone. When I finally looked up the light was green - God knows how long for. So I took off and kept on my way. Instead of going straight down Railway Pde right down to the King George's RD intersection, I turned right off Railway Pde to go under the train bridge - the backway through Carlton. This is the way I always go home...
On my way I stopped at another red light on the corner of Croydon and Queens Rd. When it finally went green I travelled up Queens Rd through Hurstville - still under the speed limit.
As I came up the straight road I noticed (from afar) a dark, flashy car come to the end of his street and stop (adjacent to the road I was already travelling on). I noticed he'd stopped and so I kept going (especially because I have right of way anyway since I was on a STRAIGHT ROAD and he was waiting to cross it to the opposite side). As I came closer I noticed he'd nudged out more. I remember thinking "He'll stop, he has to have seen me. How could he not?" Again I was drawing closer and again he was pulling out more. Again I thought "He's going to stop....". Nevertheless I slowed down ever so slightly. But it was too late...
By the time I realised he wasn't 'nudging out' but 'pulling out' there was no time to react. All I could do was brace myself. I remember screaming "OH MY GOD!" and grabbing the steering wheel while I threw my body back against my seat. All I heard was a massive BANG and suddenly I couldn't see. Suddenly there was an airbag in my face and smoke everywhere. My only thought was "You're wearing your glasses - the glass could be shattered in your eyes." so I threw them off and grabbed the steering wheel.
I had no sense of space or time and didn't realize I was still moving. I finally managed to push the airbag down in front of me and that's when I saw I was on the other side of the road slowly travelling towards the curb. Other cars just moved around me as they drove by... When I finally stopped against the curb I realised I wasn't breathing and my entire body was shaking. Being so focused on that I forgot that the brakes would probably help - I was starting to roll backwards. Trying to figure out where my feet were I searched for the brakes while I was choking on smoke, struggling to breathe and searching for my phone.
Now because I don't know anything about cars I was concerned that the smoke was coming from the engine and started to panic that it was going to explode. I'm now frantically searching for my phone with one thought in mind "Call Ken." I find the phone by pulling on the iPod connection but the phone is stuck somewhere on the floor under my handbag. Being that my hands and body are hysterically shaking it took what felt like forever to finally pull it free.
With it finally in my hands I tried to open the door. It wouldn't budge. I shouldered it open as much as I could and had to use my foot to push it the rest of the way. When I got out I was choking on that horrible smoke and I still couldn't breathe. That airbag had winded me..
I'm standing there hyperventilating and shaking and all of a sudden there is a man in front of me. He's grabbing my arms and screaming "Are you ok???". I was so confused I'm just looking at him trying to form words. He keeps yelling "Are you ok? Are you hurt? Can you breathe? I'm so sorry. So, so sorry. ARE YOU OK???" I finally manage to stutter "I think so...." because I really wasn't sure. Then he's trying to calm me down and I said "I'm ok, just winded. I'll be fine." He told me he only lived four doors down and was leaving the house to get a pizza. "I'm just going to get my phone, ok? I promise I'm coming back." I just nodded at him. He said "I PROMISE I will be back. I'm going to call you a tow truck - don't worry I'll pay for EVERYTHING." All of a sudden I was laughing. "I can't believe we just crashed." Then I was panicking "OMG! Where is your car? I'm sorry I hit it." He looked at me, incredulously, and said "Are you fucking kidding?? Who cares about MY car. It was MY fault. I'm just glad you're ok. When you didn't get out of the car at first I thought 'Oh God, I've killed her...'" He then introduced himself as Terry.
By this stage I was starting to calm down. I just wanted a cigarette and to call Ken. While Terry was off getting his phone I rumaged through my beaten up car for my handbag. I lit a cigarette and called Ken - my voice was still trembling and my hands were still shaking. He freaked out and was on his way to come and get me. Because Terry was still gone when we hung up I called Leila. I needed SOMEONE to talk to me... She didn't answer but by this stage Terry was back and on the phone to the tow truck guy.
We killed time in idle prattle about his job as an auto electrician and how I tempted fate. Suddenly Leila called back and Ken had arrived and the rest is a bit of a blur.
We finally did all of the mundane stuff - swapping details, towing the car etc. Then Ken brought me home and I was still in good spirits. Then my mother called to see if I had gotten home in time for the wedding. I explained about the car accident and endured 10 minutes of her abuse about how I was obviously rushing to get home to see the wedding. Here's a fun fact for everyone out there - if someone you love just walked away from a horrific accident, DO NOT yell at them and spike their temper. So mum and I argued violently about the logistics of the crash before she finally let me be. Three times I had to use the phrase "MUM! THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS CAVED IN!!!"
When we got home Ken ordered pizza, I called Leila to tell her the finer details and we watched The Big Bank Theory. As I started to really calm down my body started to ache - particularly my left hand. Then my brain started ticking...
When I collided with Terry and ricocheted into oncoming traffic I missed every other car - and there were at least three at the time. When I collided with Terry I was travelling AT LEAST 10kms under the speed limit. When I collided with Terry the airbag hit me in the face and on the chest - blinding and winding me. If one thing had been different this whole thing could have been a lot worse... Which brings me to the 'sliding doors' effect....
If I had left work on time.. If I hadn't stopped by Nick's desk to talk about the wedding or if I hadn't gone to the bathroom on the way out - I would've beaten Adrian through the carpark and left before we could spend 30 seconds chatting. If I hadn't lingered at that red light changing the song on my iPod or gone straight down Railway Pde (which I do on the odd occassion) - I wouldn't have been stopped at the red light at the bottom of Queens Rd when Terry was just getting into his car at home to go pick up his pizza. If I had driven the speed limit and not 10 kms below I would have been driving PAST Terry's street as he was approaching the intersection. If I had done ONE THING differently we would not have collided. Isn't that CRAZY?!?!?
Anyway... More than anything I'm just glad to be alive and unparalyzed. That crash could have been SOOOOO much worse. I have been thanking God since the minute I realised what happened. Now I'm just trying to work out His message.
Thank you to my darling friends and family who have been so supportive through this whole event - my mother included! Haha. She did call back to see if I was ok and finally accepted that I'm not a fuckwit driver who speeds in the rain! :p
I'm unharmed and alive - simply dealing with the emotional aftershocks. Be prepared for a lot of "I FUCKING LOVE YOU GUYS" over the next few days. Oh and for the "I need a lift" phone calls since I uh...don't have a car.. :p
LOVE! xx
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