Last night I worked late and drove home in the dark. Ok, let's face it, at this time of year I'm always driving home in the dark with the early sunset.
I took the back way and halfway home it started to rain and then the rain turned to ice and the ice turned to small ice pellets. Yes, there is a difference.
At a certain point in the road, I had Deja Vu gratitude.
Last year around this time I had worked late and was driving home that way. I didn't think I was speeding, but it was fast enough to require gradual peddle maneuvering if I needed to stop. I had just gained a lot of momentum after climbing a small incline and suddenly in front of me (about 50 yards) I saw two vehicles blocking both lanes. At about the same moment, I realized that the 50 yards was 1.) a bridge/overpass and 2.) it was black ice.
I lived in Michigan during my teenage years and so I've driven in many an icy situation. However, an overpass, black ice, two cars blocking the road and 60 mph isn't a good combination.
I used the proper braking maneuvers, but in five seconds the possibilities of head on collision, car jumping the bridge railing and the possibility of rear end crashing were all going through my head. My car didn't feel like it was slowing down and I could see the guy watching me come directly toward him. In these moments of real life and death, I actually don't panic. My mind becomes unusually logical and calm. Every methodical step runs through my mind.
So, what happened?
My car slid to a stop about 3-4 feet in front of the vehicle in my lane, directly in front of the front passenger door of the guy hoping his life would go on. I calmly looked in my back mirror, and by sheer miracle, the closest car was about 50 feet away and moving very slowly. I saw an opening as wide as my car between the two cars blocking the road and veered through it. An opening that hadn't been there moments before. I kept driving watching the two cars back off on to the grass, get their bearings and prepare to drive homeward.
Two minutes later my body shook and the sheer terror of what could have happened entered my brain. See, I was bragging above about my ability to remain calm under pressure. However, the moment the pressure is gone all of the reality sinks in and my body loses complete control to the point of my hands and feet shaking. If I think about it, I'm probably in more danger after the real danger.
Regardless, I remembered this experience last night. I had lived another year. I had been spared yet again from the little moments that have taken others lives.
Hopefully I'll continue to make it through yet another day. I'd like to.
But, I'm grateful for Deja Vu gratitude because sometimes we need that to appreciate life a little more.
