Thursday, September 10, 2009

The Accident

Come on, you knew I had to write about it.  I bet everyone has been waiting on the edge of their seat for my installment about "the accident."  Everyone except the few dozen I mercilessly mobbed at church Wednesday night, forcing them to listen to every last detail.

The accident is pretty big news around here, a hot topic of discussion for all three kids.  The accident is also popping up slowly and steadily as pains in various areas of my back, shoulders, and neck.  I had some hot tub therapy tonight which has greatly helped.

I don't want to go into tons of detail about the actual accident, just in case there's a lawsuit or something (which I highly doubt there will be...but you never know for sure.)  But the gist of it is, I was driving the kids home from Ava's ballet class Wed. around dinner time and our van got rear-ended...hard.  It wasn't one of those little bumps that cause people to say "Well, gosh darn it.  I wonder if there's any damage."  This bump caused some fearful cussing (sorry, it's a knee-jerk reaction when I'm afraid.  I just can't help it), and made me wonder if anyone was injured.  Actually, first I had to remove the van from the lane of oncoming traffic we were pushed into, then I worried about injuries.

Thankfully everyone was fine.  There's a large dent in the door to the trunk.  The damage was much less than I was expecting.  Not one of the kids has complained of any pains.  Although Ava had to come to our bed in the middle of the night.  I think it might have had something to do with some fear she experienced during the accident.  She was crying and yelling for her daddy during and after the crash.  I think of all the kids it had the biggest emotional effect on her.

As for me...the emotions I felt are so difficult to describe.  I had never been in an accident while my kids were in the car.  These kinds of experiences are so strange in that they happen so quickly and slowly at the same time.  I looked up in the rear view mirror and I knew the car behind me was not going to stop.  In an instant, before impact, my mind raced through so many possibilities, more than seem humanly possible.  My fear for my children was so strong, I could almost taste it.  I can still tap into that primal emotion if I think about it long enough.  I wanted so badly to prevent what I knew was coming, but I had no control.  

It's one of those things that could have been much worse, but thankfully it was not.  And I truly am thankful and appreciative for the blessing of safety that was given us.  

5 comments:

Christina said...

I'm so glad you are all ok! I can just imagine feeling for your kiddos like that. It's one thing when it's just you, but when your children are involved it's a whole other story!

Unknown said...

I'm glad you guys are okay and that it was not worse than it was, but still...accident's stink. Sorry about the damage to your car too. It kind of makes you jumpy for a while (as I'm sure you've noticed) as people come to a stop behind you. But one day you'll realize you're not cringing anymore as you watch a car approach you from the rear.

Quad Squad! said...

Wow! I'm glad you're all okay! Jodie was rear-ended around this time last year with her girls in the car too! For weeks after, every time they got in the car, Kinley would request that they "not drive into the grass this time."

Dara said...

Wow! I am behind on reading blogs! I had no idea you were rear-ended! I am so sorry! Glad you are all ok. That is so scarey.

Keep an eye on everyone's health over the next couple of weeks... a jarring like that can cause some delayed damage sometimes. I have one of those stories to tell... if you want to hear it. I pray that you and your kids have no delayed responses!

Jeanette, Chris' mom, said...

Hey, Girl...when Chris found out that I was rear-end Thurs at noon, his second comment was "That's really weird...Becky was rear-ended yesterday!" I'm thankful that none of you were hurt badly. I hope the other guy has good insurance. I'm thankful the one that hit me does 'cuz I had $6700 damage!