Friday, April 08, 2016

On a Dime Re-run.

Spring is bugs and they show up everywhere.  Murr wrote a post about her generous hosting of those 8-legged spidery visitors to her home in the spring---actually I think they take up residence in her home year-round.

I will relate another type of encounter with a spider that happened last week and that was much more compelling.  It is spring and spiders are exploring.  The other day a spider swung from his trapeze wire unexpectedly right into my face and drifted behind my eye glasses as he tried to gain control of his movements.  It took several seconds for me to figure out why I had gone blind in one eye and then when I swiped with my hand I saw all those legs working across my wrist and under my left sleeve.  The greater problem  at this time was I was actually driving along just leaving our town on 4-lane divided road at about 40 MPH.  There was not much traffic as it was the mid-afternoon before workers were rushing home.  But, by the time I refocused on the road (only seconds has passed) I discovered to my shock that I had swerved into the left lane and then onto the grassy median with a ditch dividing this highway.  There were a handful of cars on both sides as I bounced along the ditch briefly before getting control of the car and coming to a safe and soft stop just avoiding hitting the fence pipe directly in front of me.  I took a deep breath, forgot completely about the spider,  felt embarrassment wash over me as the panic waned and gathering my wits put the car in rear gear and pulled back a few yards avoiding looking at drivers in the one or two passing cars.  I pulled ahead gently on the median, and seeing a large truck far in the distance, I turned the steering wheel as I pulled onto the opposite side of the road, made a careful U-Turn, and then took a left in the lane ahead  and made another U-Turn and headed home once again.  On a dime, folks, on a dime.



I have lost the fog light and created some limited damage to the driver's side fender as well as permanent grass stains.  I am calling the body shop today and will be punished for my distraction with an expensive estimate I am sure.

Yet, I cannot help but wonder about other outcomes.  Hubby is far away and the rest of my family and I touch base every few days or so.  If I had been in a serious accident, when would they find out?  What if I died before they reached me?  I guess they would eventually adjust, but life is shorter and sweeter than we think, is it not and not being able to say goodbye maybe one of the greatest worries.

24 comments:

  1. You just missed having a serious arachcident! Very scary, but it does put life in perspective, glad the only body damage was to the car.

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  2. Oh, my...I would have had the same reaction, and thank heaven you were not hurt. It could have been tragic.

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  3. So glad you are alright! Terrifying. Pats on the back for rescuing yourself. Whew!

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  4. That was a truly frightening thing. So very glad you are ok now even if your car is scraped and battered. I have a list in my wallet of George's number and the kids numbers too.

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  5. well, you hit something but so glad embarrassment was the worst you suffered. I've had one or two near misses in the last few years. getting in a car accident at this point in our lives is a much worse situation than when young. youth bounces back so easily. us older folks sustain far more damage that we often do not recover from. as for turning on a dime, that was one reason I was loathe to give up my 1984 Volvo sedan.

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  6. One of those wake up calls from the universe. I once had a similar incident involving a wasp. It doesn't take but a moment's distraction. I think I will contact my state legislators about a law banning insects and spiders, also rats and mice (don't ask) from all motor vehicles--for our safety. At least as enforceable as birth certificate/bathroom laws. And probably addresses a much wider hazard.

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  7. Glad only your ego is a little bruised and not your body! That was definitely a wake-up call. Go out and smell the flowers! The car can be repaired. (Dang those spiders...)

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  8. Every so often the universe gives us a shake. I am glad this shake worked out as well as it did for you. Enjoy the weekend.

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  9. I too am glad you are all right! The damage to the car can be repaired, but your thoughts about "what if" are scary indeed. Yikes! :-)

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  10. I forgot to ask, are you ok?

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  11. Glad it wasn't worse, and it reminds me of the guy who was so upset he dropped a pickle from his sandwich on his pants, untill he saw he had almost swerved into the path of a semi truck. And i almost missed a lane because of trying to swat a mosquito once. Being distracted can be so dangerous!

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  12. Accidents happen so fast and we never know a second before it starts. Some health conditions are like that too. Scary when alone for sure. Glad yours wasn't more serious.

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  13. Glad you're okay. I bet your heart still pounds when you think about this.

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  14. It all turns on a dime, as you said. Here we are though, at odds with the odds, at least in my case.
    Hope your odds continue to be good.

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  15. Who cares about grass stains and car body work as long as it is not YOUR body that is broken. Thank goodness you are OK.

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  16. This story is much worse that the old lady who swallowed a fly. Glad you escaped with little damage. But oh, the scare!

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  17. I knew spider's could be dangerous. I suppose this is one of those unusual insurance claim stories that those companies sometimes relate. So glad you weren't injured. All of this happened in a finger snap -- 65 moments described in "A Tale for the Time Being" by Ruth Ozeki I just finished reading. Treasure the moments ahead.

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  18. Close calls like this are sobering. I've had a few.

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  19. I think you should sue the spider for attempted manslaughter. :-) On a serious note, those are the type of situations that make us re-asses life a bit.

    Greetings from London.

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  20. Wow! Somehow you avoided a much worse outcome. Life can change in a second, but thankfully you were able to hold on and only have minor (although expensive) damage to your car and shaken nerves.

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  21. I am so very glad that you are okay.

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  22. Whew! Glad it was a close call and nothing else. I hope you always carry your cellphone with you in the car.

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  23. So thankful that you were okay. I am thinking seriously about one of those mobile care necklaces or watches. They work all over now and not just in your home. The sense a fall or an accident without you having to press the button and they have all of your health and emergency information. Since I live alone out in the country I often wonder how long it would be before anyone in the family knew something was wrong.

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  24. Yiiiikes! I would have been dead if that happened to me since I'm deathly afraid of spiders. Thank goodness you survived it with just a scuffed fender. It could have been so much worse. I'm tense just reading your post. Wow!

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Take your time...take a deep breath...then hit me with your best shot.