A Brush with Death
This story of the events from last night are copied from what I posted on Facebook.
Tonight was the night Jenn's company was taking everyone to the Ranger's game in Arlington. I met Jenn at work and waited around for a while before we left. The news expected a storm to hit tonight, but we wanted to at least have a little fun at the game.
We were one of the last ones to leave the office, as Jenn had a lot of work to finish. Traffic was pretty horrible the whole way there and the sky was getting dark and ominous. I was getting concerned about whether or not the game would be canceled. As we got close, we called up Doug to see if he was coming. He said he'd wait first and see how the weather is. We were almost there, so we continued forward.
When we got to the stadium, the wind had picked up and the sky had darkened dramatically. People were running through the intense wind, which was pushing my car back and forth, to get to inside the stadium. I didn't even want to brave this weather. We were about an hour from home, but I suggested turning back. I didn't want to go to a game if the storm was going to be this intense.
About the time I turned around, the rain and hail picked up. We got stopped on a side street for a small eternity, listening to the sound of the wind screaming through the nearby abandoned roller coasters of Six Flags next door. The road was slowly flooding. I pushed through it slowly, like a boat in a river.
The water got thick and I was forced to go very cautiously forward and keep to the left lanes, which were more shallow. A car sped by and covered my car in a solid blanket of water, blinding me for several moments. When I could see again, I started forward and out of the water. I breathed a sigh of relief for leaving that street, which I would not have ever gotten on to if the water hadn't formed around me during my long wait on it near the howling amusement park.
I was happy to be on the highway heading back home and away from the storm. Both Jenn and I were tense and troubled by the wind, the rain, and the reports we got in from Doug of tornadoes in Ft.Worth. The roads were slick, so I limited my speed to 50 miles per hour. I began to hydroplane at 50, but regained control and slowed down to 45 and headed into the right lane. The car didn't feel right and I was looking for an exit so I could stop for a while and wait the weather out.
I was only in the right lane for a moment when I began to hydroplane again. Jenn screamed, seeing a car on the side of the road up ahead. I was heading straight towards it. I tapped the breaks and inched the car back to the left away from the motionless vehicle, but to no avail. I skimmed the edge of the car with a loud THUMP, which sent the car hurdling ninety degrees to the left. I could feel the car out of my control, I could hear Jenn screaming, and I could see the road twisting around me as we spun across the highway. Then there was a large crash as the front left of our car smashed into a semi truck. This reversed our course, and we began to spin in the opposite direction. I was fighting for control, but it was nearly hopeless. I managed to stop the spinning back in the slow lane, then accelerated the car into the shoulder, ramming into the barrier, and we stopped.
I looked around at Jenn and myself. Jenn looked unhurt, I didn't feel any pain. I looked at my hands and arms. No blood. No injuries. I was very wet from the rain and there was broken glass all over my legs and seat. My window was gone and my door was warped into a half open half closed position. The hood was smashed in and Jenn's door was smashed shut. The car around us was a mess, but the both of us were completely unharmed.
I ended up cutting myself trying to get the broken glass off my wet jeans, so I just let it sit there. Jenn called the police and the semi truck pulled into the shoulder in front of us. He was also unharmed. The people in the car behind us were also fine. Nobody was hurt. What a relief.
When the police arrived, we exchanged all the necessary information. We took out our important objects from the car. I grabbed my d20 fuzzy dice. Only one was in the car... the other much have flown out the window. I left a huge assortment of sports equipment in the trunk, because we couldn't get it all. I'll have to get it later.
Doug contacted us to see what was going on about the game. After hearing what happened, he asked where we were. The policeman took us to a local IHOP where we met up with Doug and his wife. It was a great relief for the both of us to have some people to talk to. We went to our favorite pizza place downtown and settled down before Doug took us back to Jenn's work to pick up her car. We came home safely.
My car is totaled, but my life is in perfect condition. I'm shaken, as any brush with mortality would do to you, but I've survived. We're pretty lucky to be alive now. This is something we won't squander. This has reaffirmed my love of life and being alive. Surviving this is going to make me a stronger person, and for that at least, I'm thankful.
Also, for those who are wondering. Yes, I'm still an atheist.
Tonight was the night Jenn's company was taking everyone to the Ranger's game in Arlington. I met Jenn at work and waited around for a while before we left. The news expected a storm to hit tonight, but we wanted to at least have a little fun at the game.
We were one of the last ones to leave the office, as Jenn had a lot of work to finish. Traffic was pretty horrible the whole way there and the sky was getting dark and ominous. I was getting concerned about whether or not the game would be canceled. As we got close, we called up Doug to see if he was coming. He said he'd wait first and see how the weather is. We were almost there, so we continued forward.
When we got to the stadium, the wind had picked up and the sky had darkened dramatically. People were running through the intense wind, which was pushing my car back and forth, to get to inside the stadium. I didn't even want to brave this weather. We were about an hour from home, but I suggested turning back. I didn't want to go to a game if the storm was going to be this intense.
About the time I turned around, the rain and hail picked up. We got stopped on a side street for a small eternity, listening to the sound of the wind screaming through the nearby abandoned roller coasters of Six Flags next door. The road was slowly flooding. I pushed through it slowly, like a boat in a river.
The water got thick and I was forced to go very cautiously forward and keep to the left lanes, which were more shallow. A car sped by and covered my car in a solid blanket of water, blinding me for several moments. When I could see again, I started forward and out of the water. I breathed a sigh of relief for leaving that street, which I would not have ever gotten on to if the water hadn't formed around me during my long wait on it near the howling amusement park.
I was happy to be on the highway heading back home and away from the storm. Both Jenn and I were tense and troubled by the wind, the rain, and the reports we got in from Doug of tornadoes in Ft.Worth. The roads were slick, so I limited my speed to 50 miles per hour. I began to hydroplane at 50, but regained control and slowed down to 45 and headed into the right lane. The car didn't feel right and I was looking for an exit so I could stop for a while and wait the weather out.
I was only in the right lane for a moment when I began to hydroplane again. Jenn screamed, seeing a car on the side of the road up ahead. I was heading straight towards it. I tapped the breaks and inched the car back to the left away from the motionless vehicle, but to no avail. I skimmed the edge of the car with a loud THUMP, which sent the car hurdling ninety degrees to the left. I could feel the car out of my control, I could hear Jenn screaming, and I could see the road twisting around me as we spun across the highway. Then there was a large crash as the front left of our car smashed into a semi truck. This reversed our course, and we began to spin in the opposite direction. I was fighting for control, but it was nearly hopeless. I managed to stop the spinning back in the slow lane, then accelerated the car into the shoulder, ramming into the barrier, and we stopped.
I looked around at Jenn and myself. Jenn looked unhurt, I didn't feel any pain. I looked at my hands and arms. No blood. No injuries. I was very wet from the rain and there was broken glass all over my legs and seat. My window was gone and my door was warped into a half open half closed position. The hood was smashed in and Jenn's door was smashed shut. The car around us was a mess, but the both of us were completely unharmed.
I ended up cutting myself trying to get the broken glass off my wet jeans, so I just let it sit there. Jenn called the police and the semi truck pulled into the shoulder in front of us. He was also unharmed. The people in the car behind us were also fine. Nobody was hurt. What a relief.
When the police arrived, we exchanged all the necessary information. We took out our important objects from the car. I grabbed my d20 fuzzy dice. Only one was in the car... the other much have flown out the window. I left a huge assortment of sports equipment in the trunk, because we couldn't get it all. I'll have to get it later.
Doug contacted us to see what was going on about the game. After hearing what happened, he asked where we were. The policeman took us to a local IHOP where we met up with Doug and his wife. It was a great relief for the both of us to have some people to talk to. We went to our favorite pizza place downtown and settled down before Doug took us back to Jenn's work to pick up her car. We came home safely.
My car is totaled, but my life is in perfect condition. I'm shaken, as any brush with mortality would do to you, but I've survived. We're pretty lucky to be alive now. This is something we won't squander. This has reaffirmed my love of life and being alive. Surviving this is going to make me a stronger person, and for that at least, I'm thankful.
Also, for those who are wondering. Yes, I'm still an atheist.