Last weekend, we had a prolonged storm, where snow kept coming for several days in a row. Since the roads were somewhat clear Sunday afternoon, Lilly and I ventured out to class in Boulder, which for us is a pretty long drive. On the way home, we narrowly missed getting in a VERY BAD car accident.
To get from our house, well up a mountain canyon, to Boulder for dog classes, we have to drive HWY 93, which is a narrow, 2-lane highway with tiny shoulders and no room for error. The speed limit, I believe, is 55, but people often drive 70+.
I was paying very close attention to the road on our way home since the sun was starting to go down, which means the roads were beginning to ice up. So, I’m really concentrating on my lane … watching for icy spots and such … when I see a car coming straight at us, tires alternately squealing on the pavement and sliding on the ice.
The car from the opposite lane fish-tailed in front of us. I slowed down the best I could, considering the conditions and the fact that there were many cars, going very fast, right behind me.
The other car slid onto dry pavement in front of me, which can sometimes flip cars that have been skidding on the ice at high speed, so my first thought was that it would roll right in front of me, and I would hit it. Scary, for sure, but I was instantly more worried about cars behind me crashing into us since Lilly rides in her airline crate in the way-back of my Toyota 4-Runner.
Because the other driver over-corrected, however, that car veered, spinning, back into its own lane (where I was sure someone going the other way would hit it).
But, it completely flipped around and ended up skidding well off the highway into the snowy field to the east.
I’m terrible at distances, but I’d say we came mere feet from a very bad, fairly high-speed crash.
I was completely shook up, but I kept going since we were fine and the other car had slid safely out of harm’s way. Plus, on that road, there is NOWHERE to pull over safely.
A few minutes later as my heart rate returned to normal, a song came on the radio. It’s a song that reminds me of my friend Jody Smith, who killed herself earlier this year. I had not heard it in months, but as it played, my first thought was that somehow Jody was watching out for me.
My Sunday could have been a bad one, but wasn’t.
What are your blessings today?
Here’s a photo of one of mine from earlier that same day. As Lilly dives for the ball in the snow, her face gets encrusted. She looks sheepish because of the camera, not the snow. Lilly LOVES snow.
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Thanks. It was very scary. A good reminder that if I’m in doubt at all. I should just stay home on the mountain.
And, ha! Yes … well, I know she’s sheepish, not from her face, but the fact that she’s preparing to roll over on her back (all submissive). We’d been playing, and as soon as I pointed the camera at her, thwump, down she went like I was the meanest mommy in the world for wanting to take her picture.
First: freaky close call–so glad you and Lilly escaped harm.
Second: how can you tell Lilly is looking sheepish–her face is completely covered in snow 🙂
Thanks. Sadly, I have no choice but to drive it. I just do my best defensive driving to keep Lilly and I safe.
Wow, glad you’re o.k. Hwy. 93 is awful on a good day, I hate that road and the psycho drivers that dominate it.