I have been driving up and down the same stretch of I-75 for the past 7 years to get to and from work at EKU. I am only on the interstate for about 14 miles but it is a crazy stretch of interstate. There are always so many trucks and people just go so fast. The speed limit in KY recently went up to 70 mph and people think that this means they have license to go 85 mph. I usually just lock my cruise on 68, get in the right lane, and go about my business.
Well, last Tuesday morning I dropped the kids off a little early because we had a function at work that began at 8am. I wanted to get to work a little early. I got on the interstate and started my journey. About a mile or two from Richmond and my exit the traffic always slows down in the right lane in a phenomenon I like to call "The Richmond Slowdown" Many people attempt to get off at this exit and people all try to get over in the right lane to exit. So, most of the time people like myself in the right lane are only going about 60 mph. I don't know why this happens but it happens every morning and has for the last 18 years that I have lived near or around Richmond.
So, when I was about .3 miles from my exit I noticed that a huge dump/gravel truck was right beside me trying to come over into my lane. Now I drive a little Honda civic and I am sure this guy never knew I was there. I looked over and all I could see were large tires coming at me. I proceeded to honk my horn (in my opinion, the Honda civic has the wimpiest horn in the world) and he finally noticed me, I think. Since we were nearing the exit, I assumed he wanted to get off too and I noticed that he was trying to get in behind me. There was a car in front of me and now the truck was trying to get in behind me. I looked in my rear view mirror and all I could see was the truck's headlights and they were REALLY close. The next thing I know, I feel a huge bump from behind, then spinning. I proceeded to spin 360 degrees across 3 lanes of the interstate and came to rest just inches from a concrete barrier.
During the spin I actually had time to think a bunch of things. I thought, "am i supposed to turn into the spin or is that only on ice?" "Wow, this is kind of like NASCAR, but without the safety equipment." "Oh God, please don't let anyone hit me." You know that kind of stuff. It was like slow motion. My garage door opener, my sunglasses, and my cell phone were all stored in little compartments in the dashboard and they went flying. When I came to a stop I proceeded to dry heave (you know I am a puker, I just can't help it) and then started looking for my phone. I needed my phone. I wanted to call my husband. I just could not find it. I got out of the car and just stood on the side of the road. Oh, by the way, the dump truck just kept right on going and never stopped. I looked ahead and noticed that one of my colleagues from the library had pulled over and was standing on the other side of the road. I motioned to her that I needed a phone and she got hers and tried to cross the interstate to me. The traffic was so bad that she could not find a slow spot to run across. So, how did I spin out across the interstate and not hit anyone or anything? Well, I think we all know the answer to that. Finally when she got to me I was so shaken up I just fell apart in her arms. I had the help of many people that day and this person was definitely a guardian angel to me. I got a hold of my husband who was in Richmond for work. He called the police for me and headed to me to see what I needed. A Kentucky State Trooper showed up. This state trooper was so nice. He realized I was completely shaken up and could tell I was thinking about all the bad stuff that could have happened. He took my story and just kept reassuring me that I was ok and that everything was going to be fine. TTG finally showed up and I was just so happy to see him. You know all the bad things that could have happened just start going through your head and you just need to be with the people that you love the most. I was definitely in shock because after the trooper got all the info he needed, Trevor followed me to work to make sure my car was ok and then I went in to work. I actually went to the library function that was already in progress and proceeded to meet with faculty and do my job.
After about 2 hours, the impact of it all sunk in and I felt horrible. I went home and slept for about 3 hours. I went and got my kids and just loved and hugged on them for the rest of the evening.
I know that God was with me during all of this and I know he shielded me from harm. It does make me wonder if I am supposed to go and do something amazing with my life because I was spared to live another day. What is that thing? Am I doing it now?
