Today, just before noon, a woman was hit by a truck on Sixth Avenue just north of 23rd Street, and died on the scene.
I didn't see it happen, but when I got there, on my way to an appointment, and asked someone what happened, the man I spoke to told me and said that her body was still there.
This poor poor woman. Probably crossing the street to get something cold to drink, or maybe pick up something to snack on at her desk. Woke up this morning thinking it was just another day, another Monday, another hot day in the city. But it was OK, because she knew she could get something cold to drink at that little store across the street.
I imagine the final milliseconds of her consciousness. The moment of her last breath. The police going through her things for identification. The calls they have to make. Her life gone, and that of her family and friends changed forever.
I come home and want to continue writing what I started before I left for my appointment late this morning, just before noon, but find that I can't manage the upbeat tone of the piece. I can only pour some iced coffee, get myself a snack, and thank "god" I am here.
This is one of those "perspective" moments that can give EVERYTHING a new meaning...at least for a little while. Last Friday, on my way home from work, a police car had pulled someone over, about a mile ahead of where I was. Now someone in traffic must have been going WAY too fast, as they slammed on the brakes when they saw the police car's lights. Naturally, every car behind this one also slammed on its brakes - including me - and the driver behind me.
The car behind him, however? Not so lucky. He skidded on the slightly-wet pavement, crashed into the barrier, and flipped his car over. He lived, thankfully (I read it in the paper the next day) but those 20 feet or so....had I only been the car BEHIND the car behind me...I would have been where this car was, that that might have been me. Upside down on the highway.
And, speaking for all your readers, we thank "god" you're here too. (nice quote usage.)
Offered by: aaron on July 29, 2002 03:07 PMI definitely thank "God" for you. Between you and the other Jodiverse, you've help convert a "lurker" into a contributor. (Though with some of the "groaners" I've submitted, that may have not been such a good thing...)
Offered by: Thomas on July 29, 2002 03:26 PMThank you, to two of my favorite contributors!
Offered by: Jodi on July 29, 2002 03:33 PMIt's all been worth it to see the smile on your face and the silver necklace on your nuzzleable neck... and those scrumptious earlobes.. and your full... red... lips...
*AHEM* Sorry... Got carried away...
Offered by: Thomas on July 29, 2002 03:50 PMwhoa...
Offered by: aaron on July 29, 2002 03:59 PMThomas and Aaron: Are you two like Abbott and Costello (or Laverne and Shirley)? This is the second comment box in which Thomas has said something and Aaron has followed with a "whoa".
I daresay I'm kinda giggling over it! *teehee*
Offered by: Jodi on July 29, 2002 04:11 PMNow you can imagine, I'm sure, how 13 years as a paramedic might weigh on a person. :)
Offered by: Tess on July 29, 2002 04:33 PMAaron is simply doing his best impersonation of the full range of Keanu Reeves' acting skills...
Offered by: Thomas on July 29, 2002 04:50 PMPuts thinsg ina whole new perspective. I thank God every daythat I am here, walking around. It sucks that it takes something so sad to make us rememebr all of the good.
Offered by: Mary Carmen on July 29, 2002 05:03 PMI know you hate this kind of stuff...but {{{Jodi!}}} There's your cyber hug for the day.
Thanks for keeping it real here. That's why I come visit.
Offered by: Joan on July 29, 2002 11:40 PMYour experience brought back to me the events the first time I drove through Las Vegas. Going North out of the city was a stretch of "freeway" with the separation being a median of dirt (no markers or barriers). Suddenly, just ahead of us, in the darkness of the evening, there were brakelights and headlights indicating vehicles travelling out of control on both sides of the median strip. Some vehicle had gone across the median. There was dust in the air everywhere. As we approached, we could see vehicles in varying states of damage and people walking among them in a dazed state. We successfully avoided any collision with human or vehicle and continued on our journey toward Utah (assuming that any necessary assistance would be provided by others, far more capable than we). As we drove on we realized that, had we arrived somewhere approximately ten to fifteen seconds earlier, we would have been participants, rather than onlookers.
It really brought home the scriptural message of Ecclesiastes 9:11 "... time and unforeseen occurence befall them all."
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0702/30chase.html
This story is kinda like the one you described...a guy went out to get a soda and was killed by a woman being chased by police. Two of my friends saw it first hand and the road is still stained. Not the kinda thing that happens in this town, so it really hits hard...'specially considering the circumstances and how easily it could've been prevented.
it is true - you never know what is waiting around life's corner. Good job too.
Offered by: Zel on July 31, 2002 06:03 AM
