The Crash of 1012

            So the season began. Tough loss. Long day. It was cold when we left the gym around 9:25pm. Tammy and I walking together to our separate cars. I got to mine first. The Buick. I was so glad that the frost hadn’t settled yet because the defroster in the Buick doesn’t defrost so well. I started my car and drove around to where Tammy was getting in her car. I was going to call her and talk to her on the way home since we hadn’t really talked. We usually don’t get to on days when Jordan plays at Heritage. But my phone was dead so I just waited to make sure she got on her way safely. Lights on and exhaust coming out of the muffler so I drove on, passed Jordan getting in his Jeep and starting it. Pulled out on Highway 321 and was headed home. Thinking about the game, thinking about the next day at work, thinking about the fact that it was cold. As I crossed the bridge before Lem’s Corner I checked my mirror to see if Tammy was coming. No headlights meant she had probably stopped to check on Jordan. Kelcey had left before us and was most likely well into Maryville by now. Since no Tammy and no phone I just sat back in the seat and settled in for the 20-25 minute drive home. Lem’s corner was dimly lit; I didn’t even know it was open this late. That’s about the time it happened.

            I hit something; Hard! I have only been in a couple of accidents but automobile vs. automobile has always had the same crunching sound. But I didn’t see anything. I was in the right lane driving, no distractions, wasn’t even listening to the radio, and I crashed and began to spin. I think that’s when I stood on my brakes but I’m not sure. When the Buick stopped I was slightly, ok very, disoriented. The car was filled with smoke (from the airbags I now realize) and I was very close to panic. Window wouldn’t go down. Doors wouldn’t unlock. The only thing that seemed to be working was half my brain and my arms and hands. Oh, and my seatbelt. I clicked it loose and realized later that it may have saved my life. The airbags were out and deflated. The windshield was broke and I could see someone running toward my car in the grass. My body began rebooting (that’s the best way I can describe it) and I was able to think straight enough to manually unlock the car door. I opened but couldn’t get anything else to work and I kind of fell out into the grass. The man that had ran to my car asked if he could pull me away because my car was still half in the road and somebody was gonna hit me. I nodded and he did. I assumed that the guy pulled out in front of me without his lights on but there is no way to prove whether or not his lights were on. The marks in the roadway make it pretty clear that he was mistaken when he told the deputy that I swerved into the parking lot to hit him. The mailbox, sign, and curb are still intact making it even clearer. But that’s apparently to be settled later according to his insurance company (Progressive). I may have to call Flo if something doesn’t happen soon.

 

 

            The rest is really foggy until about midnight but here is what I do remember. My wife, very much more composed on the outside than apparently she was on the inside considering she drove by the accident thinking “that’s a bad wreck, oh my gosh he’s dragging my husband out of that wrecked car!” My son, looked scared to death. I remember telling him that I would be fine that he could go on home if he wanted. He didn’t look well (that’s the pot calling the kettle black, huh?). James Wilson, Blount County Sheriff’s Deputy and good friend. He was on his way home and actually drove up on the crash. I don’t remember much but I remember him staying beside of me till the ambulance got there and before walking away said he would pray for me. I remember deputy after deputy looking over the ambulance worker with a word of encouragement or wink or smile for me. Apparently because my leg was lying strangely on the ground and shaking, it was thought to be broke. They cut my pants. They asked where I was hurting and I remember my back, my chest, and my leg.

 

 

            After hours in the hospital and CT scans and X-rays, it was determined that I had no broken bones or other abnormalities not already known. I was released and Tammy and I got home around 2:45am. The next couple of days were strange. Hurting but walking. Thinking but not remembering. Trying to be normal but somehow not being able to. Tammy and the kids were great. I didn’t like it but I kinda did. Not because I like being waited on (at all) but because they were showing me how much they cared. Tammy said Thursday as we, yes we, were getting ready for work that if someone would have asked her beside my car on Tuesday night while they were loading me up in the ambulance if I would be getting ready for work on Thursday morning she would have said, “No way!”

 

            According to family and friends that were at the site and the hospital later that night, it was much worse than it played out. I am very blessed to be here; whole. There have been soooo many people message me or call me just to tell me that they are glad I am well that it has been a little overwhelming. Kids at the school Friday night stopped by the scorer’s table where I run the clock for home basketball games and hugged me and said they had been praying for me and were glad to see I was ok. My church family was great as usual, checking in and praying hard. They were especially understanding yesterday when they sat through a message that I had prepared for over many weeks but for some reason couldn’t get my brain to operate properly to put everything together.

             I am thankful to be here. Very thankful. I am appreciative of all who prayed, called, text, Facebooked, emailed, or just walked up to me to express their love, prayers, and support. I don’t feel like its necessary but Tammy reminds me that while I was there at the crash, I really wasn’t all there. So, thank you. Words cannot express how much so many people mean to my family. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by great folks.

            Drive safe!

            Pastor Dad