Near miss

The kids and I were almost in a car accident this morning. As I was merging on to the highway a state trooper had someone pulled over just up past the entrance ramp. So I merged and then moved over to the left lane (because you're supposed to move away from emergency vehicles - it's the law, blah blah). Luckily there was plenty of space behind me when I did because right after I was in the left lane either because of rubbernecking or whatever someone about four cars ahead slammed on their brakes and came to a stop, and of course then we all did. I hit the brakes and headed for the shoulder but the car ahead of me did too so then I cranked hard for the median and just missed hitting them by six inches, if that (thank God for anti-lock brakes). And since there had been some space behind me no one rear-ended us, either. Needless to say all four of us were "owl-eyed". But all was OK - God was watching out for us.

It was really weird because as it was happening it was like it was in slow-mo, and I've had that experience in other accidents and near-accidents before. "Oh, I need to head for the shoulder...Oh, I need to head for the median, cranking harder on the wheel now..." And then it was over. I wasn't even shaken, really - just like, "OK, we just missed that!" I was a bit pissed at the patrolman for pulling the guy over right where he did, but really he can't control where someone's going to pull to the shoulder in response to his lights, I guess.

The old saying about how such things make you truly thankful for your life and health and all are true - to a point. I thanked God for keeping us out of danger then dropped the kids off at school, got to work and was in a bad mood because of things here within mere minutes. So much for treating God's ongoing gift of life with joy and respect, eh? "Yeah, you saved my life this morning - but what have you done for me lately?"

What an ingrate I am. :-(