Friday, August 20, 2010

How I Passed A Cardiac Stress Test


Here's a photo of what's left of my big, pretty Dodge Ram after my son nearly had a head-on collision with a motor home.

This happened while he was taking my granddaughter home to her mother's. Yes, OMG, he had Anna with him.

No one was hurt in the wreck. That's the good part.

My late husband and I bought this truck brand new five years ago and I had just finished paying it off. Now it's totaled. Ironic, yes?

I found this recent near-tragedy quite emotionally troubling, having lost my husband in a motorcycle crash just last year. You know it's bad when you have to remind yourself, "Just breathe."

The often-heard phrase from friends, "It could have been much worse," meant to comfort me, is the very idea that makes me weak in the knees to contemplate.

Thank God no one was hurt. Absolutely grateful for that, I am, indeed.

I'm also relieved I didn't have a stroke or heart attack when I found out about it. I did have a giant panic attack of sorts when my son called to say, in trembling voice, "Mom, I've been in a wreck." Hearing that totally freaked me out so bad I very nearly fainted, which freaked me out even further. Panic attacks feed on themselves, have you ever noticed?

I've seen people in the movies faint upon receiving bad news but had never really experienced that extreme-shock reaction in real life. It's like your brain just goes, "Nope. I am not hearing this, I am definitely not dealing with this, and I am out of here, right now." It's a weird sensation. It felt like my heart stopped, but of course, it didn't.

I have advised my son, should such an unfortunate incident ever happen again, to please begin such phone conversations by saying, "Mom, we're alright, but ..."

So now I am looking to buy another vehicle, which is one more thing I've never done without my husband. Sometimes I wish so badly that I could just call him up and have him tell me what to do.

That ain't happenin', though, so I'll just have to wing it once again and delve bravely into the strange world of "man stuff."

Last year at about this time I was pondering getting in my firewood supply for the winter, which had always been another one of my husband's domain. Followup: Red fir is my choice as No. 1, followed by Tamarack. A blend of the two makes a nice mix in my particular stove. No more Birch for me, however; burns too hot and causes creosote in the stove pipe. The darn bark is unruly, too.

Live and learn. Roll with the punches. Such are the cliches I live by these days.

Could an angel on a Harley have been there to intervene? Well, actually, I thought that was fairly obvious. Of course he was.

10 comments:

  1. scary indeed. Glad everyone is okay.

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  2. I just read a book that said there is a reason why people say those cliches "Live and learn. Roll with the punches"
    I am glad everyone is ok.

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  3. Donna, you have been tested once again! So relieved and happy for you - and your son and granddaughter. Do you think maybe they have a guardian angel on a bike perhaps watching over them? Just a thought ...

    hugs to you my friend. You are stronger than you know ... or maybe by now you do (know).

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  4. Donna - you are so much stronger than you realize. I'm glad that your son and granddaughter are okay. Take care of yourself - you have more friends than you realize!

    Jane

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  5. I can only imagine the gulp in your throat when you heard that Donna. So glad you had that truck and that it protected your son and granddaughter. We really do have to focus on it just being a "thing" when incidents like this happen. Warm hugs to you.

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  6. Hi you are my newest follower and I always like to pop by and find out whos following me, I'm following you back, as I have found myself reading though your other posts, I have been married for 30 years and cannot imagine how life would be without him, you speak such wise works.
    Gald you son and Anna were OK. I am sure you are right, the angel on a Harley got in the way.
    Jan, oh and George says hi to

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  7. That must have been terrifying for all of you. I'm so glad no one was hurt. No doubt a little heavenly intervention was involved in keeping everyone safe!

    Pat
    www.critteralley.blogspot.com

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  8. Oh.My.
    When I saw the blog title, I thought--I've got to read that, in case I need a cardiac stress test.
    Well, let's just say--YOU didn't NEED such a test, and I am surely hoping I don't either.
    Glad all loved ones are safe; and most sorry about your very pretty truck. (Please note: "pretty" and "truck" are not words I usually see in the same sentence).
    On buying a new vehicle--I have done it. I go to Edmunds (online website) and do car comparisons.

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  9. You are amazing. Your strength. I find as I get older I find it much more difficult to manage bad news, but any I've had pales into insignificance when I am faced with your pain,adaptability and sheer determination to plough through.
    Regarding your late husband feeling and wishing "the need to call him up and have him tell me what to do", would resonnate with so many who have lost dearly loved partners or parents.Your circumstances are of course, exceptional.
    I am so glad everyone is safe,and cannot begin to imagine the sheer size of your overwhelming relief. It is actually a wonder you didn't pass out after all. Take care Donna.Offering much support to you here from across the seas.x

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