6/11/08

Changing Moments

I was reading brenda's blog Luna C and she wrote of a changing moment in her life when she felt she had the choice of staying here, as it were, or checking out, during a car accident. I emailed her and told her I'd had a similar moment and she tagged me to post it....so here it is.
About 17 years ago I was living in a small town on the coast (here in oregon) about 25 miles from where I worked. The road I had to take, since there were, and are, no alternatives, was Hwy 101 or the coast hwy. as it's called here. The speed limit on the hwy. outside of the small towns is an insane 55 miles per hour....this speed makes sense on a freeway where entrances and exits have separate roads and the driver has time to either slow on their way off the freeway or speed up when entering it. No such roads exist on hwy. 101, so you're driving along at 55 mph and someone pulls out of a motel or restaurant driveway going 5 mph and you have to stop before you rear end them and kill all of you! Basicly, that's what happened to me. I was driving home...it wasn't dark out and it wasn't raining, thank goodness, but a young man pulled out in front of me anyway. As he was about 50 feet ahead of me there was no way I could stop before I hit him so I tried to go around him. In doing so, I ran off the road and rolled the car and amazingly ended up about 30 feet off the road, right side up and aimed back in the direction I had been coming from! I did have my seat belt on so I walked away from it with just a bruised knee and lots of very sore muscles. What I remember is driving directly at a telephone pole and not seeing any way of controlling the car so I just bowed my head and held on to the steering wheel and basicly gave my self up into the hands of the universe....there was a brief period when I don't remember much and then I was looking up and the car was full of dust and dirt but there wasn't a scratch on me. But I had the strongest feeling of having been "held" in loving hands and brought through the accident because I wasn't ready to go yet. I think in that brief blank period, I made that decision. Even though we don't live in that town anymore, I never pass that spot without saying a brief thanks to whatever part of the universe helped me that day.
The young man wasn't alone in the car...he and his girlfriend and their dog were also all saved that day because if I'd hit his car at 50 mph, none of us would have survived the crash. I give thanks for them too.
A couple of months later I began to bead on a daily basis...

11 comments:

Brenda said...

What a sacred moment.

Funny now that you mention it, I might have started beading more intensely afterward. Maybe it is our way to offer our thanks.

beadbabe49 said...

yes...and a way to share our 'gifts" with others...

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness - i was reading that holding my breath - even though i knew you survived (obviously) - its scary how easily things can happen.

abeadlady said...

It amazes me how beading creates a "safe" place to be at times. I have learned to put more of myself into my work and it shows. One of my chief joys is to share my beading with others; teaching them the basics (especially young beaders). This, in turn, might provide needed solace for them.

All who know you are blessed, Bobbi, to have you in our lives.

Arline

Timaree said...

Wow. I rolled my truck but it was into a snow packed ditch. I figured that and my seat belt were why I didn't get hurt but you were on solid ground. Those moments are never forgotten. I didn't bead at the time but I had to stay in a motel overnight, a bit scared and in shock over the accident. This motel's owner had hand painted every room with rosemaling, Norwegian folk art. Doing a lot of that painting at the time, I was able to start relaxing as I gazed at her work. Yes, the Universe works in many mysterious ways to give us what we need.

Timaree said...

So you've joined stitchin fingers! I didn't know whether I should or not. I've joined a few of these groups but haven't been keeping up too well. When they get too specifically oriented I get behind.

beadbabe49 said...

yes, life is so fragile on the one hand and so tenacious on the other...I'm amazed daily at what it brings us...and what it takes away.

You are all a blessing to me, arline...and I need to thank robin again for all the blessings the bead journal project have brought me!

hi, freebird! It does, doesn't it!

I've got time pressures too, so I dropped several on my yahoo groups (which I don't have time to really work on now anyway) for the stitchin' fingers since they have both a beaders' group and a design group I've joined...I'll see if I can find time for the two of them!

Pursuing Art... said...

Oh Lord...this about broke my heart! Someone was watching over you on this day Bobbi!

You found out on this day what you appreciate and are grateful for...to be alive! You were given the gift of time to evaluate what is truly important. Difficult experiences or moments often bring clarity into our lives and often we find out then...who we truly are or what we truly want. I'm grateful you could see and that you listened to your heart and soul!

We are all blessed that you are here sharing the gift of you!

Peace and love,

Lisa

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. ~Seneca~

LJ said...

Made me catch my breath, BB.

artandtea said...

Wow Bobbi, what an amazing experience. It gave me chills to read your story and feel what a gift you were given on that day. Beads are so healing for the soul, aren't they?

Padparadscha said...

I got chills too reading your story !

You know, it's funny but from your work, what I have always found most moving and compelling is your Fatma's hands. It's like you captured the essence of these hands of the Universe.

Hugs

Héène