close call

While my mom drove along one of the many two lane highways that connect small mid-Michigan towns, we chatted. Turo piped in occasionally from the back. This is a stretch we’ve driven countless times between our house and my mom’s. Although there was some snow left on the road from an early storm, it wasn’t anything major. But it only takes a little bit of ice to cause trouble. Suddenly, mid conversation, the car fishtailed across the road and then slid back to the right before it settled in the ditch. We were stuck, shaken up but unharmed.

As we talked about how we were going to get out of this, a man in a truck pulled over and said he’d be right back with a strap. Moments later another car stopped to check on us. A third driver let us know he had called 911. There were also numerous cars and trucks that zoomed right by, which made me appreciate even more the kindness of those who did stop. Thirty minutes after landing in the ditch, we were able to continue on our journey thanks to the man with the truck and his friend.

We were quiet for the rest of the trip. Lost in our thoughts of “what if.” Luckily, we were fine, but it was a reminder of how precarious life is. We were one tree, on-coming car or steep incline away from our world forever changing.

Later that night, I held Turo for awhile after he fell asleep. Grateful for one more day.