Somehow I knew, while growing up, that common sense was a highly valued , instinctive character trait.
How did I know this?
Why through my parents, of course.
They had an interesting way of teaching their children how to behave.
They modeled behaviors with simple, specific instructions , without fanfare or the indecision and hand-wringing that today’s world encourages.
That modeling helped me greatly on Monday of this past week.
Thank you Mother and Daddy.
As I reached the south side of Houston Monday morning, traveling home on 59, after a wonderful long weekend of baby-sitting my grandsons, I was involved in a 3 car collision on the expressway.
One car swerved to miss a tire on the expressway, a car swerved to try and miss that car, pulling into my lane and hitting his brakes, and I hit him traveling at about 65 mph.
My air bag exploded , I had a blowout, my front end was damaged, and smoke was inside my car.
Common Sense Thinking:
* get out of the car now
*grab your phone to call 911
*hit your emergency light button as you get out of the car because someone is probably getting ready to hit you (I was still on 59 in work traffic)
*get off of the expressway now
*that’s not enough, climb the concrete embankment and get on the other side
*call 911
*check on the men from the other car
*wait for the police and say a prayer of thanks
***
43 comments:
So glad you are well.
Laura, thank you for telling me this before posting it. I would have totally come apart had you not. Thank God you are okay.
Yes, your parents did a wonderful job. Thank you, Wanda and Jim. Rock solid common sense!
Hugs,
Karen
Oh my goodness! I am thankful you are OK, that you remembered the correct action to take and that your airbag deployed correctly! Thank you God for keeping my friend safe! HUGS!
Oh My. So glad you are okay and that common sense voice kicked in. Accidents are so sudden and jarring. Take it easy for a few days till you settle back in.
Oh my, I am glad you are doing well. Accidents can happen so quickly. I hope you have a good weekend. Blessings, sandi
Laura oh my goodness!!! How scary! I am so happy you are okay. Whew! What a relief. My prayers are with you at this time.
Blessings, ~Melissa
God is Sovereign in all things! Praise the Lord-- he gave you these instincts. Glad you weren't hurt...hope everyone else was ok too.
Glad to hear that you are well after that! Thank God for parents who teach their children to think! :-) It comes out instinctively when needed most.
Rest and enjoy your weekend!
Sharon
So happy you are OK. Accidents are scary things and yes you reacted very well! Thank your parents and God for keeping you safe.
Laura, I'm relieved to know you are safe. Car accidents happen in split seconds and one has little control. I'm sure it will take you some time to clam your nerves over this one. Hugs to you~ Sarah
The perils of driving on Houston highways! I've been an expat Texan for almost 14 years, but I remember all too well how stressful driving that corner of Texas can be. Mattresses, landscape timbers, kiddie pools...not to mention miles and miles of retread turtles to dodge. I've seen it all on that stretch of road through the years...I'm just glad you're ok Laura!!!
Life can change in a split second. Thank goodness and your good parents that your inner common sense kicked in and went into auto-pilot and that you are safe!
Car accident on a Houston freeway in rush hour!! Can it get any worse!! You are so fortunate!!!
Thank God you had the sense to remember those things and that you are a survivor. I hope no one was badly hurt...take care of yourself.
I am glad to hear that you are okay and hope that no one else was hurt either!!!
It is absolutely amazing that you were able to handle your self so well after something like that happened!!
Looks like you Mother and Father did a wonderful job but we already knew that :-)
Laura, I am so thankful to God you are unscathed physically. Also grateful for your parent instilled common sense. Wrecks like this do tend to remind us of the important lessons I think.
hugs cubed,
olive
Wow! So glad you are okay and that you had the wherewithal to respond as you did.
Excellent responce you made. Thank the Lord you are alright.
Sonny
Thank goodness for that common sense. I'm not sure I would have thought to do all those things. I'm so glad that you got out without injury. Thanks God for no injuries and your parents for the common sense.
oh Laura... what a frightening experience! sounds like you are okay... I certainly hope so! take care sweet girl... sending you a hug and a prayer...
glad all is all right, my daughter and i were in a terrible wreck, 3 wks ago now, decided not to post to on blog, too herific, but on facebook if you want to see my lexus totaled, as my girlfriend said my car gave its life to save us!!! i have 3 bruised rib and my daughter two herniaed discs, but i have a new lease on life and we are on the mend best to you, life is too short to sweat the small stuff
smiles
kate
So What Happened???? Are you ok? Probably yes cause you posted about it. Re: commonsense- one of my fave expressions when being frustratated by someone lacking it is:
"Common sense is not so Common!" Looks like your parent's done good:)
Hope you are well and can enjoy the weekend,
Sparkly Hugs,
Tobi and the Pixies
There is a world of difference between "book" sense and "common" sense...thank goodness (and your parents and God) you have both.
BTW, if I'm ever flying, I would want you in the seat next to me...just in case.
Debbie
One of my worst nightmares. To be in an accident on the freeway when everyone is traveling so fast.
Glad you had your wits about you!
Di
Your post made tears stream down my face because this is something that scares the daylights out of me. I am so glad that you are okay and that you responded with common sense. It's hard to think when you are so scared. Your common sense was instilled in you and is a part of your being. God is good!
Teresa
God is so good, isn't He? so thankful you're okay and hope the others are too.
I'm so glad to hear that you are ok. What a terrifying ordeal, I can't imagine anything worse than an accident in Houston at rush hour. So grateful that you were able to keep your wits about you, climbing over the concrete barrier was a stroke of genius. Kathy
I found your blog through Kathy's of Sweet Up North Mornings.....Common sense and calm are something I learned early from my parents, too. I am so glad you are OK.....after an emergency, I may work well through it, but then after the event, I fall to pieces. Wish I could get rid of that! Truly!
I am adding your blog to my list of favorites....
Jil
Oh Laura - bless your heart!!! How are you today? I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO thankful that you are okay - and thinking at the time!!! I thank your parents too!!!
Hope you are feeling okay!!! You're in my prayers!
:-D robelyn
Oh my word - how frightening!! Thank God you are ok!
Blessings to you that it wasn't time for your heavenly promotion! Wow, how scary! So glad that your safe and unharmed. Bummer, now you'll need another car.
Wow, how terrifying! Thank God that you weren't injured, especially at that speed! I've been in a few wrecks, but never going that fast! Someone was watching over you, for sure. Take care and have a great weekend!
Yikes! Thank goodness you are OK and that you kept your head.
Have you stopped shaking yet?
Cass
I am sure God was watching over you. He is so good. I am glad you are safe.
Dottie
Laura,
I'm so glad you are alright! This is such a reminder that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Thank God for His protection and for you sweet parent's wise counsel.
Thank you God that you're all right.
Laura ~ Bless your heart! I'm so intensely relieved that you are safe. Yes, I too was raised valuing common sense above most things and it surely was evident in your collision experience - just ticking off the vital steps you needed to take instead of simply panicking.
I think maybe you were also being led by the Holy Spirit and that angels of the Lord were protecting you. A wreck at 65mph and you're alive and well - that's a God thang!!! Beautiful...
Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)
HOLY COW Woman!! So glad it turned out all right. I'm sure your Mom andDad were proud of you and John too!!!! He is such the cautious one...I can hear him saying...."Now Laura, you need to.........
You did good my friend.
Love JB
Oh Laura, that sounds so scary and I can just imagine in that Houston traffic. So glad you are ok. Are you sore?
I'm a little behind but so glad you are ok. Driving in Houston makes me a nervous wreck ~ folks drive crazy!
glad your okay...that Houston traffic is horrible...
I'm catching up here and oh my gosh! girl! I wasn't expecting to read this as I was just admiring your yellow box flip flops!!!! oh my gosh...where's your other foot? hahahaha
just kidding!
I'm glad to hear you are safe and okay. you scared the heck out of me! however, shame on me for laughing as i'm wondering how fast those yellow boxes were running to the concrete curb! okay...i quit...i promise.
hope you still love me for picking on you :)
i'm just so happy you're okay!
OMG!! Sooo thankful that you are okay!!! That is my ultimate worst nightmare driving around here! That is why we do not venture far from home. The Hubster is now having to drive all the way to Katy for who knows how long and I just hate to think abt that drive!! Again soo glad you are alright!!! Many hugs!
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