Last night I worked late. I was heading to the Distribution Center this morning so I had some finishing up to do at the desk. I try to be creative in my "desk sign" so everyone knows where I'm at. This time was no different. I said I'd be at the warehouse, sweating profusely and may not be back until I first take a shower...and so on....It was very focused on my dissatisfaction with my sweating issues.
the other reason I was staying late was so I could drive directly to praise team practice from work. Great worship time! It's been a long time since I've sung at church and it was so great to harmonize with some very talented individuals I call friends. One of the songs we're singing on Sunday is one of my most favorite AND most despised. Favorite because it really sets the tone for my worship to God. Despised because it tears into my comfortable heart and challenges me in ways I don't want to be challenged. Anyway....we finished the practice, it was wonderful (and challenging) and I went home.
This morning was like most summer days: everybody up, shower, dressed, and out the door. Brenda had left already. Just me and the kids. Open the front door and it's POURING rain. Ran into the garage to get an umbrella and crap! Only one available is the "Noah's Ark" one. Grapped it and helped the kids to the car. Drove to the sitter's house, dropped the kids off and went on my way. This day was a little different in that I had approximately 3000 boxes of books in the car with me. With travel to the warehouse, I was donned with jeans and a t-shirt, after which I would change into khakis and a polo upon arrival back to the office. I even brought myself a new pair of underwear, just in case the sweating was more than I could handle!
I normally go my "normal" way. Today, I decided to go a different way, which basically meant taking I-75 instead of I-71. So I did. Turning on my favorite Christian radio station, I started singing my way down the highway in the rain. The drive was forever. It's amazing to me that I ever drove all the way down to CCU every day....I guess you just get used to it after a while. I made my way to the Norwood Lateral and got off the exit to catch I-71 South for just a bit to get off at my exit. Around the curve, slowly, because I've seen so many accidents here....out of the curve and speeding up to make the entrance onto the highway....
In the middle of my singing, I hydroplaned, spun the car, hit the guardrail, and spun again.
All I can remember is that I was saying "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!" I guess that's better than swearing! :) A little shook up, I turned to see if anyone else had been in front of me or behind me - - fortunately no one was around, so no injuries. The guy behind me stopped to make sure I was okay. All was well. The air bag had not deployed, and I seemed fine. The front of the car, however, was a different story: all bunched up, messed up, and crashed up.
I called the Emergency number on my cell phone. That was exciting. First the Norwood cop showed up. Again, it's pouring down rain. He approaches the car and motions for me to step out. I grab my umbrella.....and you guessed it.....it's the Noah's Ark one. Let me describe this for you: yellow, pink, purple with noah's ark cartoon-like pictures covering the entire thing. Oh! and don't forget that it was made for a 5 year old, so it's a bit small for an adult! yep, that's the one.....a grown man walking down the highway with his yellow & pink umbrella next to a police officer. Ah! What a moment! :)
We searched for the spot I hit the guardrail, talked it over, and he proceeds to tell me that he called the Cincinnati cops because where I hit the guardrail is in an "unknown district" - it was between the Cincinnati and Norwood districts, being on the ramp, and so he was unable to write up the paperwork until they decided whose district I crashed in! :) So I took my yellow & pink umbrella and got back in the car to wait. As I waited, I utilized my cell phone to call work colleagues, my wife, and the tow company. As I was speaking with a close work friend, I happened to notice (and remember) that while I was spinning and crashing, my underwear had gone FLYING through the air and landed on my front seat floor. How convenient for me. The proverbial mother quote of all time ringing through my head.....I was all prepared if I needed to change into my clean underwear! Ha! Ha!
Then the Cincinnati cop showed up. He also motioned for me to get out of the car. My yellow & pink umbrella was becoming my friend at this point. Only this time, this cop made quite a face when I popped out from the car, extending my umbrella into the rainy sky. I'm sure I looked like an idiot. After much discussion, it was Cincinnati who had the opportunity to talk with me further about the incident. Instead of standing in the rain, he asked me to come sit in his car while we finished up the paperwork.
I gathered my stuff, grabbed my y & p umbrella, and walked up to the cop's car. I tried the front passenger seat....uh.....no.....gotta go to the backseat. Wow. Criminals sure have it bad. The seats, the floor, the walls...they are all plastic. Hard plastic. And that little tiny hole to talk into is worse than those holes at the movie theater. The doors are hilarious without handles to roll down the window, bars on them, and no handles to open them. My cop was VERY nice. We had some laughs as I commented on the comfortability of the backseat, the customer-friendly window bars, and the fact that I didn't have a record......until now. That is when it got pretty sad. He told me the good news: I wasn't injured, no need for an ambulance, no one else was hurt. Then the bad news: I was getting a ticket. I was now a cited citizen. I blamed the rain. He blamed me for my inability to control the vehicle. Gotta love Cincinnati. He let me know that I could mail my check in within 7 days. If I didn't pay it in 7 days, though, I would have to see him in court very soon. I told him as much as I really liked him today, I'd prefer not to see him again and that I would pay within the 7 days. (the check is ready to go in tomorrow's mail!)
My beautiful wife picked me up, we watched the car be towed away, and a very nice colleague came and transported the 3000 boxes I had in my car to the warehouse for me. I have filled out tons of paperwork and we're waiting for repair estimates, insurance claims, doctor appointments, and figuring out the daily schedule with only one car. All in all, I'm glad no one else was hurt, the kids were at the sitter's and I only had boxes flying around in the car with me.
Family, immediate and work-related, is definitely a blessing.
Oh! And that brings me back to my favorite and despised praise song: Blessed Be Your Name.
The words that continue to challenge me:
Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say:
Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name
It's the choice thing that gets me. No matter what - - in good times and in bad - - I make a choice whether or not to trust God in ALL things. And when I do....my heart grows larger, my faith grows stronger, and "me" is replaced with "Him" - What a challenge!
