Tuesday night I was all packed and ready to go to the pool for aerobics the next morning (I love it!!) Chet had to be to work around 5:30 -- so I would just drop him off- and head to my class- early I hate early!!! We woke up late and decided we'd leave around 6:00 a.m. and just call to work to let them know! We walked out the door as usual-- loving getting up that early -- pitch black dark, wind going a million miles an hour and raining or snowing or something in between! It was cold and miserable morning- one where you just wanted to stay in bed and wait for summer-- and now looking back -- we should have!
We were headed into town on 33rd South (Sunnyside) we were about 2 or so miles from home-- Chet had just hung up with work and let them know he'd be there in a few minutes -- no problem-- we were having our usual morning chat- when suddenly -- and I mean suddenly we were out of control!!!
Now here is where the story takes 2 different turns-- the original one--and the final story (that I"m pretty sure is really what happens.
The car (small 92 Ford Escort!) well the back end any way -- took a huge lunge to the Right- Chet immediately screamed (well kind of loud voice) what is going on -- As I tried to correct my fish tail-- and me telling him I'll get it I'll get it-- but getting more out of control by the second-- every time I just about had it back in line-- it would leap back to the right! The big problem was we weren't slowing down at all-- and thinking I had hit ice-- I didn't want to slam on the breaks and cause more problems!! I kept telling Chet I'll get it I'll get it! Suddenly we hit gravel-- which sent us spinning -- flipped the car around-- hitting and taking out a street sign and back around again-- now headed for the canal-- this was all happening in such a slow motion type fashion-- and all that was going through my head was don't hit your stomach-- don't hit your stomach-- The Oh Shits started to fly as we both saw the canal coming at us and we hit and rolled on our side! Immediately we both asked if the other was ok-- and we were-- the landing had been -- unusually soft!! But we were still sitting the wrong way -- in a huge canal! Chet was hanging by his seat belt-- luckily so he hadn't ran into me-- I was not wearing one- I hate the things and refuse to-- (also lucky!) Chet rolled down the passenger window and crawled out-- he then helped his terrified pregnant wife out (me)!
Now what-- its dark, cold and our car is on its side-- I did a quick -- once over on me- to make sure I had all my parts, nothing seemed hurt-- my butt was a little sore-- because I had kind of tucked and turned-- to avoid hitting my belly on the steering whell-- and ended up cracking my butt and hip on the door!
I called my dad and in the calmest voice I could muster-- I told him-- uhm- I put the car in the ditch-- !! Nice wake up call at 6 in the morning huh!!
We then called a tow truck and the police!
A car drove by and Chet made a comment about no one being good samaritans and no one stopping to help-- just as soon as that was said-- the car immediately went into reverse! A lady got out and I started my way up the steep canal bank to her-- she put her arms out and said come here-- I started to bawl-- I had held it together until then! She putme in her car-- where it was warm warm-- Chet finished his call and came in! I was terrified-- not for what had happened but for our baby-- had I hit anything-- was it ok? Etc Etc Etc! My parents showed up along with the police and tow truck! What a morning
Chet tried to drive the car home-- and as we followed we noticed the right (notice right) rear tire was pointed at a lovely 45 degree angle out-- Hmm??? That' s not normal and even at the slow 10 mph speed it was dragging the back end of the car off the road (as if it were on ice?)
The car made it about 1 mile from home and died-- I'm sure sitting on its side for more than an hour-- had dumped all the oil out of the engine! Sad car-- but it didnt owe us anything!!
We towed the sad Chicken Coop back home!
I still thinking I had hit ice -- was feeling bad -- about being a "bad driver" and just wanting the doctors office to open so I could hear a heartbeat!
Finally we heard that wonderful sound-- everything was ok-- nothing harmed-- and baby good! Hooray-- that was my number one concern!
Now for the other story! Chet in talking with the tow truck driver as they were digging the poor car out of the canal-- the tow truck driver-- noticed that the right rear strut was broken off in the middle-- not something that had happened during our ice skating ! So probably what happend is the strut broke-- causing the car's back end to vere hard to the right-- and thus every time I corrected it-- it quickly drug me back to the right! I love that story -- so much more than I hit ice and couldn't handle it!! I tried everything I could and could not bring that car back to the center!!
So here are some pictures-- sad sad car!!! But we are soo soo very thankfult o be alive and ok-- the more we look at where we went in the canal-- the more we know we were set there by angels ! A few more yards sooner and it would have been a telephone pole, few more yards farther and it would be a cement head gate! The sign stopped us from rolling and just slid nicely into the canal-- and the funny lip on the edge of the canal kept us from hitting hard! And luckily-- if the strut did break-- the roads were wet -- and let us slide a bit-- so as not to roll immediately! Lucky are we! We know!
Here is the canal-- and its hard to see from here- but its deep-- see my tire tracks! Oh what fun-- oh and no water in it- lucky for us! In a couple of days this will be full of water!
Poor sad car! The passenger door took the blunt of the sign!
Once again pictures cannot do the tire justice-- it is pointed out way far if you look from the front! What scary Deal!
The more we think and talk about it-- the luckier we feel! We were truly blessed and protected that morning!
Unfortunately the Chicken Coop has taken its last flight!! Farewell!
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