Sep 6 Things change

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

Andy Warhol

Things change. It can change in a split second as it has for me a few times. or it can change so slowly you don’t notice until it has already happened.

I believe in parallel worlds, I believe we move from one to another by the decisions we make or don’t make. Always branching with no regard to what is good or evil.

I woke up one morning, I decided to visit a new acquaintance, a girl I met that liked dogs, she owned the local kennel. I made the decision to take both of my dogs. One dog was hesitant to get in the jeep. It took me a few minutes to get her in. She didn’t like the vehicle. I could have decided to leave her at home.

That December morning, I decided not to scrape the frost off the passenger side window. I made that decision because I knew the heater would melt that by the time I got to the highway.

I drove off, all dogs inside, I stopped at the stop sign at a crossroad close to the highway. Like I have a thousand times before. On Dec 3 2014 the sun lit up the frost on the side window for a second and blinded me. Just for a split second. I started to pull out based on wrong information. My mind told me the road was clear, no headlights and no other vehicle.

A split second later I looked out the window to see a driver, passenger and a little dog inside a very large truck 10 feet away from me moving very fast, just before it hit me. I was knocked out for a second. I came to and saw smoke rising from the dash. I quickly turned off the key. I had a gas can in the back.

My driver’s side window was gone, my dogs were both gone. I grabbed my cellphone and climbed out and fell on the ground, my neck and back were both broken. The two in the truck came closer. I did what I was trained to do in the military. I assessed the situation. I asked them if they were injured, both said no. I asked about the dogs. They said one was dead, the other was walking around.

I got on the phone, I called ambulance fire and police. I also called the kennel girl. She was close by and arrived before the ambulance. I asked her to take care of the animals here and at my home. She held my hand and agreed. She asked if anyone called the ambulance. I told her it was done. I asked her to get the dog’s blanket out of the back seat. I was laying on solid ice and was starting to get very cold.

I knew from first aid training this was bad, that I could go into shock. The blanket helped a little. She mentioned that the vehicles were on fire. I was lying close to my jeep. I told everyone to get back. I knew I could not be moved. The truck lit on fire, my jeep was just smoking, I was safe for the moment.

The ambulance, fire and police all arrived. I asked the girl to take care of the dogs. The crews did what they were trained to do.

My point is If I decided not to take my dog, the truck would not have been at that corner. If I had decided to clean the frost from the side window that morning, I would have seen the truck. If I had decided a million other things, my accident would not have happened.

Those were the choices I made that morning, this is the world I live in now.

What happened to the girl? She came to the hospital and kissed me goodbye, she said it was too much to deal with and left. I would pick up my animals 45 days later after spinal surgery. She made her decision and tried to fix it later, but it would not happen. I was left alone in that hospital with my injuries and some very bad nurses and doctors.

I survived all that and one day I quit the opioids they had me on, called a friend for a ride and went home to a house that was frozen.

Do it right the first time, or hope that you get a second chance to do better.