A few days ago as I was driving Peanut to school an area of one of the main roads was closed down. I knew it had to be a terrible accident as there were police cars blocking traffic, lots of onlookers and that general sense of eeriness you feel around something bad.
Whenever we see an accident or an ambulance, police car or fire truck near us, Peanut and I say a prayer for the people who may have been injured or harmed in any way. We did it this time as usual.
I dropped Peanut off at school and told the Principal about the accident. I feared it may be one of the students involved as the road is one of the main roads to the school. I also wanted him to know that children may be late as the traffic was tied up.
When I returned home I put the local news on and learned that a young man who was the father of 3 children was struck and killed by a pickup truck. He was taking out the trash when this happened. It was about 6 AM and the truck made a U-turn and went through his driveway and and the front yard of the home next door.
What an awful way to die. His son’s birthday is Monday. A party was planned. Instead his funeral will be held. Hug your loved ones. Show them how much you care. Don’t leave or go to sleep angry with your spouse. You just never know.
That’s exactly why I make it a point to never get frustrated with accident-related traffic jams. Even if there are no fatalities, the folks whose cars have just been mangled are having a much worse day than me. That poor family! Can’t imagine what future birthdays will be like for the son, either.