I was having one of THOSE days....dreary and bleak, feeling so cranky and annoyed with myself that I ripped out the ENTIRE sock I had been knitting on size 1US needles...with the delicious red koigu, because SOMEHOW I dropped a stitch somewhere and without any natural light to speak of, I couldn't fix it and OH WOE IS ME....why can't I do anything right during the WINTER?
RIIIIIIIIP.
Before I undid anything else, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't picked up my mail in awhile.
I was STUNNED to find the gorgeous hand made needle keepers pictured above (notice, please, the FABULOUS Black Kitty fabric in honor of SaraCAT....) with a lovely, LOVELY card from Julie. RAOK.
AND...seeds for some of my favorite flowers...a preview of SPRING (which I am so desperately craving right now) from Wendy G...another RAOK.
I took a deep breath. I cried (just a little) about my sweet Sara. Felt a little better...Started re-knitting the Red Thread of Destiny Sock. Listened to the ice and sleet rain down. Said some extra prayers for Driving the Boy to the MALL. I had been extra nervous, hypersensitive about the drive. My Spidey sense was on full alert. Why it prompted me to check the MAIL.....
We had a LOVELY time together, and on the way home, a Very NEAR Miss with a jack knifing tractor trailer. Danger! Excitement! Chocolate Chip Cookies! The Boy was thrilled, of course.
As the Rear edge of the trailer swung dangerously close to my driver side mirror, I said *HOLYMARYMOTHEROFGOD* and put all of my Defensive Driver Training skills in gear. From the back seat came the breathless...*HEAL US AMEN!*
Random? I think NOT.
Let's check with those engineers about that algorithm.
Thank you from the bottom of my frozen little toes for your Acts of Kindness.
May the BLESSINGS be reflected a thousand fold.
Oh, and ANN? It was a fully loaded USPS truck. One of the BIGGUNS.
eeeeeeeeeps. If any of you wish to know exactly how well the Real Time 4WD works on a
Honda CRV, in extremely ICY conditions while in rush hour traffic, about to be squeezed between
a tractor trailer and a concrete barrier, with your precious child in the backseat, We're here to tell you, PERFECTLY.
Ack! Ack ack ack!
Thank GOD for Hondas, says me. And BoyBirds and their drivin' mamas.
xo
Posted by: Rachael | February 04, 2005 at 07:20 AM
Yikes, I'm so glad to hear you survived the drive in one piece. How scary! I'm so very glad you liked the needle rolls, I was a bit worried about the brightness of the fabric. :)
Posted by: Julie | February 04, 2005 at 07:31 AM
Oh, Greta, I am so glad you guys are okay! That must have been so scary!!!
Posted by: sUsAn | February 04, 2005 at 07:49 AM
Glad to hear you're still here! And in one piece - wish I could say the same for the poor sock! I've been fighting my own battles with a sock on 2's - but I'm at the toe weaving part now and have the second on the needles. It is definitely hard to see on overcast days.
Posted by: lillium | February 04, 2005 at 07:50 AM
Glad to hear you're fine! Glad to hear Honda's have great 4WD... but I'm sure getting through without an accident was just as much due to your defensive driving skills. Good luck with Red Sock take 2.
Posted by: Melissa | February 04, 2005 at 10:27 AM
Yikes! That scared me so much I dropped my knitting. How wonderful that you and your boy came through safely. Here's to an early spring.
Posted by: Jane | February 04, 2005 at 11:32 AM
Never underestimate the power of prayer. I have a strong suspicion that Danger Girl's sidekick might have some super powers of his own. Sending you love and strength...
Posted by: Nathania | February 04, 2005 at 11:54 AM
Oh my gosh--what did you do??? Just getting in the car sometimes scares me, and this is exactly why!
Posted by: Sharlene | February 04, 2005 at 01:51 PM
That is why I never go out in icy weather. But I understand that the Boy does get upset when his routine is upset. So I can understand why you went. But please be extra careful next time.
Posted by: mia | February 04, 2005 at 01:55 PM
Holy Cow! I was having the same moment here in Ca! Stopped behind a big rig, looked up in time to see the one behind me lock up his brakes and start jack-knifing...eak! The truck in front started to roll forward and I just kept myself attached to his tailgate...and the one behind missed by 4"!!!! We all got out to admire our fabulous defensive driver work. The driver of the truck in front said he never saw me, he just thought he was going to get hit. Sigh. At least I had just dropped the little one off at school and she didn't get to hear me talk myself down.
Posted by: Carrie | February 04, 2005 at 06:17 PM
Amen to defensive driving, prayer and Hondas. A Honda saved my boy and his passenger when he flipped the elderly Prelude. They should have been dead or maimed, but his passenger didn't have a scratch, he had a few cuts and bruises. They are God's Own Vehicles in my book - a seat belt and a Honda and you are as well off as you can be, though prayer helps too. When I can afford to dump the Altima (not a bad car at all and it has saved my fanny in similar situations but I need an SUV) I want a CRV. Or a Pilot if I get a better job.
I'm loving the Boy's response to your prayer - how cool is THAT!?
Posted by: Catherine | February 04, 2005 at 07:04 PM
holymarymotherofgod, indeed.
And the big trucks are so big they don't even come to our place. We get Bob, in his rather petite tractor trailer.
Now, no more testing the AWD...
Posted by: Ann | February 04, 2005 at 07:55 PM