VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:09 am Post subject: Countcher Blessings

Happy to be alive today! Was up a nearby canyon yesterday, walking in the height of a snowstorm with a friend and 3 dogs. Driving down the snow-covered, greasy road in my AWD Subie, 2nd gear, 10-15mph, and my wheels lock up on a small curve. I turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, all the way to the left and...nothing. I glance at my passenger and she shrugs. I hold the steering wheel hard and lean back into the seat, anticipating the airbag. (It didn't deploy.) I miss the side of the rock wall bridge, and thread the needle between it and a telephone pole and steel signpost. Eyes wide open, I crash through a chainlink fence to a LOUD noise and explosion of chainlink. Car stops, we find ourselves on the other side of the fence and a locked gate. A piece of the fence hooked on the right side of the hood, and the roof rack and rocket box sheared off, slowing the impact. I back off the fence with a bit of maneuvering, park on a flat spot right near the two-door gate that is padlocked and chained. I roll the windows down a bit for the dogs, leave them there, lift the chainlink to sneak underneath and another driver stops and gives us a ride home, just around the corner. We get my friend's truck, some bolt cutters, and return to the scene, where the dogs remain as quiet as church mice. With the muscle of two of us and several attempts later, we cut through a link on the chain/padlock and the gate swings open as the long arm of the law drives by. He doesn't stop. I drive the car off the property and park it on the other side of the road and as we prepare to lift the rack and rocket box into my friend's truck, a jeep stops. We immediately approach it and talk with the driver, who is caretaker of the gate/fence/property, which belongs to the Boy Scouts of America (Be Prepared!). I give them my business card and address and they agree to be in touch with a bill for the cost of repairing the fence. My car is really no worse for the wear save some small scratches and some peeled paint and exposed metal where the hood caught on the fence. Rack and box are in fine shape. We people are, too, and the dogs. This happened after our lovely walk in the woods where I told my friend I thought I was losing my mind, so busy like a hamster on a wheel, and what does it all mean and where's my old life and who am I and where's my solid ground. It's all here and it's fine and I have new perpsective and a new lease on life...unscathed. Wow. It could have been sooooo much worse.
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Dave · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:26 am Post subject:

Bettie/Diane,

As I read along I couldn't help but get a little anxious for the outcome. Reminded me of a time when the 4X4 I was driving (downhill) on an icy patch and went of control. Nothing to do but brace for impact! Glad to hear everything worked out OK.
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Frank F · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:36 am Post subject:

Whew, soooo gald to hear you came out more or less unscathed. Your angels are watching close by and you should thank them...

No Driving in Utah Snow Storms for you this year...

Frank F
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dhouston67 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:44 am Post subject:

You're not supposed to actually perform Wheelies, Bettie. Wink

Especially in an AWD truck. Very glad you're okay.
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jrodriguez315 · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject: Re: Countcher Blessings

Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1636

Diane -

I am glad there was a happy ending to this. A friend of mine, who happens to be a police officer, once shared a story of some guy driving 35 mph through 9 inches of snow in a giant 4x4 truck. (In Dayton that's a lot of snow.) My friend pulled him over and gave him a ticket for speeding in a 35 zone. When the driver protested saying it was OK because he was in a 4x4, my friend returned with this gem of knowledge "Sure, your 4x4 helps you get moving. But every car, truck and van has four wheel brakes."

Glad to hear your OK.

SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:17 pm Post subject:

Glad you're okay. Scary ordeal.
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bobsouer · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject:

Diane,

Thank you for sharing this story and your conclusions from it. Sometimes life includes more excitement that we thought we really wanted! I'm very glad to know you, your friend and your dogs are all OK.
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mcm · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:35 pm Post subject:

There has been a lot of cosmic IM-ing this week. I'm glad you're still at the keyboard Diane.

Everybody, buckle you precious selves up.

Bailey · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject:

I'm glad you're telling the story... instead of us reading about it.
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Deirdre · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:54 pm Post subject:

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:13 am Post subject:

Love you all! Thanks for your support, kind words, and good wishes!

(Somehow this morning I was reminded of that post by the one guy who came and went--at least I think he did--who accused us of "fawning sycophantry." Remember him?? Meh.)
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:30 am Post subject:

Yeah— we fawned all over that guy, didn't we.
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bobsouer · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:58 am Post subject:

Pam · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

So glad you, the friend, the pooches and the auto are no worse for wear. Occurences like that are reality checks, helps you find out what's important and what's not important.