We were all in our van driving up to Boston from Philly to visit family. I was driving on 95, the girls were watching a dvd, Colin was asleep and my husband was dozing in the passenger seat. We were making great time, there was very little traffic, everything was going great.
The car in front of me stopped suddenly. I slammed on my breaks and we screeched to a halt, barely missing the car in front of us. I glanced in my rear view mirror and realized what was going to happen about half a second before it did…
BAM!
We all slammed forward, everything not secured was flying around: the GPS flew off the window, the coffee I had just bought from McDonalds exploded all over – even the change in the coin holder was flying around the car.
My head hurt, my arm hurt, the kids were crying – Ellie said her head hurt, Grace said her back hurt and Colin was screaming at the top of his lungs. My husband and I just looked at each other, shocked.
Our well-planned itinerary, the luggage smashed in the trunk, our poor damaged van, the fact that we were somewhere in the middle of Connecticut (not even sure where) – not even an issue, not even a thought in our heads.
The fact that we were in an accident, on a highway, on 95, and we were all okay and able to drive our car away was a miracle. We were okay.
Nothing else mattered.
All of us were shaking, my heart was racing, my mind was going a mile a minute — I just kept saying "Its okay. We're okay." over and over. It wasn't until we were laying in bed that night that it truly hit me what had happened – and what could have happened that day.
All I wanted to do was to snuggle all of us together and not let go. Today, I have lost count of how many times I have kissed my kids and hugged them and said "I love you."
This was a screaming reminder that life is fragile. Everything can change in a millisecond.
Go kiss your babies. Love up your family. Leave no doubt in their little minds of your complete and utter devotion to them.
About Melissa
glad you are ok… so scary!
Oh my gosh Melissa, I am so sorry to hear this!! Praise God you all are okay and the van was at least driveable. I hope you all don’t get too sore. Take care and thanks for reminding me to be grateful for today and too remind my kids how much I love them!!
oh Melissa. That’s my worst nightmare. I hate 95 once you get north of the city. Please be safe and I’m glad you seem to be finding the positive in all this. I am taking your suggestion and going to kiss my kid right now.
Oh my! I am so glad you are okay. I could only imagine how petrified you were.
Oh my Lord! That is terrifying! Glad you guys are all okay!
How terrifying! I am so glad to hear that you and your family are all oksy! I was rearended while I was pregnant with my daughter and my son was in the car. I still get teary-eyed thinking of what could have been. It’s a scary world out there!
wow. nice reminder from you tonight to be grateful.
Eek! I am so glad you are okay.
so glad everyone is okay! you definitely said it right – that’s all that matters. everyTHING else can be fixed or replaced.
Oh no!!! So thankful you are all okay. So sorry about the accident though. About having to go through the insurance claims. BUT like you said. You are all okay and that’s what truly matters
I’m so glad you are ok. You must be very shaken up.
I’m glad that you and your family are ok, and I’m sorry that you had to go through that. You are so right in what you learned – we need to be grateful for every moment we have and let those we love make sure they know how important they are.
Oh my. I’m glad you are all well. I guess sometimes it takes these reminders, doesn’t it?
That sounded weird. I don’t mean you needed that to happen, like you deserved it or something. I just mean that when things like this happen they always make me realize that fragility as well, which is not always at the forefront of my mind otherwise.
!
Oh no! Thank goodness that you are all safe and okay.
So sorry to hear that but glad everyone is ok. I hope your problems are resolved quickly!!
I hope that it wasn’t a hit-and-run. I couldn’t tell from your post…
So glad you are all safe. I hate driving on 95.