December 19, 2018

They say cats have nine lives because when they fall from high places, they almost always land on their feet. 

I am certain that I have way more than nine lives. I have seen my life pass before my eyes too many times to count.

Like when I am driving up the entrance ramp to the highway, before I merge I always check my side and rear view mirrors for cars that could be in my blindspot. I pull out into traffic and right next to me is a car I never saw. Terrifying! Where the heck did it come from? 

Have you ever seen the pictures of the exhausted guardian angel? That's my angel. I call him Fred. I keep him pretty busy. 

Have you ever slipped on ice in the winter? It's usually under the snow so you can't see it until you fall on your butt or back. That split second when you know you're going to fall and there's nothing you can do about it. Terrifying! Thank goodness, I wear layers of shirts, pants, coats, hoods, hats, and gloves. So when I do hit my head, I am not knocked unconscious. That actually happed to a relative of mine. He fell on the ice beside his car and hit his head. His family found him inthe morning frozen as an icicle. 

When I was four, I wanted to go see my cousins who lived in town seven miles away. My parents wouldn't take me. So I packed a shoebox with my doll and pajamas and left the house in the morning before my parents woke up. I walked into town. On my way, I passed under two major interstate highways. No one stopped me or kidnapped me. I made it into town and then couldn't remember the street to my cousin's house. I played with two little girls on the sidewalk until they had to go inside for lunch. I forgot to pack any food. I started to cry because I was thirsty and hungry. An old lady saw me. She asked who I was, so I told her my name. She took me to my grandparents house. They lived in town, too. They called my parents who were searching for me in the fields next to our house. How did I, a little four year old, walk seven miles into town without any one noticing me or calling the cops? 

When was a time you saw your life flash before your eyes?