May 26, 2007 - Entry #6

May 26, 2007 - Entry #6

*This diary is intended to be an official record for the world as to what is happening to me and my family and what (although unknown at this point) is to be. -- for an accurate reading, please begin with Entry #1


A lot has happened since my last log…

It had rained all morning as I drove and, at one point in the late afternoon, I swear that armageddon had been unleashed on the earth. Hail the size of marbles had machine gunned our car for several minutes. I reassured my (scared out of his wits) son that we’d be fine.

To my relief the rain had slowed as fast as it came. I reached to adjust the radio to hear weather reports when a deer had bolted onto the road. I yanked on the steering wheel.

The car clipped the back end of the deer and skid sideways over mud. I hit the brakes and the we slid helplessly toward the ditch as if a hand had snatched the top of the car and decided it was time for us to get off the road.

We hit sideways, burying the front left side (and most of the side down to the door) completely in mud and weeds.

I turned to check on my son and he sat there with his eyes as wide as silver dollars. He pursed his lips and said ‘Holy wow’.

Relief burst from me with a laugh, ‘Yeah, Holy wow’.

I looked back to the road and could see a dark outline of the deer on the road. I told my son to stay in the car then climbed out the passenger door, slugged my way through the mud and made my way up onto the road.

I stood before the deer as its remaining huffs of life rose through the rain. It’s eyes wide with fear.

My son startled me when he joined my side. We both stared at the deer in silence for a few minutes when he looked up at me and said ‘We hit it’

My heart sank. ‘Yes we did’

An amazing amount of blood had pooled from its neck (which also looked broken). The deer kicked its legs twice and I told my son to go back to the car. I turned to see he was crying. I picked him up and hugged him tight as he buried his face into my shoulder.

Later, I sat behind the wheel, gazing out to farm fields that never end and frowned at the rain as it spit on us.

It was going to be dark soon so I decided we had better stay put and hopefully the rain would stop by morning. I tried the engine to warm up the car. Nothing. We ate a few gas station sandwiches then bundled up in blankets. I tried the radio. Nothing but static.

In the middle of the night there was a loud tap on the window. At first I didn’t wake up. I was in a deep sleep and it took a moment for me to realize where I was. I opened my eyes to a blinding flashlight through my window. Relief actually washed over me thinking ‘I’m caught. It’s over, thank God!’

It turned out to be a farmer in the area. He was heading home from town. He spotted our car and pulled over to see if anyone was alive in the wreck.

It was cold and still raining when he helped us out of the car and into his pick-up. I told him about the deer and could smell whisky on his breath as he coughed and smiled at the fact that we weren’t hurt. He ‘swore’ he’d find brains splattered all over the car and said we were nuts to be out in this. There were tornado warnings and funnel clouds were spotted in the next county over.


So now, at this moment, I am typing this at a small desk in a guestroom of a rather large farmhouse. The fellow who found us is a grandfather, living with his son and son’s wife. The couple has 5, unbelievably well mannered kids. This is will be the second night here and I am blown away at how nice these people have been to two, total strangers. I can’t describe how good the shower felt and a hot breakfast was heaven.

Earlier today I sat with the old guy in the front room. I told him my story. Everything. I decided that I owed him that and I am definitely not implicating anyone without them knowing.

After, he sat there thinking and looking at me for what seemed like an eternity. My son came into the room and asked if he could go see their cows (with two of the boys). The old man turned to my son and said ‘Do you love your dad?'

My son looked at him with a confused look then nodded ‘yes’.

The old guy smiled then told him to go see the cows. He then turned to me and said. ‘I’ll drive you and your boy to the city tomorrow morning. I need to go shopping anyway.’

I find it impossible to not think about my wife. So I write to clear my mind. I find putting down my thoughts like this helps more than ever now. Allows me to sort things out and think about what I’m going to do. I’ve begun to work out a plan and I’m looking forward to seeing my friend.

I’ve also been thinking about everything I’ve put off. Building a 3D puzzle that my son has asked me dozens of times to work on with him. Rebuilding a 1968 mustang, collecting dust in my garage. Finishing a novel that I started years ago and above all, take my wife to a tropical island for a holiday. A dream of hers (since forever) that I’ve put aside every year and I pray with every ounce of my soul that I can still take her one day.

I’ve also thought how my situation is laughable in comparison to the horrors in the world others have faced. People moving along with their lives when an event blows in like a sledgehammer and rips their lives apart.

Life can be brittle as an eggshell and resilient as steel. I’ve taken too many things for granted in the past and it has concreted in my mind now that no guarantees exist for anyone.

When you’re a kid you think you are immortal, not sure where this lie comes from but it sure is a cruel one.



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