1270 miles

Matthew 6:19-21.

Matthew 6:25-34.

It's seems so long ago since the day of the accident. Writing about it now just seems forced, but here I go...

I had just left work. I traveled down a 2 lane road I've driven down numerous times with traffic going in both directions. It now just seems so crazy, but a car was coming towards me and I swerved to avoid it? I over-steered the wheel and in my panic hit the gas pedal thinking it was the brake and BOOOM.

My poor Renee took a NASTY gash to the right side. Save but a few scratches that tree stood unfazed. As I got out of the car to assess and stare at the damage I notice something else. A clear liquid was leaking quite profusely from underneath my car??? And by profusely, I mean TOO much. I thought it was gas and I knew for a fact that I didn't have but half a tank of gas in my car. From all that liquid that was coming out it couldn't possibly be gasoline, could it?

I kid you not, but as all this was going through my mind the following conversation with some passerby transgressed. And I do mean "transgressed":

Passerby: HEEEY! What's that leakin' out your car?

Me: I don't know!

Passerby: That might be gasoline. Call 911!

Me: (having lost my phone during the accident) I can't find my phone! Can you call for help?!?

Passerby: I don't got one! You better get away before that explodes. Call 911! (proceeds to run away from the scene)

End Scene.

In my panic stricken, annoyed, dazed, and many other adjectives state of mind, I went over and touched the leaking fluids and smelled it. H2 freaking O. I looked under Renee, I had hit a water main. As the water main continued to pour water onto the streets, I found my phone and made the calls.

After the towing of my car, the dealings with the police, the city workers, and the insurance I still had to deal with the tow truck company, the body shop, AND the car rental place. Tomorrow it'll be done, today I grieve. When tomorrow came, I grieved some more. As I went to collect my things from Renee I saw how bad the damage really was. It made a person feel all sorts of broken to see and feel what I felt. They said that pauvre Renee would be in the shop for a month. To rub more salt into the already festering wound all this happened 2 days before my birthday. Yay me.

In the months that followed, TOO much stuff and thoughts tripped me up because of the accident. I missed a WAAAY important meeting for work, caught more grief from friends, family, and co-workers alike, and had to deal with several agencies and the red tape that follows.

After the traffic court, the fines and fees, and all the worrying about Renee getting fixed and whatnot I realized and remembered this: 我還是活著.  

Despite everything that happened, I still live. What also took place in those months that followed the accident were; I made friends with the folks at my insurance, the rental place, and the body shop. I posed as an Ohioan and later as a Delawarean as I drove around the rental. Random perks, yes. But dear reader, this is not some post about me walking away from an accident as a new man. Far from it! Just writing to remind myself and the reader that life is just that crazy and I shout with great joy and acknowledge that He is not done with me yet! It just took 1200+ miles and countless dollars later to remember it.

Hallelujah!

got me where it hurts

Indigestion was the culprit.

If his writings wrote of reality, then Dante's third circle of hell would have a place reserved just for me.

My sins of eating too richly and greedily have caught up with me.

Following a night of EXCESSIVELY spicy food came a week of pain. For what seemed like an eternity, a pain in my upper abdomen would not go away. Every time I swallowed some food, my gut would hurt and then the pain would subside.

I toughed it out for a few days, but finally decided to go see a doctor about this. Besides, WebMD can only diagnose you but so much. Before I decided to go, I literally was terrified to eat. Dear reader, if you know me personally, then you know that for me to NOT eat is a hell in itself.

So, I went. The good doctor thought it might be gallstones, but needed some tests done to be sure.  Run 'em, I said. Better to be 100 percent sure than wondering about it forever.

On about the 6th day the pain stopped all of a sudden. Question mark? Do gallstones disappear like that? Around the time the pain went away the results came back. Everything was normal. Hallelujah?!?

At that point I could not for the life of me why it was normal. After some conversations with some folks later, we decided that it was REALLY bad indigestion.

Dear God,

Thank You for reminding me to be mindful of my gluttony and how you use these health scares to scare me straight. Thanks.

Grateful,
this repenting glutton

p.s. Blazin' flavored hot sauce, nevermore!