In an Instant

On Saturday, I was driving home from my tattoo appointment, when two cars collided in the southbound lane. Before I was able to register what the sounds meant, I had already driven past the accident and continued on my way home.

Accidents are interesting. People always slow down and stare, secretly hoping to see a severed arm or ever a dead body - don’t bullshit with me, you know it’s true - but how often do people think of the families of those involved with a crash?

I know I don’t not really. Oh, of course, I give them a passing thought while we are passing the accident at a slow crawl, but after that? They never cross my mind at all.

Vehicular accidents are on my mind right now because my brother was almost killed in one this afternoon. I’m not saying “almost killed” in the sense that I am taking dramatic license, or to make for good blog fodder - I say it becuase today my brother shook hands with death and walked away. Well. Hobbled away.

Danny had his ankle and knee crushed, thankfully, they are just bruised and swollen, and so far x-rays show no broken bones, though he will have to return after the swelling goes down. The front windshield was safety glass, but the rear and the side, both which shattered on his head, were not, so while he was with the doctor he also had to have glass shards removed from his arm, scalp and eye.

I will put the photos behind the fold, simply becuase when I load up Bluepaintred tomorrow I do not want to be faced with them again.

Yes. Danny was driving. And I will probably never ever in my life say this again, but Thank God he was not wearing his seatbelt at the time.

The inside of the truck.

Want to see what drove into him?

That’s my dad. he is standing in the Buckety thingy of the front end loader that drove into my brother’s work truck. Ho-LEY Shite!

Again, that’s My daddy, he is being the “Official Size Comparison Dude” to show just how big this tractor was.

Y’all? Do me a favor and turn to the person next to you and say I love you. if no one is there, pick up the phone and call the first person you think of. You never know what can change - in an instant.

**Special note to My Brother ** Danny, you are the most annoying Brother our mother gave birth too, but dammit, I wouldn’t know what to do without you. Please be more careful, for MY sake! I love you.

∗ Posted by bluepaintred on 05.26.2008
∗ Uncategorized

Comments: 19 »

  1. uhm, thats not what I thought a ‘front loader’ was. Sorry about the mis-information. I’m glad your brother is more okay than not.

    And, as for accidents, I always say a prayer for the person involved and their families… I know how accidents can change lives forever and my heart always goes out to anyone involved.

    Sheila’s last blog post..You want a post? Ooookay?

    Comment by Sheila - May 26, 2008 11:04 pm

  2. this weekend some local high school students (8 of them) were driving home from a party… there was an accident… 3 of them are dead, 1 is in ICU, the rest were considered “walking wounded”… there were severed limbs and impaled fence posts… the mini-van is unrecognizable…

    this weekend seems to be full of bad news… I’m so glad your brother made it out OK.

    tori’s last blog post..It?s a no-go

    Comment by tori - May 26, 2008 11:14 pm

  3. Wow. Just, wow. I’m so glad your brother is okay.

    The other day I passed a not-too-bad accident on the freeway. It didn’t look like anyone was seriously hurt, but one of the cars was sort of spun around perpendicular to the freeway. The difference? There were PEOPLE standing around outside the cars. One, a younger looking girl (maybe 18 or 19), and presumably the driver of one of the cars was shaking and crying and then being hugged by some of the other people there. I have been in accidents before. I can imagine her fear and I sort of wanted to hug her too. It made the whole thing SO HUMAN. I’m glad she was okay too.

    Rachael’s last blog post..Mother’s Day

    Comment by Rachael - May 26, 2008 11:27 pm

  4. Holy shit. I am so glad your brother is okay - that is scary stuff!

    Katie’s last blog post..My First Ever Chilli Experience?

    Comment by Katie - May 27, 2008 2:20 am

  5. Day-um.

    You’re right. You never know. Always appreciate the ones you love.

    Mr. Fabulous’s last blog post..Is this that ?street cred? I?ve been hearing about?

    Comment by Mr. Fabulous - May 27, 2008 4:38 am

  6. Wowzie! I am so glad your brother is okay, because it doesn’t look like he should have survived that accident, seriously. And you are right, in our day to day lives we don’t often enough stop to tell our loved ones that they are loved. It can be taken from us in an instant.

    I hope he gets well soon!!!

    Lucy’s last blog post..Blah

    Comment by Lucy - May 27, 2008 5:02 am

  7. Holy shit!

    I’m glad that he survived with minimal damage.

    Avitable’s last blog post..Funny, funny, funny . . .

    Comment by Avitable - May 27, 2008 6:26 am

  8. That is unbelievable! The last time I saw something that bad, the driver was only 17 and not as lucky as Danny. I didn’t know him personally, but I think about him and his family alot….that accident was 20 years ago.

    Danny has a viliglant angel on his shoulder!

    metalmom’s last blog post..Monster Trucks

    Comment by metalmom - May 27, 2008 6:57 am

  9. So glad he’s OK darlin’. That’s some scary shit.

    Finn’s last blog post..I CAN Pretty Much Do It All?

    Comment by Finn - May 27, 2008 7:53 am

  10. Wow! I am so glad your brother is okay. Give him a hug for all of your interweb buddies!!

    Trishk’s last blog post..We’re Home!

    Comment by Trishk - May 27, 2008 9:36 am

  11. Got stuck in an incredibly slow traffic jam recently - at a day and time that doesn’t usually happen. Four lanes were funnelled down to two. Spent an hour going 2 miles. Could see lots of flashing lights from about 1/4 mile away. Then we found out why: a large SUV was on its side on the right shoulder of the freeway–undercarriage facing traffic. A body-sized tarp was in the 2nd lane from right.
    I instantly didn’t care how long it took us to get where we were going. And apologized mentally to that family for my previous grumbling.

    So very glad your brother will be ok. His angels were definitely on the ball for this one. Don’t test them again, ok, Danny?

    Comment by Peggy - May 27, 2008 11:07 am

  12. Wow, that’s nasty. There ARE times when a seat belt will hold you into the wrong place. You never know.

    annie’s last blog post..3 Letter Words

    Comment by annie - May 27, 2008 11:27 am

  13. DAMN girl - this happened on a job site? Glad he’s OK…

    Tug’s last blog post..Fun was had by all

    Comment by Tug - May 27, 2008 11:30 am

  14. Glad he’s going to be fine.
    I quit slowing down and looking after my mom & I were in an accident in ‘82–I’ll never forget seeing all the passing cars with the passengers in them pointing and gawking, and the feeling of pointless anger it gave me.

    Here in CA they call the gawkers “looky-loo’s”–I think it labels them with the ridiculousness they deserve.

    I always say a prayer when I pass an accident–or an ambulance passes me.

    Thoughts and prayers for your family and the families of those kids in tori’s comment.

    Comment by phinz - May 27, 2008 11:34 am

  15. I’m so glad he is okay. It’s ironic that both of our posts ended the same way, only I said, “Please take time to count your blessings today.” Death sucks for the survivors.

    Shelli’s last blog post..First, Reassurance?

    Comment by Shelli - May 27, 2008 2:25 pm

  16. was it totally wrecked? Accidents are scary.

    Anyway, i agree with you when you said people stare when there is an accident. It causes traffic!

    Laarni’s last blog post..LDR is torture

    Comment by Laarni - May 27, 2008 6:36 pm

  17. Wow - ya know, I’m thinking we should all get a ‘do-over’ for this weekend - some bad stuff all over the place. So glad he will be okay - and hope that nothing ends up being broken.

    Fantastagirl’s last blog post..A real post later

    Comment by Fantastagirl - May 27, 2008 8:25 pm

  18. Gosh those are terrible photos! I am so happy your brather walked away (almost) unscathed. Scary!

    Diane Mandy’s last blog post..Bunkererd down with Archie Bunker

    Comment by Diane Mandy - May 28, 2008 2:57 am

  19. I’m glad your brother is ok. How did that thing end up driving into him?

    I sometimes still have a moment or two when my accident from last fall enters my head and I always think of the families when I pass one, like the other day… not far from where the young one goes to school. Next day we passed another one by the mall on McKercher. It seems to have gotten bad out there, no?

    Geez.

    fracas’s last blog post..The internet found my children

    Comment by fracas - May 28, 2008 3:17 pm

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