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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Better Late Than Never


I am late for my hair appointment. 

And there goes the bus…

I have missed it.

The heat wave that had recently engulfed Minneapolis has taken a break, just long enough for me to get excited about wearing jeans again; and I turn from my original intention to ride the 17 to one to ride the 11, which will be a more direct route anyway. 

It’s a 12-block walk.

It becomes apparent rather quickly that my excitement over wearing long pants has been premature. 

I’m gettin’ sweaty.

No worry – there’s a bench at the bus stop.

I will sit there, I think, nodding to myself.  I will stop sweating. 

Somewhere ahead, there is the sound of impact.

Two cars have become as one.

Yikes.

Three blocks later, I can see the Number 11. Just ahead and to the left of a clump of trees, the bus is there on the cross street, approaching the stop.  It disappears momentarily, then reappears just to the right of the aforesaid flora.  It slows, but doesn’t stop, instead proceeding through the intersection and moving out of my sight, where it no doubt picks up people who have managed to arrive in time to catch it.

Crap.

I’ve missed another bus.

Still, I’ve nothing to do but continue. 

And when I get past the cluster of trees that had blocked my view, I see that sometimes, we are lucky to continue.

If we get to continue at all.

And I also see the source of the sound of the crash.

A blue bumper lies in the middle of the street in a sea of blue-green safety glass. There is a woman standing in the center of it all, her head in her hands. 

The car that has hit her, now minus a bumper, is in the process of being loaded onto the back of a flat-bed style tow truck.

And her car. the one I see her pull her purse out of just moments later – has been t-boned, has spun, its passenger door pushed clear to the driver’s seat…

… sits half in the street, half in the grass, its front end resting on the bench.

My bench.

It’s been demolished.

My arms go numb.



And I am forced to reflect on the difference between being on time.

And on being. 

35 comments:

Joanne Noragon said...

That's a near miss, for which we are all grateful.

Leenie said...

They say don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly. I think, Pearl, your very own guardian angel must have been walking along with you...left his wings at home since they were just too hot and sweaty. Glad you're still here to tell the tale. Wow!

The Bug said...

Wow - scary!!

The Cranky said...

So glad you were running late!

Simply Suthern said...

I hate being late for anything but I am glad you late for sitting on the bench.

Pearl said...

It was a strange experience, to have heard the crash, and then to have seen where I could've been, had I been on time.

And then to stand there until the next bus came, 20 minutes later, while they cleaned up the scene...

Launna said...

How incredibly scary... I am so glad you were running late... wow

jabblog said...

. . . and suddenly all the little worries of life fade into insignificance.

Silliyak said...

That'll make your hair stand on end...

terlee said...

Wow, scary close call! Glad you're okay and will live to write another day! ;D

Mandy_Fish said...

Holy crap.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
Yup, hard to overlook the greater workings of life at times like these. Wonderfully depicted as always! YAM xx

jenny_o said...

Chilling, isn't it, when we realize what could have been - the sometimes razor-thin edge of luck.

I'm so glad you escaped that, Pearl.

Perpetua said...

Someone was definitely looking out for you there, Pearl. That is scary!

vanilla said...

"The difference between being on time. And on being." A significant, I mean, truly important difference. I am so glad you were not on that bench. Keep cool.

Geo. said...

We're always deciding our ways into the future. Despite inconvenience, I'm glad you chose one that includes you.

goatman said...

Probably the latter, as experience and flux take their hold.

Good one.

Notes From ABroad said...

My husband says something that at times, makes me want to hit him .. but in this case, he is right ..
Everything happens for a reason.

Or

Timing is everything.

You choose :)

Anonymous said...

Once again the universe steps in....you were NOT intended to be sitting on that bench at that moment. Thank goodness.

Christian at Point Counter-Point Point Point said...

I'm glad to hear you are OK. I wouldn't chalk this up to just luck or chance but rather some kind of hidden super power you have. Now you just need to learn how to use your power of being late to fight evil! Keep me posted.

Roses said...

Bloody hell.

I'm so glad, nay relieved you're okay and just a bit shaken. I read that and I'm just a bit shaken too.

Sending you hugs and hugs.

You owe your Guardian Angel a pint.

Gigi said...

Oh my hell!! I'm with Dolores on this one - Fate knew what was coming and determined that the world still needs you here. Thank God.

Linda O'Connell said...

The words, "In a heart beat" take on new meaning when you witness soemthing like this.

Lin said...

Whew! Double WHEW! That certainly was scary.

So glad you were late. So glad you are SAFE, my friend!

Anonymous said...

Holy cow, I came to ask about purple elevator monkeys...or was it purple monkey elevators? Doesn't matter. I don't care anymore. I am just really glad you are OK. If you couldn't type anymore, what the heck would I look forward to reading every day? Kidding. Sort of. Not about you being ok, though. I am really happy about that.

HermanTurnip said...

Well, that was damned inconsiderate of that driver to crash into your bench. I say we get a posse together and hunt her down like the dog she is... Heh.

Rose L said...

WOW!!!!! I always say that I am never in a hurry to be anywhere. Sometimes we were meant to slow down.

Elephant's Child said...

Coming late to this party I am very glad that you were late, but just on time to prevent becoming permanently late.

River said...

A little too close for comfort there. I'm glad you got sweaty and stopped for a rest. Also glad the woman in the car was okay.

jeanie said...

I read recently that a man has been medically diagnosed with the disorder that makes people always late.

But for those of us where it isn't a habit, sometimes the universe speaks and we can't help but listen.

Most importantly - was the hairdresser running late also? And how does your hair look?

Moving with Mitchell said...

That's chilling... So glad you were late!

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

Masterfully told. I was on the edge of my bench. ;)

Unknown said...

"Being". Sometimes we forget what we've got until we loose it. Thanks for the reminder.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Funny how life, fate, and destiny work sometimes. Thank goodness you were running late :)

Diane Stringam Tolley said...

A tiny reminder now and then about what's really important . . .