Sunday, December 12, 2010
It was a little after 2:00pm and I was headed to work. Enjoying my walk, on a relatively nice day, I was at peace, in my thoughts and my life at that current moment. Its a good 20 minute walk (I enjoy walking, I don't drive, and I do not take my legs for granted) Between my apartment and the mall I walk through about 4 or 5 cross ways.
While I was patiently waiting my time to cross this particular crosswalk, that is connected to a busy intersection, and almost always, I study my surroundings. I'm just a cautious guy with reason...
"Walk Sign Is On" I begin to stroll through this crosswalk when all of a sudden I see to my left and oncoming car. Mind you, I was just about half way through it at this point. Most cars that are usually turning into traffic slow down for the pedestrians to walk out of the way before they keep driving. MOST CARS that is.
While walking I was having a conversation with my fiance, over the phone, and I was also paying close attention to this particular oncoming car...figured it was going slow down like they do, but as I'm talking I notice that its getting closer and closer. I had to brace for impact and hope for the best. It wasn't going too terribly fast but enough where when it struck my body I went up on the hood.
In mid conversation I shifted my body in a fighting stance to brace this car, playing close attention I was able to project my momentum up onto the car by leg lifts. The car hit my body and I lifted my legs back to prevent as much damage as possible, given the random situation at hand. I kissed the hood but managed to cling on to it WHILE still holding my phone and travel mug filled with hot, black coffee. Of course, some coffee splashed on my suit but did I care at that given moment, Not really. I was in shock.
I got back on the phone and with a tone unheard of before, I told my fiance "I'll need to call you back" and hung up before she could say anything.
The guy quickly pulled over and began freaking out. Panic was in his empty eyes...mine too, but not as severe. He didn't know what to think or what to do. I was shaky from the minor trauma and some flashbacks from my car wreck in 2004 lightly haunted my mind here and there for a short period. He repeatedly asked if I was alright and if there was anything he could do. Surprisingly enough, the only damage that was sustained on my body after the impact was a small bruising on my arm bone. No whiplash was ever sustained.
After an awkward short conversation, the driver and I exchanged a friendly handshake and away we went our separate ways. I called Cortney back and she immediately asked if I had dropped my phone because she heard a strange noise, and I told her that I was hit by a car. After calming her down and filling her in on the details, the noise she heard was my body actually being hit by the moving car.
And I even made to work on-time, with enough time to get a refill on my coffee and have a cigarette before I clocked on for the strange day ahead of me.
