I just came within a couple feet of killing a woman.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

I was driving home- I'd just severely strained my back while working at a client's home and all I wanted to do was go pop a Darvocet. So there I was, riding the 40mph speed limit on a major 6 lane city thoroughfare. I was a good half a block away from any crosswalk, and had no reasonable expectation of seeing anyone walking DOWN THE FUCKING STREET. I was perhaps 50 feet away from her (in my mind it looks more like 10 feet) when I saw her- it was dark and there were no street lights near. My mind turned off and my instincts took over- electric pole blocking me from taking the sidewalk on the right. Car next to me on the left. Half an instant to go before she becomes a hood ornament. Slam on the brakes, thanking God I'd had them serviced three weeks earlier- they'd been getting very mushy and I was afraid they'd fail at the wrong moment. They held, and I slid to a stop about two feet away from her. She hadn't even turned around. She didn't even know I was there. I wonder if she knew where SHE was. She finally heard me, turned around and looked at me, then walked up onto the sidewalk while I sat there trying to remember how to breathe. From beginning to end it took a little over one second, and there's a lady walking down the street right now not aware of how close she came to death.

That's all right- I'm WELL aware of it. And I thank God that at 52 years of age I still have the instincts and reflexes to do what I just did.

I don't believe I'm going to stop shaking for a while. Perhaps QUITE a while...

[DarkTirade]

1. Jesus Christ...

:hug:

Lucky for her that you're as observant as you are.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six....

That is just too damn scary...

I wonder, maybe she's deaf?

And didn't hear you coming?

Or else she has a death wish?

Anyway, I hope your adrenaline levels will come down quickly...

I'm glad you have your reflexes too, sweetie...

:hug:

[Critters2]

3. How awful for you.

How fortunate for her. I'm glad you're okay.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. And I'm glad SHE'S okay.

I'm not certain I could live with something like that in my head for the rest of my life. It would be exceedingly hard to.

[Truthiness Inspector]

5. The shaking is normal

I'm just glad no one ended up being hurt or killed.

Thank God for your good reflexes; you'll probably never know what her issues were, and she may or may not know how lucky she just was.

One of my girlfriends almost ran over an inattentive elderly woman (pedestrian) years ago while I was a passenger in her car and it was no fault on my friend's part, and it took a long time for that to be funny because my friend was rattled for quite some time.

In your situation, just like my friend's, it was a close brush with major life-changing shit. We laugh about it now, but with a touch of what-could-have-become-bitterness as well as reverence, but most importantly that it turned out okay.

[Longhorn]

6. I'd be feeling like you are

if I had just missed a squirrel, let alone a human! The fact that you didn't panic saved her -- and maybe others had you careened from your lane -- and you from a life of grief! :hug: