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if I had a nickel for everyone who has said they have done this....Jun 10 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line sometimes it isn't the driving, but the NOT driving that matters....
I was working nights, and loved it - my schedule was 11 pm til 7 am - with three teenagers at home, it worked perfectly...I got home in time to get them up and on the bus or out the door to school, and could sleep during the day - then have my evenings to do "family stuff" - supper, ball games, visiting or having friends over - and still be there when the quiet hour starts to come around - make sure the kids would get to bed, and head off to work.... It was ideal for me, for my whole family....and I loved the work I was doing as well.... It was spring of '96, my son was graduating in two weeks, and I was getting ready for the big party and all the company that would invade our house....I remember, it was a Sunday afternoon, and we were just sitting around watching a movie - I had to be to work that night, but since it was Sunday, had not taken my day 'nap' - I felt great - I had slept longer than usual the day before, and planned to sleep most of Monday....nothing to worry about... I took a shower and left for work about 10:30, and headed down the road - I drove about 20 miles to work, and surprised myself to find that I was kinda sleepy on the trip - nothing major, and no worries, but I yawned a couple times, and found myself shaking my head ~~just ONCE, mind you!~~ then opened my window to let the cool night air wake me up... I got to work, and found that two girls had called in sick that night - so it was extra busy, and we were swamped that night - besides all my work, I had to fill in with the others, to make up for the girls who were not there... We didn't get out of there on time, because we had to finish our own duties before we could turn over the controls to the next shift - it was nearly 8:30 by the time I left, and feeling the tightness in my shoulders and neck, headed across the parking lot to my car... only to find that I had a flat tire - ohhhhh - this just could NOT be happening to me! - I sat on the ground, and just whimpered for about 10 minutes, too tired and angry at how this night had gone, and now to have to change a tire....I finally got up, and opening the trunk, did what needed to be done so I could get on the road... I left the parking lot, almost dreaming of the bed that waited for me at home - I would first soak in the tub for maybe an hour (?) or so, then have something to eat, and crawl into bed to sleep the day away... I didn't even really feel tired, right then.....in fact, I felt relaxed, and turned onto the interstate....I started to feel that cobwebby sort of feeling in my head, and opened the window to get some cool air inside the car - (my a/c didn't work) - but it was already past 9:30 am, and getting warm outdoors - the wind felt almost hot against my skin, and I leaned my head out the window, trying to keep my eyes open.... I still had almost 15 miles to go, and had to start shaking my head to clear the sleepiness, I counted the stripes on the road, trying to concentrate myself awake, working to keep my eyes open - then counting the telephone poles - but about every 3 or 4 miles, I would suddenly jump - and know that I had missed the past mile or so.....feeling confused and a little scared, but not panicky, I only had 5 miles to go now.... I can DO this - just hang on, and keep talking to yourself....so I did - turning the radio way up loud, singing along with the songs - - I told myself...as soon as I get home, I will just fall into bed - forget the food, forget the bath, just sleep - yeah.....I can hang on for 3 more miles now..... then 2.... then....I could see my house ahead - just up over the next hill, and about a quarter mile straight ahead, then a little curve to the left....the house looked so beautiful, like it was the first time I had ever seen it.... I remember going up that hill..... but I don't remember the curve.... My car didn't make the curve - it kept going straight ahead, and I woke up just as it cleared the embankment.....just before it came down, landing on the grill.....I couldn't move....my whole body felt broken....breathing was a chore, and the steering wheel had bent, I couldn't see around it - I suddenly realized that I didn't know if my legs were attached....and i was in the ditch, but the ditch was deep, and I was far down along the side of the road... I realized that nobody would be able to see me - in a car going the same direction, the driver would have to look out the passenger window, and down the side of the road - impossible.....a car going the opposite direction was too far on top of the road to see over the edge on my side..... the only thing I could do was to make noise, hoping that with the warm morning air, some cars might have a window open.....so I honked the horn, my chest ached at the exertion..... but I layed on it nearly..... A truck driver heard me, and stopped - I cried when I told him that my house was "right THERE" - maybe 40 feet from where I landed....I told the man that my kids were probably asleep in the house! He ran to the house, and my son was there - they called the ambulance, and got me taken to the hospital...it was a long recovery...in the hospital for almost 3 months.....therapy for 2 years to follow - and physical problems that will last for the rest of my life....and it all happened in a split second - I mean, I was ALMOST HOME! I know I was lucky - there was nobody else in the car, and there were no other cars involved.... That was 5 years ago - and I have become almost a "poster child" - when someone says they are getting tired, but can still drive, I almost go ballistic - please - do NOT get in my path and tell me that you can drive, when you are sleepy - I will MAKE you listen to my story - and then I will give you a pillow and let you sleep on my couch - I know that "friends do not let friends drive drunk" - well, I think it is time a NEW campaign is started - - I cannot count the number of times someone has said they have nearly fallen asleep at the wheel.....every family has to care enough - not only to keep the asleep drivers off the road, to protect them, but to protect innocent others as well... please - PLEASE - take this story to heart - You don't have to go through what I went thru to feel it....  |
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