Today was a very trying day for me. I got up early this morning, for me that is, at about 8:30am. I'm having real trouble sleeping now days. Yet I digress. I woke up to a winter wonderland, again. I had about 5 inches on the deck when I got up, and it was still coming down hard. My neighbor told me later that when it stopped snowing,,he measured it at 7 inches total for about 12 hours worth.
I had to head out to Mississippi, for work on Weds., so I headed out early. The roads were in great shape. The temp was over freezing, and I didn't encounter any slicks spots on the pavement(kinda slick in the ditch,tho). As I descended in altitude, the snow cover dissipated significantly. Road was totally clear. I was coming around the last sharp curve which is heading away from the mountain, and I see a long Fed-Ex truck leaving a house. It went the entire length of the drive way, and they never stopped or even looked out the passenger window. I was watching for the look, and the brake action,,,,it never came.

The drive way was right across from the mailboxes. I was very proud that I missed them. The driver pulled out and almost stopped, I can only surmise that she saw me in her rear view mirror and that I was heading in the ditch. She stopped where I did.

I was able to see another example of how people's thought patterns, and their essence are portrayed today. I'm not talking about all people's characters,, just this person's example.

When I was able to get out of my jeep, I didn't say anything at first, I was just shaking my head. She had gotten out of her vehicle, hands together checking on me. "I'm so, so sorry. I didn't see you. Are you okay?" I told her that I was fine, and asked about her. I then called 911, for real and not a test call, and gave them the information. The cops show up, get out of the car and they joking asked what happened. I jokingly said," just got run off the road". At this point, not 10 minutes later,, things started to change.

The lady has time to reflect on her situation, and in the company truck, loss of job, time,,,income,,etc... I'm sure that's what cause her to start in saying,, "I didn't run you off the road, etc.." I didn't say anything. I was just waiting on the State Police which was going to have to do the paperwork on the accident, I was told. The State Trooper showed up, and she made a beeline straight for him to give him her side of the story. When finished, he came over to me, and I said, she pulled out, didn't look, and you can see what happened. At which point, he went back to the cruiser to do his paperwork.

He came out, gave us our credentials, and told her to sign her citation for failure to yield. She started jumping up and down spouting off how this and that,,,until he told her to shut up, sign the paper,,, tracks in the snow doesn't lie. At which point,, she just signed and left me to my wreck & wrecker. I was told by David, at Collision repair in Trenton,,that the cost of repairs is going to be well over $4,000. I have a $1,000 deductable, to be able to afford the insurance, and they only pay 80% after that,,,so not a good situation.

There was a split second that I thought about plowing into the truck, out of anger, but then thought better of it,plus my luck, I would wind up in the hospital or worse, and thought I could pull off one of those Hollywood stunts --in and out of the ditch---flip her off, and continue with my day. As you can tell from the pictures,,,I'm not a stuntman from Hollywood. I just thought it was the correct action at the time. Just about halfway thru the ride in the ditch, the left side of the jeep got light, felt like it was coming up, and about to roll over. I believe, and like to think, that my Guardian Angels were on duty, and had a helping hand when it was needed. Also, they may have had a hand in making that woman stopped when it happened. Because, if she didn't it, it would have been tough to prove, my word - against hers. For I firmly believe, if she would have had time to think about it,,,,,she never would have. Lesson learned. PTL !