Excellent First Responder

This evening, after scouring the Earth for a Mother's Day present for my amazing mother (didn't find anything, in case you're wondering), I returned home to put on gym attire and head to the gym.

Funny thing is, it was 3 minutes after 6pm (when the office closes) and I don't have a key card. Damn. Surely, I thought, there has to be some people in there. There is always that one girl who takes up the only elliptical that forces me to run on the treadmill instead. Much to my dismay, no one was there. Not even her.

I waited around for a minute to see if anyone would be coming soon - then took the long way around one of the ponds back to my apartment. I wanted to go Roller Blading.

I grabbed my gear and headed out the door.

I turned onto the main street - and then right again on to a much busier one - headed for the highway. There's a "trail" by the OG that looks suitable for Roller Blading (well, it looks freshly paved with concrete - not asphalt - and appeared to be free of major debris) so I was going to check that out.

As I come up to an intersection before the highway, three of four lanes of cars are stopped and one didn't have any cars in it. A white SUV comes flying through the center. Just at the same time, a silver SUV is pulling into the wal-mart on the corner.

And there it was.

I was seven or more cars back. Surely someone will stop and call the police.

Between the three lanes, at least 30-40 cars had to have passed. Not one stopped to ask if they were okay. Onlookers only. Way too busy to deal with what just happened.

I'm strong. I can handle this.

I pull to the side, turn off my car and run to the woman in the car whose airbag deployed.

I open her door. Start talking to her. "Hi. My name is... Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?"

She looks at me and starts mumbling. She's somewhat disoriented. She doesn't know what just happened.

I go to the other car and the woman is yelling and crying furiously into her cell phone. I ask her if she is okay, if she can move, and if she's called the police yet. She's hysterical.

I calm her down and tell her that everything will be okay.

I run to my car, grab my cell phone, run to lady in the first car, call 911. I hold her hand. Tell her she will be okay.

"yes, there is an accident at this street and the freeway. two cars. one might have injuries. airbags deployed. she is talking to me but is disoriented."

I ask her to tell me her name, talk to me... tell me where she is...

"my chest, my chest. it burns."

English is a second language for both of these women.

"It's going to be okay. Stay still. They are on their way." I tell her.

"My brother, my brother. You have to call him. Call him please." Slow, faint voice. She's barely talking.

I find her phone - thrown to the opposite side of the car during impact.

"How do I find him?"

"Moussad. Call my brother. I need my brother"

I search. Dialing.

"Hi. My name is.... Your sister has been involved in an accident. She is at the corner of this main road and the highway. She is okay, but she may need to go to the hospital. You need to come here in case they take her in an ambulance."

Hang up.

"Your brother is coming. Everything is going to be okay. Tell me where you are."

"I, I. I don't know. How did this happen?" Disoriented.

I walk to the other woman, still crying, now sitting in her car. I ask again if she is alright. She was getting more and more hysterical. I asked if she needed a hug. She nodded.

I hugged her. She cried more. "I don't know what happened! What happens to cars now? I don't know what to do! I never been in accident. Never!"

Back and forth to both women. Calming one from hysterics and being sure this other one doesn't pass out, keeps talking to me.

Only one woman stopped to even asked if we called the police yet. At least 150 cars had passed in this 6 minute time frame. Only one. Pathetic people.

Three police cars, two ambulances, and a fire truck.

Paramedic approaches me.

"This woman needs medical attention. I saw the accident, stopped. I'm trained in first aid, cpr. She can talk, but is disoriented. The left side of her chest hurts, seatbelt burn, airbag deployed. She was hit at about 45mph or so, blindsided. She is coherent but doesn't know what just happened to her. I have been keeping her still and talking to me. I called her brother, he's on his way. Here is her cell phone.

This woman is hysterical and has called someone to pick her up. She tells me she's okay. She has been walking around."

"So, she's been talking to you the whole time?"

"yes."

"Did you see the accident happen?"

"yes."

"You are an excellent first responder." Smile.

"Thanks!" Smile.


Officer approaches me.

"You saw the accident?"

"yes."

"what happened?"

"Three lanes of traffic were stopped, at least 10 cars deep, I was 7 or so behind. This lane (pointing) was open, but the cars had stopped to let this SUV go and the other woman didn't see her. 45 mph or so."

"ok. this lane here? (pointing)"

"yes."

"ok, great. Thanks!"

"You're welcome. Do you need anything else from me?"

"No, thank you."

"You're welcome."

I got in my car and continued on to the trail. Roller Blading. Adrenaline rush. I have always been this way - able to act calm in ridiculously scary situations. Able to keep my cool. Able to be level-headed.

Breathe.

"be" goals

I've been very sad since leaving my church in Atlanta. I didn't go every single Sunday, but Andy Stanley did an AMAZING job bringing home the message. Messages that made you think about your own life. No bible beating or making you feel like you had to be one certain way or another. Just a perfect public speaker who has a take it for whatever you want to make of it approach. I love it.

Anywho, you're able to watch his messages on the northpoint.org site, so in my church-message hunger last night, I did so.

And I was absolutely amazed.

It gave me purpose for my new year - which is great, if you've read my last few posts - and a self project to work on.

I thought I'd share it with you guys and maybe you could get something out of it, too. Don't worry, it's not some "ploy" to get you to be this denomination or that (it's a community church), nor is there mention of a 'come to Jesus' speech (which I despise, btw) at the end. Just pure inspiration.

http://www.northpoint.org/messages - click on "A New You Resolution" and you can either watch the video or listen to the audio.

You'll be glad that you did.

ps - I'd be willing to bet that sales of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People made a spike this week in Atlanta. I bought the book today ;)

"What you want said about you at your funeral is your own personal definition of success." - Stephen Covey