Note- This has nothing to do with houses or remodeling- But is a true story from my day-
I drive a lot for my work. For the past 6 years or so I have been chugging down byways and highways in a Chevy Silverado Pickup. I have been through 7 trucks if that helps to put it into perspective. I have my moments where I feel lucky, where I feel blessed to not be stuck over on "that" side of the road or at "that light" or in that car with that nasty smoker! You know what I am talking about don't you. I have had my moments where I wish i had my camera to take a picture of what I see. A camera to record that awesome sunset or sunrise. That reflection in the river or lake. But today was TOTALLY different.
Driving down 264 in NC. Headed towards the amazing town of Wilson NC, well known for its BBQ and country living. Yapping on my phone to a buddy who has just returned from Japan when all of a sudden the large white van that is more than a hundred yards in front of me comes to a complete stop on the highway in the far right lane. It can't make it to the shoulder. I look in my mirrors and discover that I can't get over without killing someone so I brake and hope for the best at this point. Watching my mirrors to prepare for impact, I reach for my hazards and brace. BUt nothing is happening. GREAT! They all passed me on the left. But the big white van is more than a van it's a mini bus FULL of preschool kids. I learned this as I pulled to the left and went around them. And as i Did this, there were the faces of the innocent looking at me. And in my eyes they were all NOAH. My 10mnth old. Helpless. Needing someone to make sure that they were safe. That they made it home. And as I looked in my mirror I could see more cars coming. What to do?
I parked my rig (west coast slang for pick-up truck) in front of the bus, slammed my phone down and grabbed 2 safety vests that I carry to wear on jobs or to show my customers. I exit running along the side of the highway waving my arms around like a helicopter (Petey Pablo once rapped about NC needing to wave around like a helicopter didn't he?) and I tried as best I could t o make sure that those kids didn't get hit. I must have been there for 5 minutes or more. Waving people over to the other lane, cars, suvs, pickups, semis, they all moved (and some of those a-holes blew their horn at me too, so to you I hope it hurts when you pee tonight!)
Then all of a sudden, while I was waiving my vests around like a steelers fan waves that ugly terrible towel around, the bus left me. It just drove off. I hear a beep beep and turn around. The bus is up to full speed and on its way. Me I am left on the side of the road wondering. what if I wouldn't have stopped. what if I wouldn't have helped out. what if i turned on the news and had heard about something terrible knowing that I saw that little girls eyes for the first and last time. that she needed help and didn't get it?
so for a second or two today I felt like a hero. Like I perhaps saved some lives, made the world a little bit better because I responded And I think that I need to and will respond more to things that are happening in my world, in my community.
