Over the past few months I’ve been battling my own demons, working my butt off, trying to balance a work and social life, trying to prove myself and improve myself and just struggling with all of that. I have been very hard on myself and disappointed in my ability to just keep smiling and be satisfied. Yet people still consider me to be a ray of sunshine. I still get told that I can make them smile on their worst day. I’ve been observed being kind to total strangers, and taking someone from being angry and volatile to calm and reassured. And through all of this, I have been just hoping and praying that one day soon, I will be able to take a few days to myself to just relax, and breathe and let life sort itself out. That day finally came. Only it came in the form of my life being ripped out of my hands by a freight train.
Yesterday I should have died.
I stopped at the bottom of the hill in front of the railroad tracks. I was messing with my air conditioning because it was a nice warm day yesterday and I was hot. I started up the hill without looking up to double check that the railway was still clear. Music was playing and I was focused on getting to my part-time evening job. By the time I realized the the sound I heard was a train horn, I was at the top of the embankment to cross. I panicked while watching the train heading my way and made the split-second decision to reverse. I started to roll back, but there wasn’t enough time. My truck was thrown 45 feet down the hill away from the tracks. If I hadn’t reversed, I would have been pushed straight down the tracks, rolled over, or pinned under the train.
Today, I am grateful to be very much alive and in the process of being well. Yes it was my fault, and no I did not try to “beat the train” or anything like that. I made a mistake in a moment of thoughtlessness and panic, and luckily no one besides myself and my truck was hurt. A lot of people have been sharing the videos, asking what happened, sending prayers and good vibes, and my mind is honestly reeling from the last 24 hours. I just want to thank everyone for their love and prayers, well wishes and offers of support.
Not many people can say they’ve been hit by a train and lived to walked away (with some difficulty) and tell about it.
Devine Perks 