Perspective

MONDAY.....What a day!  I can't believe it is almost 11pm.  And I can't complain one bit.  This day started like most, apart from the fact that my 6 month old let me sleep 8 straight hours :)  But man did it ever take a turn and really give me some much needed perspective.  As I have mentioned in earlier posts I have been having a tough time at work and I have a long road ahead of me to rectify the situation.  Amidst all this one can only imagine how much time and energy this has taken out of me.  I definitely do not think I have let it get the better of me, but nonetheless I would be foolish to say that I am not stressed and exhausted of this work issue much of the time.
As I left my home in the morning I could never have imagined what was about to happen.  I pulled out of the alley that my driveway sits on, then onto the street, made a stop within 100 feet, looked both ways, and THOUGHT it was clear to turn left. When out of no where, and I literally mean no where, I hit someone with my car.  I wasn't going faster than maybe 3-5 MPH thank goodness, but it didn't stop a woman for sliding across the hood of my car and falling to the ground.  OH MY GOODNESS!  I was mortified.  I immediately turned of the car, jumped out, and ran to her side.  She was moaning in pain and could not muster any words.  I didn't hesitate to call 911.  Two other concerned citizens ran over from the near by bus stop to lend whatever helping hand they could.  
After about 5 minutes, the woman was able to gather her breath, and look at me.  She pointed to me and then to the other girl standing over her. She couldn't speak.  She actually couldn't hear.  She was deaf.  It turns out she is part of the local deaf community and teaches at the the deaf university just a block from our home, at Gallaudet University.  She wanted to talk to us, but couldn't.  She wanted to know what had happened, but didn't.  We tried to communicate, but the lack of one sense left us all grasping.  I reached out to hold her hand and try to show her in my actions that all would be ok.  I began to apologize.  By this point she knew it was me who had hit her.  I don't think she wanted to be me.  Her face was laden with per shock when she realized it was me.  She had pointed to the other girl almost looking certain it had to be her only to find out it was the military, uniform wearing individual that was responsible for her pain.
It was only a couple more minutes and she was motioning that she wanted to stand up.  So me and the other girl helped her slowly rise to her feet.  That was about the time that the police officer arrived and stepped in to help.  The ambulance was shortly behind and soon the whole chaotic happening had order.  I never did find out the name of the woman I hit but we were able to share a few more moments.  Our final moment together she reached out for my hand, I said I was so sorry one more time and kissed her hand, and she looked at me with the most reassuring eyes that she knew it was an accident and she was grateful for my remorse.  The police officer commented that it was the most peaceful accident he had seen.  Everyone was very corporative and understanding.  He was so sorry he even had to write me a ticket.  I was more than happy to accept it.  I think he said sorry probably 5 more times before actually handing me the ticket.   It was almost as if he was doing it begrudgingly.  But he was just doing his job.
Talk about perspective!!  I started the week with such anxiety and I left this situation with my eyes wide open that there is so much more we need to keep our sights on.  For this day and for me, it was the people right in front of me, that I managed to completely overlook.  What a wake up call.  Keep those in front of you in the forefront of most focus or you're liable to hit them!!! Hopefully you can all recover with only a few scratches, but we might not always be that lucky.
This blog has taken me a week to write.  Why??? Because I have been making sure to take in all of those wonderful people who are right in front of me.  My wonderful little boys, my sweet au pair, and my amazing parents through marriage that made the trip up here to visit us while my husband is deployed :)  How grateful I am to be surrounded by such love.  All the rest is just noise.