Four times I could have died, yet here I am.
My kids have told me I’m like a cat with nine lives; maybe there’s something to it. As I got older, the accidents got more serious. Sometimes I wonder why I survived; but mostly I’m just grateful.
When I was 11, a neighbor girl ran over me with a snowmobile. She knocked me over from behind and proceeded to drive across the entire length of my body. I was compressed face-down into the snow as the track rolled across my back. She slowed down as she realized what she’d done, but it was the wrong time to slow down. I couldn’t breathe under there.
The following summer, two girls decided it was time to teach me to swim. We walked to the local swimming hole; they each took an arm, pulled me out over my head and let go. That was the extent of my swimming lesson. Swim – or – drown. I came close enough to drowning it scared us all pretty badly.
Fast forward three years when my friend and I were riding our bicycles on a beautiful summer day. She was behind me and as we were crossing a wooden bridge, I turned to say something to her. My front tire wedged between two wooden slats and came to an abrupt stop. This caused me to pitch suddenly over the side. The water level was low, but it was about a 20’ foot drop onto a gravel bar. I blacked out on the way down, but my friend said I landed on my head and narrowly missed several large rocks. (This could explain a lot, I know!)
The most miraculous survival was that of the plane crash. Five days after my 17th birthday, Dad flew us to a remote mountain lake for some trout fishing. It was early fall; sunny with a crisp edge to it. We stood on the floats fishing and drifted around the lake until we had enough fish for dinner. When dad decided it was time to leave, he commented on the wind that had picked up. Even before we took off I was afraid. I blacked out as we began dropping and don’t remember the crash itself. When I came to, dad was face-down and unconscious against the instrument panel and water was rushing in.
I get a strange sensation when I remember these incidents. So long ago, yet the impressions linger. The airplane accident was by far the most terrifying, and affected me profoundly in many different ways. It would be many years before I fully unpacked just how many layers that day had.
How about you? What are some big events that have affected you?
Feb 10, 2014 @ 16:23:44
Feb 10, 2014 @ 17:40:09
Wow…Arlene, your hostage story is incredible. Thanks for sharing your link here. Truly amazing…
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Oct 16, 2013 @ 17:44:30
Wow, I’ve never experienced anything that comes close to any of those experiences! I can only try to imagine how terrifying those were, and I know I can’t come close. I hope your future life’s adventures will be of the fun and inspirational kind!
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Oct 16, 2013 @ 17:55:56
Current day adventures definitely tend to be fun and exciting. No more scary stuff like that since I left home.
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Oct 16, 2013 @ 12:13:28
I’m so grateful that you are still here to tell your stories and continue to inspire the rest of us with your amazing life! Keep shining! xo
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Oct 16, 2013 @ 17:24:46
Thanks, I appreciate your encouragement!
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Oct 17, 2013 @ 03:45:23
I appreciate your courage! ♥
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Oct 15, 2013 @ 19:35:56
Woah! God has a plan for YOU! Wow. I can’t believe that you survived all that. Amazing.
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Oct 16, 2013 @ 09:12:48
Thanks… His plans never fail to amaze me! 🙂
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Oct 14, 2013 @ 16:29:12
Yikes! What a nest of stories you have here; each in its own right would be fodder for a short story at the least and perhaps even a novel or novella. Living life in the shadow/illumination of these must be intriguing to say the least!
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Oct 14, 2013 @ 19:27:29
Allen, it’s starting to occur to me that these events sort of mirrored what else was going on in my life. Once I left home at 17, I never had any more awful events like them. It’s making me wonder…how does it all fit together?
Thanks for the suggestion of a novel. I actually wrote one 3 years ago but have been nervous to do more with it. I’ve only let 3 people read it so far.
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Oct 14, 2013 @ 11:49:26
Good Lord. Glad you’re still here. Your time to Go definitely had not arrived!
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Oct 14, 2013 @ 14:20:58
Yes! Thankfully, since I left home at 17 I haven’t had any more of these types of events.
Do you have any to share?
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Oct 14, 2013 @ 16:56:23
Gosh no. I’m a chicken. Don’t enjoy anything risky! I am probably overly cautious.
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Oct 13, 2013 @ 13:09:36
I am a survivor of different sorts, you are a true survivor in the most way possible. I like the post that said “serenity and courage” that does seem to speak volumes of what you went through.
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Oct 13, 2013 @ 18:41:39
Hi Patty, yes you are definitely a survivor alright.
Always so nice to hear from you.
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Oct 13, 2013 @ 01:44:50
My gosh, that “swimming lesson” by your friends is horrific. It is absolutely horrific. People do drown just exactly by that – by not being able to swim, and there they put you in that situation. I feel that’s horrific. I don’t know how you did, but I’m glad you survived that.
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Oct 13, 2013 @ 18:41:06
By the grace of God, they were able to grab my flailing arms and pull me close enough in where I could once again touch the bottom. It was terrifying!
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Oct 12, 2013 @ 13:13:46
Denise – You are indeed a surviver. It’s amazing what we live through and manage to work through until somehow we can make enough sense of it all to write it down. Thanks.
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Oct 13, 2013 @ 18:40:17
Writing helps continue to make sense of it all, doesn’t it, Sheri? Thanks for stopping by.
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Oct 12, 2013 @ 06:24:57
Just one of those incidents in a life time would be enough for anyone, but so many life-threatening moments? Let’s hope there will be no more! It is amazing ALL that you have survived in your lifetime. You are definitely meant to be here!! 🙂
I made a lot dumb decisions growing up that could have turned out bad (you know taking rides with strangers kind of stuff), but I’ve been lucky or blessed or both that it all worked out okay.
There was the one time in 7th grade when my school was held hostage by a shooter – but that’s a long story for a blog post one day (I suppose). Thankfully, I was never really in harms way that day either though it was scary!!
Have a great weekend and BE CAREFUL!! 🙂
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Oct 12, 2013 @ 08:59:46
That day in 7th grade definitely sounds like a blog post for another day! Yikes! Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Arlene!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 19:04:26
these are amazing tales of survival, especially when all happen to one person. you obviously were to be a part of this world and to do something with your life.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 19:08:04
Hi Beth! When I listed them all together it did seem like a lot! Thankfully I haven’t had any more awful events like that since I left home shortly after the plane crash.
Have you experienced any life-changing events -accidents or otherwise?
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 19:12:06
no, i cannot say that i have been involved in any near death experiences, though my life has changed dramatically more than once.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 18:40:11
Whew…after reading all of these near-misses, I think I’ll count my blessings and not complain about a difficult time in my life.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 19:03:50
Always good to hear from you, Esther!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 16:25:29
Holy catfish, girl! You do have nine lives. Or at least a few more than is human. I had a bike crash years ago…when I think back on it (I could have gone over the bridge and fallen 50-60 feet onto the interstate). There are a few other things…ex put a shotgun in my face. That was scary. Glad I lived through that and got to watch my boy grow up and become a father. A few other stupid things I did as a young adult I don’t care to share. But yeah – a few of us should be dead! And I’m glad we’re not. I think we probably all have a few moments when we see the headlights coming right at us, we swerve, we survive.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 16:42:30
Karen, you’re the 2nd one to mention surviving an ex-husband. Very scary stuff.
You’re right about swerving and surviving! 🙂
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 15:21:38
I was caught in a devastating cyclone in Fiji many years ago. The room I was hiding in was rapidly filling up with water while the wind outside was smashing everything in its wake. At first I was terrified and screaming but after a while I became quiet and calm as if I accepted I could do nothing. Miraculously I didn’t die, although many people did. Love Jenna
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 16:43:20
WoW! That sounds very scary! That must have been very traumatic. I’m sorry you went through it, but glad you shared the story, Jenna.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 15:15:57
Makes one wonder about it all. Some really scary things you described, gut twisting just to read about the 20 ft fall, landing on your head! Thankfully, you’re here writing about it now. Have a good weekend. xoxo Paulette
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 16:40:48
Nice to hear from you, Paulette!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 13:52:01
Wow!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 14:10:59
Hi, thanks for stopping by! Any life-changing events you’d like to share? 🙂
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 14:14:03
No. I saved my father’s life when I was 13. We were rock climbing and his piton came out. I was on the safety rope, and did the right things. Scared the crap out of him. I was just thinking, “of course I did the right thing.” I myself have had no near misses. Knock on wood.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 16:40:27
Yikes! That sound scary, too! A vicarious near-miss!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 19:00:07
For him it was. I was fine. Usually am.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 13:31:10
Wow, Denise, you got my heart racing. That’s quite a remarkable series of events. I’m SO thankful to The Lord that he’s spared your life and given you the exceptional gifts of love, compassion, and writing.
Love to you…
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 14:10:28
Thanks, Lori…Any events you’d like to share?
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 09:38:09
You truly are Wonder Woman! Momma said I nearly died at 22 months with Bronchial pneumonia, but the Doctor gave me Penicillin which eventually cured me, however; I do remember reminding myself to breathe. And of course there’s that time my nearly Ex took me from my house by knife point & then tried to take us both through a concrete viaduct at 60 MPH!…..I was able to pull the steering wheel to save both our lives….but probably many of us women have faced that sort of thing going through a divorce when the man feels he owns you. Glad you are still among the living…and with a Happy Face!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 09:55:40
Kathleen, I’m amazed you can remember reminding yourself to breathe at only 2 years old!
You are Wonder Woman yourself to survive a maniac now-ex-husband. I can’t imagine what that must have been like. Terrifying.
Thank you for commenting and sharing these stories!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 06:30:17
Wow – amazing post. When I was 2 years old I almost died. I don’t remember the accident. I have scars on my foot (feeding tube) and my head, along with dents and a hole in my skull from 2 craniotomies as reminders. My mom would never talk about the accident. For years all I knew is that I tried to climb out of my crib and I must have slipped and hit or landed on my head. It was only last year that my dad told me the full story of how close I came to death. How he gave me mouth to mouth in the back of a police car on the way to the nearest hospital. How after my first craniotomy at some small town hospital I stopped speaking and my dad knew something was wrong. How the man who became the pioneer of children’s neurosurgery worked on me at a university hospital to stop the bleeding in my brain. I beat some serious odds against me and survived (I believe the doctors gave me less than a 25% chance of survival). Knowing that is what affects me the most. I feel like I was given a second chance and that I should do something good with my life. And I often wonder if I am living the life I should be or doing more. Thanks for sharing.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 09:52:07
Wow, Kathy, that is an incredible story! You are definitely a fighter and survivor! Your dad had some strong intution and was a wonderful advocate for you. I loved that you shared this story with us!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 05:33:40
I have not suffered as you have with physical incidences. My traumas were mostly emotional ones that scared and scarred me. People were in my life that caused me great fear.
God has enabled me to deal with that fear and to replace it with serenity and courage.
Great post. You are a survivor! xo Joanne
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 06:02:57
The emotional traumas go the deepest, Joanne. I applaud you for finding your way through that maze of healing. Survivors unite!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 03:53:36
Holy cats, you do have 9 lives–or more! Stories abound with those events, I’m sure.
When I was 5, my house caught on fire. It was the middle of night, and our dogs’ barking woke up my parents. I’ll never forget running through the snow (10 days before Christmas) with my grandmother and sister, turning around to see my dad staying behind to rescue the dogs. It was one of the scariest memories ever.
The only casualty was our cat. We never were able to find him, and he had died from smoke inhalation. The firemen found him the next morning.
You’re right about those layers. I often think about that event and how much it shaped me throughout my life.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 05:37:30
Wow, Kate! That sounds terrifying! I can only imagine how much that affected you long-term. It would be life-changing, no doubt about it!
Thank you for sharing that story!
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 02:07:47
I’m very interested in the layers that you unpacked, Denise. This was a fascinating.post.
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Oct 11, 2013 @ 05:35:31
Thank you, Yaz. It would most likely provide continued growth to focus on writing specifically about those layers. You are very good at that very thing!
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