I should be in the hospital bed. Or even dead. Yes?

[Jemima]

Should I have been dead?

Dear Jesus, please give us journey mercy. We don't take your grace for granted ...

It's hard to share through words. But just imagine going way over the designated highway speed limit. Just imagine you're going very, very, VERY fast in a car that has a faulty brake (on top of it's other woes).

(North). It was about 6:20 on a Thursday morning (16 April 2009) when Chantel picked me up from the gas station close to my home.

She sped quite a bit to the college to pick 2 other classmates.

(3-lane). I remember what I said as she cut across from the outer most lane into the inner most lane in one move in the morning traffic. I said, "I haven't been in a car doing this in a long time, and I rather miss it." Yes, I said that.

(almost Downtown). At the college Tony was there. Mel was just pulling into the parking lot.

(South) Next is to pick the last passenger - Steve.

We reached Nisku (just south of the city) all in one pieace and in good spirits.

Toured the oil, gas and rig facilities at ENFORM. (This was a field trip).

Time to go back to the college for afternoon classes. We wished the whole day was written off. But it wasn't.

Changed drivers. Going home, Mel drove. Chantel "rested". The classmate who was late in getting to the college took the wheel.

We sped. And I mean SPED back to the city.

Laugh, talk, ... all those stuff you do when in post secondary with friends, in a car. I did most of the listening and answering.

(3-lane). At one point, we were going to change from the inner lane to the centre lane. The centre lane was clear. At the back, a pick-up was tail-gating us. Inside mirror. Outside mirror. Shoulder check. Signal. Good. Turn wheels.

"Mel! Mel! Mel! Mel MEL!!!"



A white sports-like car flashed by us. It zig-zagged from the outer most lane to the centre (with one move) and then back again into the outer most ane. It did not take it a second for it to pass us.

We almost drove into it. We were both travelling at extrememly, dangerously high speed. Our brakes were faulty.

That car was travelling at terribly, extremely, dangerously super high speed. Were his brakes good? Was his reaction time perfect?

Mel had the wheels turned and was just going to enter the centre lane when Chantel (and owner of vehicle we were in) yelled. Mel saw the car just in time and swerved back into the inner most lane.

We were only a few inches away. Not more than 4 inches, I don't think.

That car kept changing lanes and was travelling at tremendously dangerous speeds. It dissappeared out of our sight within 2 minutes. Not because of traffic, but distance. Crazy!

Every one was silent.

One passenger, in the middle of the back seat was clutching the headrests one on each side. I don't know what the part of the headrests he was grabbing on. It's the part that allows you to adjust the height of the headrests because it's there. It's like a mini pole. You know? You know.

I'm not lying. I wasn't frightened. I was just relieved and grateful for life. Honest.

But ... I remember what I said this morning when we ourselves were doing that dangerous move.

What if Chantel really rested as she badly wanted to? She wouldn't have seen that car coming.

What if Mel couldn't react fast enough?

What if we needed our brakes?

What if the pick-up tail-gating us sped up and rear-ended us?

What if ... what if ... what if ...

I'm glad I prayed.

_______________________________________________
Chantel - owner of car
Mel - driver when going back
Tony - waited for us at college
Steve - was picked up at his south side home
Jemima - me