Today i witnessed an auto accident, just barely escaping it myself. It didn't appear that anyone was seriously hurt. Nevertheless, that instant things happened -- those seconds as the event unfolds were unpredictable and scary.

This was what happened....

I'm traveling north on Interstate 285, four lanes of traffic, at about 65 mile per hour. In an instant, i heard an impact to my left, saw debris flying out of the corner of my eye. Then a car came spiraling out of control toward me. I broke to avoid it. Ahead, another vehicle, a SUV, began swerving to maintain control. I continued to reduce my speed and prepare for evasive action. The car, an early model Accord, ricocheted pass me. The late model Pathfinder regained control on a bad damaged right front wheel and stopped in the middle of the freeway. The injured Accord came to rest in the grassy shoulder. I pulled over in the emergency lane about 50 yards from the Accord. I waited a second for any secondary impacts; I thought about my good fortune and about just continuing on to my designation. But, i got out of my car and walked over to the Accord to check on it's occupants. A large lady was the driver; she appeared dazed and two young kid were calm in the back seat. The kids, ages six or seven, were okay. The driver's side window was shattered. The driver groaned but otherwise appeared to be alright. She asked if i have hit her. I told her that i had not and I pointed to the vehicle that had struck her now slowly moving to the emergency lane. She asked me to help her find her glasses. I couldn't see that they were in the car. I told her that she would be all right and that i would call 911. On the way back to my car, I passed the driver of the SUV walking towards the Accord. He confessed that he was only trying to change lanes. He continued over to the woman's vehicle. I got in my car and accelerated back into traffic.
As much as i drive, it's easy to take for granted leaving home and getting to ones designation safety. A lot can happen along the way. If you are unlucky enough to be delayed, let the damage be only to the vehicle. In the meanwhile, the rest of world drives pass. They have somewhere to be too.

I took a vacation day, sat at home and watched the inauguration all day until I finally burned-out on the parade. It was great. I admire Obama and Michelle even more for being able to maintain their freshness through out. The C-Span coverage was raw as if you were there with your own video camera. I hardly moved from my couch and a potato I'm not.

I listened to all the interviews, how the people in the crowds, especially we African descendants, were having spiritual moments. I was have my own.. In this, we were connected. I saw people their holding Canadian flags. I thought about Ice Princess2. I thought about their descendants who years ago, were fortunate enough to escape the oppression that was once America. They were there to celebrate with us.

The moment was momentous and this date was filed in my mind as a treasured memory.

Just a Short About What Happen Yestersday

I've been off all week. As a treat to myself and... just because i was a little lonely, i decided to check out a new restaurant may be I would introduce the family to. The restaurant was a Cuban/Caribbean joint. I walked in a little awkwardly and a the waitress met. I can be rather transparent and my awkwardness was probably written all over my face. So, I grab a take out menu and took a seat at the bar and tried to be cool. I eyed over the menu not understanding anything on it. Finally, I asked for a recommendation and decisively accepted it. As I'm now very comfortable with my meal and my beer, eating and people watching, a young man walked through the door with a nice hairdo cropped along the sides with sort of a punk rock-ish top. He worn a light blue casual shirt and jeans cut off below the knees- stylish. He reminded me of Skyler on "Heroes". He sat beside me looking a bit uncomfortable and quivering like a man who had just seen death. I did my best to ignore him. He asked for a drink; the waitress at the bar said that she was not the bartender. She announced that she would ask someone to help him. A middle aged gentlemen, very confident, appeared and questioned the young man. "Are you OK sir!" he said in a stern voice. The young man said, now shaking even more violently, "yes sir -- I was robbed last night." The manager looked at him long and hard. He instructed the waitress to check an ID. The young man reached for him wallet and made a show of pulling out a $20. The young man didn't have an ID so said he announced that he would be back with his passport. The manager walked off.
I'm think that the man was strange but may be the owner was a little harsh. The waitress had not asked me from my ID. If given same disrespect, i certainly would not come back.
Now, i was very curious. Would the young man come back? Even though i had finish my lunch, I waited. In less than 10 minutes, the young man walked back through the doors. He sat in the same seat and produced a passport. The waitress examined it carefully and was satisfied.
I couldn't contain myself and ejaculated to the young man "So you we robbed? Where? He said, "i was at a gas station and they beat me!" I look at him and he didn't seem beaten to me. I said, "was it around here?" His answer was vague, probably hinting to me that he had said as much as he wanted to. I left my tab on the table and the nervous younger gentleman to enjoy his drink.
That was curious lunch!