The joke was thinking you were ever really in charge of your life. You pressed your oar down into the water to direct the canoe, but it was the current that shot you through the rapids. You just hung on and hoped not to hit a rock or a whirlpool.
Prosecuting Attorney Tommy Molto in Scott Turow’s Innocent (2010), p. 56
This reminded me of my wedding day which was a near disaster saved only by the grace of a Guardian angel. Every girl wants her wedding day to be perfect. Its the only day she ever wants to look her most beautiful. I had a swollen and black right eye, a nasty bump on my forehead, 10 stitches and a bald patch on my head and 3 stitches on my eyebrow. All on my wedding day! I was the Frankenstein bride.
It upset me to no end until very recently. I couldn't appreciate the fact that I was able, unhurt and surprisingly not in pain at all; but for a few surface scratches and bumps. Our car spun a few times, then rolled over 3 times, did a 4 point landing and all 4 of us walked out of that wreck without even a broken bone. I was the only one who needed stitches for my cuts. My father didnt even need that. My mother and brother didnt even have cuts! The fact that all 4 of us walked away from the car and not rolled away on a stretcher is nothing short of a miracle. And I couldn't appreciate that!
Yesterday, I learnt that a colleageue I had never met passed away. He met with an car accident while driving back from his hometown to the city and and didn't survive the crash. My condolences to his family and friends who cared deeply for him and how tragic this loss really is.
That could have been one of us. That could have been ALL of us! And I realised how truly lucky I am. How insanely lucky my family is! I think it was a Higher power telling me to relax and enjoy the ride (pun intended). There is no harm in going with the flow and having fun along the way. Sure as hell sounds easier and less stressful than fretting over every last detail that even I won't remember 10 seconds from now!
Two lesons I learnt the hard way - Never take anyone for granted because life is very volatile and always wear seatbelts in a car.
P.S: Most girls claim that they looked their ablsolute most beautiful self on their wedding day and have never looked as good since. I guess I will be one of the select few who always looks better every other day! Score for me! :D
