Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Book Signing and Rollover

My book signing in Cedar City, Utah was in a lovely store named Mountain West Books. It offers a wide variety of books (including LDS) and supplies in an uplifting atmosphere. Mountain West is affiliated with the furniture store next door that is chockfull of decorating accessories that are to die for. Next time you are in Cedar City, treat yourself with a visit to their stores.

It started hailing/snowing before 1 pm when I bid farewell to my hostess Britannia, and my husband and I headed toward St George. The road turned very slushy and before we knew it, only a few miles into our journey, our van began to fishtail. In seconds we spun, hit the shoulder and began to roll. I wondered if my life was over, if I'd ever see my children again, and if Dennis and I would get to serve the mission we planned on. Thankfully. after a full roll, our car landed upright. The windows had shattered and showered us. "Are you alive?" I asked, and to say I was relieved to hear Dennis say "I am" would be an understatement. He carefully opened his door, and as snow fell, came around and opened my door, We hugged, grateful to be alive! Thank goodness for seat belts and great engineering design. Blinded by tears, I began picking up my novels and items that had been thrown from the car in the roll, and tossed them back into the car hoping to get them out of the rain and snow. Most of the windows were gone from the vehicle, so there was no protection from the snow. I also found my laptop still in one piece on the ground.

Passer-bys didn't see us since we were several feet off the road down a slope. Dennis got his cellphone working and called 911. Up the road we could see another car had ran off the road, and several yards behind us, a truck had slid into the median. Later we were told there were ten vehicles that had ran off the road within that hour. Hopefully, we were the only one that rolled. To make a long story short, our car was towed back to Cedar City (totaled, of course), we got a rental car, and four hours after the accident we headed up the road again toward St. George--still very shook up.

Thank you to all the emergency personnel who came to our rescue--the highway patrolmen, the paramedics, the tow-truck driver--everyone acted concerned and cordial to our needs and made dealing with the tragedy much easier.

We are thankful to be home where we are nursing our bruises. Next time I go to Utah, I will definitely fly!

12 comments:

  1. wow. Joan, I am so relieved to hear that you and your husband came out of that accident with only bumps and bruises. I am sure the mental picture will take a long time to fade, however. I am sending prayers of gratitude that you are well, my friend!
    I was so sad to miss your book signing in Spanish Fork. I didn't have a car that day. sadness!
    hugs~

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  2. Wow, Joan! When I heard you'd rolled I could hardly believe it. I'm so glad you're going to be all right.

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  3. I am so glad things ended up as well as they did, considering. I've been in a rollover before and know well the questions that fly through your mind.

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  4. Obviously you were meant to be here. There must be some fantastic things in store for you! I'm so glad you both survived intact. An accident like this can sure help you realize what is most important to you. Hugs!

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  5. Scary, Joan, but I'm so happy you both are well! Hope all healing is quick.

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  6. I am so thankful you are both alright. I hope you heal quickly. What a blessing to be protected in such an accident.

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  7. Wow, I'm new here, but I can hardly believe the scare you guys had! Such a blessing that the two of you survived an accident like that. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Heavens, how quickly things can happen! I'm so glad everything turned out all right.

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  9. Joan! Where exactly were you? We saw three cars go off the road righte north of Flimore on the I15 on Tuesday. We pulled over and helped one lady who's car had rolled and she was bleeding and dazed with a broken arm, meanwhile, we saw a truck fly off the road, then another car flip into the median. It was crazy. I'm glad you're okay. I've never seen anything like it.

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  10. Oh, Joan! I hope the bruises heal very, very quickly and leave you with the sure knowledge that God -- and so very many of us mere mortals -- love you and need you here for a very long time to come!

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  11. Oh my goodness! I am so glad you are safe and well.

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  12. We love you and are so grateful you and dad are safe.

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