One of the worst days

Both the Cutlet and the Riblet, who have in the past few months gotten sick at least once a week, are still not 100 percent. It's that time of year, whatever, but something has to give. The Cutlet's getting better but wasn't up for school today (and upon calling his school we found out that the Demon Squirts are making the rounds). The Riblet was getting better, but he barfed all over me after waking in the wee hours, so he was a no-go today. Our normally sturdy kids have been reduced to quivering globs of puny flesh, and it's no fun to be a part of, yo.

The Petite Filet and I split the workday, or at least that was the plan. I worked the morning, and then came home so that she could make a meeting she had that afternoon. This is when things took another turn.

My sister called her (not having my cell number) to relay the information that my grandmother isn't expected to live to see tomorrow's sunset. She is unresponsive most of the time, can't talk, and is neither eating nor drinking. The PF called me to tell me, and offered to come back home in case I needed to see my grandma or at least sit with my mom.

I was about to call my mom when the PF called again, a few short minutes later.

She was driving to work, swung through a restaurant to get some chicken and was back on the road ... when a car in front of her slammed its brakes. Well, it hit two cars trying to turn left (where there is no turn lane), the PF slammed into his car, and then a fifth vehicle rear-ended her car. The PF's was the only airbag to deploy (although Car No. 3's airbag probably should ahve), and while it saved her from serious injury, anyone who's gotten an airbag pie to the face knows that it can really smart. It knocked her glasses to the back of her car, left a small surface burn on her arm and somehow whacked her shoulder. She was wearing a seatbelt. Nobody else seemed to be harmed in the making of this catastrophe.

The car was drivable enough to remove it from the roadway, but the deployed airbag meant that it was unsafe to operate per the police. It was towed. Insurance and driver info was exchanged, and the boys and I went to pick her up. After her pain seemed to be getting worse, having refused EMT treatment at the scene, we made an appointment to see her doctor this evening. Good news? Nothing is broken, at least obviously enough to see on the X-ray. But we were told more than once that she's going to feel worse in the morning and possibly the day after. She is icing the painful areas and taking pain medication to quell some of the after effects.

But there is always a bright side, if you let it shine through:

The PF is really just fine.

Having wonderful friends nearby meant that the Cutlet and Riblet were able to stay at home while we were at the doctor. Our friends have a son about a year younger than the Cutlet, and they always have a great time together.

We will learn in the next day or so what it will take to fix our car. We have collision coverage (sans a hefty deductible), so the car will get fixed even under the likely "mutual fault" label the wreck has earned.

Now down to one car, all four of us are going to spend more time together getting to and from work, school, etc. Any rental car we get will likely be an out-of-pocket expense. Empty pockets do not pay for such a luxury.

The end is always difficult, but when it's time for someone to leave her earthly body, you can't help but think it's a good thing. My mom said she thought she was ready to see her mother pass, but when faced with the brutal truth of it being close, she said you're really not ready at all. Any relief and gladness that there's no more suffering is overshadowed in a big way by the finalness of it ... the having to continue living with only memories. Thankfully, they are mostly good times on which to reflect.

A car wreck is a wakeup call. Not necessarily about driving skills (although that couldn't hurt, either), but also being reminded that accidents can happen before you know it. That combines with the stark reminder that no matter how tough we think we are, we're all a bit soft and fleshy. Being in such a state, in our world of hard surfaces and sharp objects, means we will suffer the occasional bump, paper cut and bruise.

If granted the grace of surviving it, we are made stronger by realizing the fleeting nature of life and limb. If we have saving grace, it may mean less knowing there's a heaven for us. Nonetheless, life on earth is precious as is our time. And it's a shame that life will move on and give us that false sense of security that lets us squander our time, energy and resources on things that won't matter one iota tomorrow.

Hug your loved ones, live today like it's important and by all means, drive safely.