Saturday, March 31, 2012

Adventure Finds Me!


     I am a person who never goes looking for adventure.  I don’t bungee jump, hang glide, or strap on a parachute and hurl myself out of airplanes.  I just drift through life doing what I have to do when I have to do it, all cool, calm, and collected.  Whether I like it or not, adventure finds me.    I am always oblivious, and adventure usually sneaks up and grabs me right in the a$$ taking me by surprise. 


        When I was a college freshmen at Belmont University, I decided on the spur of the moment that I wanted to go home.  Let’s forget the fact that home happened to be an 8 hour drive away.   Even though I had told my mom that I intended to spend the weekend on campus, as soon as my last class was over I was overcome with the need, determination, and insanity to drive home.


         I threw some clothes and books into the back of my car, cranked the radio’s volume to full blast and pointed my car north.  I was 18, had the world by the a$$, and wanted to go home, so away I went.  I checked no weather reports because the sun was shining.  I notified no one that I was on my way.  I just got in my car and moved it right along.




         Somewhere along the way the sun retreated behind the clouds.  The threatening skies made little difference to me.  I had my tunes cranked and at that moment I was singing along to Bon Jovi.  I had my mojo working, my head was banging to the beat, and I was really getting into the music when all of a sudden a newscaster broke into the middle of the song.  “If you are in Brown County, take shelter immediately!  A tornado has touched down near I-65 and is traveling north.  Repeat, if you are in the path of this storm, take cover NOW!”    It took me a minute for this piece of information to register.    “Oh hells bells, I am on I-65!”  I then passed a sign welcoming me to Brown County.  Brown County!!  I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and looked around.  I looked over to my left and just about $hit my pants.  There was a huge tornado blowing up a barn right alongside of me!!  I freaked out.  I didn’t know whether to cuss or pray so I did a little bit of both.  


       Instead of pulling off to the side of the road and taking cover, I slammed my foot to the gas pedal and floored it.   All the other vehicles around me had the same reaction because everyone seemed to move in a pack like a bat out of hell.   Rain poured down in sheets.   I couldn’t see where I was going.  All I could see was the tail lights of the semi truck in front of me.  I knew if that semi truck went off the road, I would follow it.  If the tornado changed course, it would hit me.  Either way I sliced it, I was probably going to be having tea and cakes with Je$u$ in short order.  So I buried the gas pedal, said a prayer, and hauled a$$ all the way to Indianapolis.


         By the time I reached Indianapolis, I had to pee BAD.  Honestly it is a wonder I didn’t pee myself on the way.  My brain was frazzled and if I wasn’t three sandwiches short of a picnic before, I was definitely a little closer to needing a straight jacket by the time I guided my Dodge Shelby Charger through the construction barricades that surrounded the gas station.


         Evidently I drove through the wrong barriers because the next thing I knew my car was nose down in a deep ditch.  I lost it with a capital L.  I managed to climb out of my car and rushed up to the station to demand they get my car out of their little moat NOW.  I was going to pee, use the phone, and then I wanted to head on down the highway.  It didn’t matter if it was my fault for having my head up my a$$ and driving through the wrong barriers.  It was their barriers, their moat, and their job to get it un-f***** immediately before I completely lost my mind right there in their lovely establishment.  Before long I was back on the road with only a scratch on the spoiler.  

          I finally did make it home and lived to tell the tale.  I never go looking for adventure, but I always manage to find it no matter how much I try to avoid it until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.






26 comments:

  1. Hahahahah.....

    I ran into a girl like you in Orangeburg SC one time. She was heading to Charleston on whim from Charlotte and had managed to sink her car in the mud. I was in a Olds 98 and was able to yank her out. Didn't even say "Thank you"...

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    1. chm1880, I was brought up to be thankful and to thank folks who helped me, so that is where she and I differed. I did thank those kind people after they got my car pulled out and apologized profusely for blowing a blood vessel at them. They were very nice, but I am sure they thought I was dizzy as hell. LOL As I recall I was a mess, bawling my eyes out and carrying on. It is a wonder they didn't put in a call to the funny farm while they had me in their sights!! LMAO Thank you so much for stopping in to read, for sharing, and for your kind comments. That girl should have said thank you, no matter how upset she was about the situation. After all, you didn't sink her car in the mud. I am so thankful I have mellowed out a bit with age. LOL

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  2. That sounds horrid! I drive that road a lot and I can just see all the open fields and a big ole twister coming across one! Yikes!

    Great story, but I gotta say, Thank God you were quick on the gas.
    Outrunning one is probably a good call, they seldom turn.

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    1. Jo, I didn't really see much choice. There was no where to go to take cover and stopping suddenly could have caused an accident because of the traffic around me. I went with my gut and got out of Dodge. I don't usually cozy up with a twister so I had no idea which thing the crazy thing was going. It could have come right at me for all I knew. It was a wild experience that I will carry with me my whole life. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  3. Kathy, you are one tough lady! I would choose to ride shotgun in that scenario with you, barriers and all. Great story, glad you're okay.

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    1. chispeak.com, I don't know about tough! LOL I had few options at the time and just went with my gut. Fate had it that I didn't get blown back to start. The whole experience taught me to be a little more observant of weather conditions and of my surroundings. I learned to "think" before I "do". I tend to go with my gut a lot, and so far my gut has never been wrong. Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments.

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  4. What a funny story now that we know the outcome was good. I know the road well and would have to say you made the right call. So glad you made it and are telling the story! :D

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    1. KAT, things are always funny in hindsight. At the time it happened it was pretty scary and I was terrified but I did what I had to do. The cool thing was that I was so heart sick about the scratch on my spoiler and within a month some fool ripped the spoiler off that car and stole it!! Insurance bought me a new spoiler and I had a perfect car again. LOLOLOLOL Thanks for stopping by to read and for your comments!

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  5. What a scary experience! Glad you lived to tell the tale!

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    1. Dawn, you and me both. Being sucked up by a twister would be a messy way to go!! Thanks for stopping by to read and for your comments.

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  6. Holy crapanoly, woman! That was all sorts of crazy.

    Oh, by the way. Brown County, Indiana is one of my favorite places in the whole world. The hubs and I LOVE Nashville and every time we've been there, we wanted to try and convince the kids to pack up and move there.

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    1. Word Nerd, yes and every time I hear "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi I think about this little experience. Brown County is a lovely area! I went there with my folks to see the Oak Ridge Boys back in the day. We got there a day early so we took in Ricky Skaggs too. That was a fun time! Thank you for stopping by to read, for sharing, and for your comments!!

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  7. oh my, kathy... wow... you really did that... haha. that was insanely cool... glad everything went well. Yahweh bless.

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    1. Ralph, oh yes. Not by choice though. I kind of drove into that little mess, but fortunately managed to drive on out of it. LOL I never thought about it being insanely cool until you said something, but you are right!! It was a life experience that I will surely never forget. Thank you for stopping in to read and for your kind comments!

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  8. For some reason--this whole post was totally you. I could envision it as "yep--that's Kathy" from beginning to end!! Great post-- glad you outran the twister!! You sure got lucky there!!

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    1. Jenn, that is funny. You know me well!!! I am glad too. It wasn't my fate to be blown back to start. I was meant to live to tell the tale. Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments!!

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  9. That's a scary and a funny story at the same time :-D

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  10. Paula, Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. I am so pleased you enjoyed reading about my adventure!

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  11. Wow! Adventure with a capital A! I drove once on the freeway near Indianapolis in a driving rainstorm, in the dark, in an unfamiliar vehicle, at the age of 18, and never having driven on the freeway before! There were semi's and I think my uncle wisely had me pull over and took back the wheel. My speed is more like 45 in a west coast rain, not 55 on the freeway in a thunderstorm.
    Thank goodness there was no tornado...or if there was it was dark! Great tornado pic's. Brought back memories of that driving rainstorm and those tail lights.

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    1. Soggy in the corner, it sounds like another white knuckle drive. You were really lucky to have someone along to take over the wheel. I was alone and I would have given anything for a reprieve. I had to keep going so I would ever get home. Thank you for stopping in to read and for your comments!!

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  12. Hey,
    I just hopped over to your site via Stumbleupon. Not somthing I would normally read, but I liked your thoughts none the less. Thanks for making something worth reading.

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    1. Morocco Family Tours, I am so pleased you enjoyed what you found here. Thank you for stopping by! ♥

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  13. I’m impressed!! Really informative blog post here my friend I just wanted to comment & say keep up the quality work.

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    1. Authentic Tours, thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments. I am so pleased you enjoyed what you found here and hope you will stop in again. ♥

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  14. Hey,
    I am so excited about this recipe! I've copied this into word and I'll be making it for sure along with pumpkin mac and cheese,I like LOVE the crunchy,Thanks

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    1. Morocco family tours, you are very welcome! :D

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