almost

I almost got hit by a truck on the drive to work this week.

I was on 77 south on my usual route and had already navigated the two tricky lane changes to get lined up for my exit.  In front of me were the two lanes that curved up to Route 59.  I was in the right hand of those – the “exit” only – and to my right was the exit coming up for Lakeshore.  

Just at the cut-off point for the Lakeshore exit, a huge 4×4 truck comes out of nowhere from my left, swerves in front of me in an instant, then swerves again to get in the lane for the Lakeshore exit.

I had a moment to swear and that was it.  The truck wasn’t there, then it was right in front of me, then it was gone. 

I focused on keeping my car under control and didn’t look to see if he managed to stay in the exit lane or if he went off the road.  His vectors must have been intense.

Later on, it occurred to me that if he had been just a little bit slower or if I had been going just a little bit faster or if he had timed it just a little bit wrong – there would have been a terrible accident.  

I drive a four-door civic and in that situation I wouldn’t have stood a chance. The impact would have from the left and no air bag could have helped.

But, all of that was “almost”.  It was a close call, but no impact, no damage, no injury. It almost happened, but didn’t.

Made me think about the other “almost” situations that I might not have known about.  

Is it fate? Is it chance?  Some cosmic plan or just a fluke? 

In any case, too much to dwell on.  I’m okay and nothing really happened.

But it was a lot of “almost” all at once.