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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Al-Anon Family Group -> Another lesson on listening to HP
Post Info TOPIC: Another lesson on listening to HP
david62


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Another lesson on listening to HP
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Hello ((((Family))))

Soooo, tonight, like just about every other Thursday night for the last 5 years and 7 months, I set out to attend my out-of-town Al-Anon meeting.  This meeting is about an hour drive from my home.  At the halfway point of this drive I pass through a small town that has an "at-grade" railroad crossing in it. 

As I approach the crossing there is a train passing through so the cross arms are down and I take my place behind two other cars and wait for the train to pass.

I put the car in park, and keep my foot on the brake so that my brake lights will stay on to alert anyone approaching me from behind that I am stopped.

Now here ya go... this thought comes into my head.  "Turn on your emergency flashers."  Instead of just doing it, I analyze it.  Hmmm, this is a 20 mph section of road.  There is a big train going across it...with klaxon's ringing and bright red lights flashing.  As I am thinking on it, I look in my rear view mirror and see a Tractor trailer truck approaching me from about a block away.  He is going very slowing, has his emergency flashers on so obviously he sees the train and knows he is going to have to stop.

So I don't put my flashers on.

I sit there patiently. Every few moments I glance again in mirror and see the truck, ever so slowly approaching me.  I do this 3 or 4 times.  The next time I look up, all I can see is Grill!!!  I have time to think, that grill is awfully close to me...when Bam!!! Suddenly 80000 lbs of vehicle is pushing my 3300 lb Dodge.

My mind truly could not comprehend that this guy drove for a block at maybe... 1 mph and couldn't stop before hitting me.  I felt a moment of panic.  Should I jump out and run for the hills!  Has he fallen asleep?  Have his brakes failed?  Is he going to push me into the car in front of me, or better all the way into the still passing train?

Before I can decide.  He stops.

I get out to see the damage.  He gets out and asks if I am okay.  He says, "I didn't see you".  I say I am fine, but want to see my car.  Miraculously it has suffered only a small dent and some scratched paint.  Ram tough those Dodge's are ya understand! smile.gif

He starts offering me a hundred dollars cash money to just let it go and be on our way.  I decide that the police officer across the street at the Subway needs to be involved instead.  I cross the street and see the officer standing in line to get his sandwich.  I dramatically tell him I have just been rear ended by a semi and would he mind coming over and having a look.  Everyone in the place looks at me with alarm.  The officer says, "Is it all right if I get my sandwich first?"hmm I say, "Certainly" and walk back to my car to wait.

After the investigation, truck driver is issued ticket, and I am on my way.

Now the part of my brain that qualifies me for Al-anon starts whispering to me.  "Gee David, you sure are mean.  What if they guy looses his job?  What if he has too many accidents and looses his Commercial drivers license and can't support his family?  Obviously that is why he wanted to just give you the money to let it go.  He couldn't afford the accident on his driving record!"

Guilt.  I am hit by an 18 wheeler (flashes of that Stephen King classic "Maximum Overdrive" in my mind biggrin) while legally stopped waiting for a train to pass, and I FEEL GUILTY!  confuse

Yeah, brothers and sisters, I belong righhhtt here with you allll.  Thank goodness! smile

As I drive on to my meeting I start thinking back to that "feeling" that "inner voice" that told me to put my flashers on.  I have stopped in that very spot dozens of times over the last 5 years.  Not once have I put my flashers on, nor have I had the thought to do so.  HP was telling me something was up.  My "Big Brain" decided it wasn't necessary. blankstare

So my car got a little bumped and will need a bit of a bandaid.  So I got a tad excited.  And I got another lesson in listening. 

Rest assured I will be turning those flashers on from now when I have to wait for a train to pass.

Maybe next time HP sends me a little hint, I will just do what He recommends instead of overanalyzing it!

Yours Still in Recovery,
David




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Rora


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Wow! Thanks for sharing. Glad you (and the Ram for the most part) are okay!

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Tiger2006


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Glad you're ok!
It's also good to hear I'm not the only one who has these preverse thoughts of guilt, shame, remorse. Thanks!

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Debilyn


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OMGOSH David!!!!  geez I was seeing what  you were thinking too! Stephen King has warped us btw.

I am so so glad you are ok, that had to be so so majorly scarey!I cannot believe that officer acted like that! You had to be in so much shock! you were almost squished like an acordian and he is worried about his stupid sandwich???!! What the heck is the matter with people!
And the guy wanted to pay you off after he almost killed  you?? "oh yea budi thats fine we can forget it, no big deal, you are just driving a KILLING MACHINE and almost murdered me!" a hundred bucks makes it ok. geez

You nut, you probably saved many people lives by waking this guy up. We all need consequenses for our behavior! All the thoughts you had tells me he NEEDS to be ticketed and possibly lose his license! Those are huge trucks out there, they have to be driven by AWARE people, he did not see you??? Did he not see the TRAIN???

Wow big shhhh! so glad you are ok, did you have to change your pants???sheesh!

btw my friend and I were walking along the bay in all this driftwood at night. Was sorta weird, the shapes of the wood, no moon, so dark. She says uno this would be a great idea for Stephen King.... see we are warped.

Glad you are ok! Now get a Volvo. hugs,debilyn



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"It's not so much being loved for ourselves, but more for being loved in spite of ourselves."

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canadianguy


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Loved the story David, and yes, you belong here with the rest of us!! 

Kind of reminds me of the Al-Anon joke about the executioner.....  Three guys are standing in a line, waiting to be executed by guillotine.  The first guy goes up, puts his head across where the blade is to come down, the executioner pulls the rope, and the blade miraculously stops just inches away from the man's neck....  The exectutioner decides it is a sign from a HP above, and let's the man go free.... The second man goes up, and the exact same thing happens....  The third man, who is a grateful member of Al-Anon, tells the executioner "I think I can fix that for you!"

hehehe

Thanks for the story David, and glad you & your car are alright...

Tom

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wp


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Thank God you weren't the first in line nearer the train! Please, no guilt for what you did. I think you were quite rational after the 'accident'. How could the truck driver Not see you? Maybe he was texting! Maybe he needs to go back to driving school!
Please oh please do listen to hp and get those flashers going :)
Thanks for sharing, pw

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Diva


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I am thankful you are HERE to be HERE with us David.  This accident could have been a tragedy, and yes, you did the right thing by involving the policeman, and no, you should feel no guilt.

I understand your feelings about the driver.  No one wants to cause another to lose his/her job.  But ours is not to be our brother's keeper.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Love you,

Diva


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xeno59


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HP was surely working for you. Truckers will often use thier flashers when they have lost thier brakes and are unable to stop. Thankfully he was able to slow down enough not to have caused a tragedy!
You did the right thing in involving the police. Truckers Must inspect thier trucks everytime they go out to drive and the company is respondsible for maintaing proper maintance on thier trucks. So by involving the police you may have saved others lives.
Glad you are not hurt

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Maria123


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(((David))),

I am so glad that you are alright, that you didn't get hurt and all ended well.

Perhaps it twasn't you resisting HP as much as Callioppe's alter ego, Christine, disbelief resisting our HP. You gotta keep a close eye on her!

Because you are alright, I can poke a lil fun at cha. I can just see you "a tad excited." The cop was a bastage making you wait. My boy would have rushed right on over to hep you out.

Happy you still belong. This will bring an additional meaning to feeling grateful at this time of year.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and the family,

Maria



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If I am not for me, who will be?  If I am only for myself, then who am I?  If not now, when?
Christy


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(((David)))

I'm glad things turned out as they did and that you are safe.  Someone once told me to always listen to the "whispers",  for they are "angel whispers".

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maresie


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What a miracle.  Few people come off unscathed from such an accident.  I understand truckers are allowed so many points before their license is at issue.  The closer I am to my higher power the better my life flows.  The issue is sometimes I do indeed want to run the show.

Maresie.

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