Midnightmare

Sunday was a great day. I got lots of little things done, things that have been nagging at me, screaming for me to take care of them. Weeding, cleaning, organizing... I was proud of myself for not procrastinating but it was tiresome work and I was ready for a good night sleep. The sleep number bed has treated my back well and it beckoned me around 11:00. The good husband as usual stayed up to watch sports, news or westerns, total man stuff that bores me to no end since my brain is inundated with those moving images on a daily basis.
I blissfully and slowly began to disappear into a different consciousness. Mindless images filled my brain as darkness took over. Muted television noises could no longer be heard and intense relaxation dominated my body. Then a distant ringing began to penetrate. The ringing became more pronounced. The layers of nothingness began to pull back and expose consciousness. I silently admonished the good husband's brother, Simon, notorious for late night calls to chat about a baseball play. Why must he call this late? Through the closed door I heard rumblings of the good husband's deep voice. Short words though steady, not animated chatter over a play. My heart began to pound. The conversation didn't seem long. Was this bad news? Was it my family again? Memories of the dreaded phone call, though during the day, about Dad's death pushed its way into my brain. I will be forever stained with that fear. The heavy footsteps fell, closer and closer. Oh God, he was coming to me. The wooden door was opened and the six electric candles of the old cast brass chandelier blasted me into heart pounding reality.

My poor husband's sister and brother-in-law were in a serious car accident. It was Sunday night. It was midnight. My husband had to hastily drive an hour away to the ER in another town. Thankfully, another brother lives nearby and both would be there for each other for the trip. I stayed at the farm since they had no clue what they would find, how long they would stay, etc. Now, I must wait and worry about all four of them praying that my husband is safe from harm during his stressful drive. Sleep was no longer an option for a couple of hours until I was given an update. The dogs watched me with worried expressions but soon dozed off bored with the steady drone of television's human voices.

The poor things were on their way home from a fireworks display. They were on a four lane headed south and swerved to miss a large dog causing them to flip the Ford 500 and end in the median. No airbags went off since there was no front impact. Thankfully it was a one car accident. The sister had to be airlifted to the hospital.

ER's do not clean the patient. I guess they just work on the vitals. My husband had to endure the shock of the seeing blood all over his baby sister. She suffered from a 20 centimeter head wound though the cat scan showed no swelling. The brother-in-law suffered from a broken collar bone. She was on oxygen and barely spoke. She thought she was dying.

Today, she remains in the hospital. The plastic surgeon repaired broken capillaries and closed the gash on her skull. The brother-in-law was discharged yesterday. He carries with him extreme guilt. He thinks it was all his fault and that he should have done better.

Needless to say, Monday was difficult to endure. My entire body was heavy with the lack of sleep, worn out from all the adrenaline, and stunned from what had just happened. There was no rest for the weary and the day's activities pushed me all over the place. The excavators finished the middle layer of lime stone sand, a rude and selfish insurance broker stood me up for an entire hour without a phone call after I traveled 40 minutes to meet them (I had to call and ask where he was and wait for one of his flunkies to arrive...) and then they ended up refusing to insure my clients, and finally I had to finish some paperwork and turn in a contract at the office.

I am most thankful to God that our loved ones are still living and will be fine with time. Although they are in pain, their bodies will heal. I am thankful that my husband safely returned to me and that we are in good health. I am thankful that an important step was completed on my arena. I am thankful that I have work even though it can be stressful. I am thankful that death has not come knocking on our door and that the good husband and I along with our animals, extended families and our friends are with us. So, although we experienced a nightmare at midnight, we still have so much to be thankful for and all is well on the farm!