Canon S500
©Tim P

I took this yesterday, driving home from Kenai. The weather sucked. All mixed snow and rain. The kind that builds up on the road as a layer of slop and sends you hydroplaning if you get out of the beaten path. This building is just south of the Girdwood turnoff. About 10 minutes after I stopped to take this photo, I was rounding a curve and the person in the oncoming lane lost control and began skidding all over the road. They crossed the center line over to my half of the road. I took my foot off the gas to slow down. I was doing around 60 when I let up on the gas. I didn't dare touch my brakes or I would have lost control too. As the car continued to veer into my half of the road in front of me, I was able to swerve to the right and pass by them with about two feet between us at the closest point when we passed. Looking in my rearview mirror, I saw them eventually regain control.

We both continued on our way. A brief moment in time. Yet the rest of the way home I couldn't help but reflect on how my life might have been irreversibly changed had we had that collision. I felt very lucky & thankful. I got home about 20 minutes later. It was late and had been a long day, driving to Kenai & back. When I walked in the door, my daughter was there to greet me. I gave her and my wife and extra tight hug and kiss. I poured myself a glass of wine and sat down to enjoy being at home with my family, the end of just another day. It could have been so different. I don't know who the other driver was, but I'm sure whoever he or she was, they may well have been doing the same. Some days you really appreciate the little things in life, that you usually take for granted without a passing thought. Anyway, that's my rant and I'm stickin to it.