In September of 2002 I was 8 months pregnant with JT and with hormones in full force I remember telling Rick that we should really go look at a new car. At the time we had my trusty Oldsmobile from graduate school that Rick took to work and a Ford Explorer that I drove. We had recently been told by a mechanic that the Explorer was probably on it's last leg.
Rick and I made the journey to Covert Ford out in Hutto, Texas, which at the time it felt like we were driving out to a corn field in the middle of nowhere.
We walked through the car lot (although I probably waddled) and looked at the used Explorers. Rick and I both despise car shopping so I am certain neither of us were in a great mood as the salesman followed us along chatting. I recall sitting in an Explorer that we thought was the one until the salesman asked if I wanted to sit in an Expedition. I climbed in the big silver beast and fell in love. I went back and sat in the Explorer again just to be sure but I knew that Expedition was mine. Sitting in it made me feel safe. We drove it home later that day.
This past Friday in preparation for the kids and I taking a mini-road trip to Louisiana we headed out in the trusted Expedition to run errands. There are multiple ways to get us to where we were going but out of habit I took my normal route that I drive to work. We sat at a light waiting for the green arrow to turn left. I don't even recall what we were talking about or what was on the radio. I remember looking at the guy to my left who was in work clothes and talking on the phone and thinking he was probably from Dell and taking a conference call. I looked up, the light was green, I looked back over at the guy next to me, and then I looked forward to where I was turning. I never looked straight ahead. If I had, I would have saw that there was a truck coming our way that was not stopping. All I heard was a horn honking before there was impact, the Expedition being pushed, and the air bags deploying. The boys and I described it later as what we imagine it feels like to get hit by a train (although a train is probably worse). JT was screaming, Zach and the girls were in shock. The powder from the airbags looked like smoke and I just kept telling JT to calm down for everyone to get out of the truck now. I wanted to scream and cry like the kids but knew I couldn't breakdown in front of them. I herded everyone to the median, counted the kids, checked everyone, and then held them each.
A sweet couple who saw the accident jumped out to check on us. As well as every employee at the Mr. Clean Car Wash that is there on the corner. Lulu was attached to my leg, Kit Kat was just sitting quietly on the ground next to Zach who was crying, and JT was pacing and crying. While I was trying to calm JT down, the gentleman (whose name Zach told me later was Skips) sat on the ground with Zach and spoke to him in quiet words that in the midst of the chaos I couldn't hear. Zach won't tell me all of what he said, just that he told him everyone was ok and that was all that mattered.
The EMS, Fire Department, and Police all arrived. It is honestly all a blur. Everyone was asking me questions, asking me to fill out forms, asking me who was coming to get me. I never saw or spoke to the other people but from what small pieces of conversation we overheard and pieced together later they were all ok.
My phone was sitting in the console when we were hit and I wasn't able to find it. JT had called Rick and only said "Mom was in an accident." Rick had no clue what to expect. When Rick drove by the truck and saw it sitting flat on the ground (all 4 axles broken) he thought for sure that if not all of us but at least one was either injured or worse.
This September the Expedition would have been with us for 13 years and officially 15 years old. We have loved every moment with the Expedition. It has brought home all 4 of the kids from the hospital. We have driven through 23 States in the Expedition. We have laughed, cried, argued in the Expedition. The Lucas Family Circle of Trust lives in the Expedition. Every year as something minor cracked or broke, Rick and I talked about getting a new one but we keep saying, "Let's just hold out for one more year."
We all walked away from the accident without any major injury. We are all a bit shaken but otherwise we are fine. The Expedition is not fine. It is sad to lose such a trusted vehicle. The moment of safety I felt when I first sat in the Expedition never left. I am thankful for every inch of steel Ford used to build that vehicle. Thankful that after 15 years, the airbags still worked perfectly. Thankful to all the people that stopped despite whatever they had going on to check on all of us. Thankful for whomever was watching over the 5 of us on Friday.
I am not sure how we will replace the Expedition but I doubt I will be happy with anything other than another one. Honestly right now, I am just thankful that missing an item is the only thing I am doing.
