PSA

PSA: I am taking this very seriously, but I am also well on my way to moving past it.

Just as other rabbit trailers could tell you, the way is not always filled with wonderful sites and intrigues. On occasion, it is actually fraught with peril and and we must step with trepidation so as to not incur the wrath of the mome raths underfoot.

Well, it seems her time had come last Friday (Friday the 13th, as a matter of fact).

While the weather outside had been frightful (snowing at a constant rate since the day before) she was delighted by the prospect of calling on a friend in the next town over--an easy distance that would normally take 15 minutes. However, as the weather had treated the roads in a similar way as a Zamboni machine, she was prepared to take extra time, to drive with glasses (which help her see better at night), to turn off the music, and to practice all of the other safety techniques a naturalized Michigander grows up knowing. Unfortunately, against the un-plowed, un-salted, un-graveled raised and twisting Japanese roads (this one being a main one between cities) and gusting winds, there was little precaution that would be more effective than chance.

Recall that in Japan, the roads and cars are opposite. And so as she was following the curve left and her car kept sliding straight, she was fortunate to hit the tree on the left (passenger) side. This fortunately knocked the car perpendicular to the ground so that when its nose struck the field 10ft below, she didn't roll. And although the passenger window was shattered out, her backpack thrown into the snowbank, the windshield fractured as if a stone was thrown into a pond (but from the passenger side), and the airbags had deployed-- she was fine. She wasn't cut to pieces by all of the glass, she found her glasses and phone intact, her window was also whole and therefore blocking her from the terrible wind, and she could move all her limbs. She was also comforted to realize that though anxiety attacks had seized her in the past, she was able to remain calm during this rather terrifying event (listening to music like this helped a lot).

passenger airbag and dashboard

windshield +glass

Driver's side (safe from that wind...)

Passenger window gone and a bit of the embankment the car fell down

A quick call to her friend started the hour long waiting process, but she had her down blanket and so kept herself adequately warm. Her friend had called their Japanese friend who ever-so-kindly handled calling the police and wrecker to get her out. Everyone arrived, the wrecker driver kindly let her sit in his heated truck, she answered the polite policeman's questions, was assured the tree wasn't hurt so she shouldn't worry, and then was conveyed on to her friend's house for a hot cup of tea, an adorable movie, and a place to stay.

While the eventual medical examination confirmed that one rib was cracked, she still can only smile knowing how blessed she was to literally walk away from the accident. The paths she wanders have led her to marvelous things. It's a comfort to know that when they do take an unexpected turn, she can keep her balance and momentum to keep moving forward.