I recall being in elementary school probably around ten or eleven years of age and learning that in the State of Texas, a handwritten will was valid and would hold up in a court of law. I remember being impacted by this piece of information and promptly wrote out my own.
I also recall my parents in particular my father thinking I either had suicidal thoughts or had simply lost my mind. He sat me down and asked me why I had drawn up a will. I told him that if I died I wanted to make sure my things went to whomever I wanted and not to whom the State decided they should go to. After I told him I had learned it in class...it seemed to ease his mind.
So what does a ten or eleven year old own that would require a will? Not much...just my clothes, some jewelry and probably telling my age now...my bubble gum card collection of the Monkeys (the musical group not actual monkeys). By the way, all my stuff was to be inherited by my cousin who at the time was living with us.
I finally made it official when I turned 24 years old. My ex-boss had a store bought Will form and shared it with us. He and another co-worker served as my witnesses and our secretary notarized it and made it legal. Cost to me....free...I like free!
My parents and I would make a trip to South America a few years later and I loved taunting my father on the flight over. I reminded him that if we crashed and died his step-brothers would inherit what little he had but that MY stuff would go to my uncle because I had a will and he didn't. Needless to say as soon as we got back home...he drew up his will...and also decided that we would NEVER fly together as a family, jajajaja!
You are probably wondering where I am going with these morbid thoughts...don't worry...I am getting to that.
Thursday - January 8, 2015 we were on our way to Uvalde, Texas for mother's monthly doctor's appointment. I was going the speed limit, 70 mph around 1:00 p.m. The road has been under construction and little pieces of gravel were being kicked up by an eighteen wheeler in front of me. Not wanting more dings in my car or worst yet a cracked windshield...I passed him up at my first opportunity.
As soon as I did, he decided to tailgate me which pissed me off! I therefore kept a close eye on him. About three minutes later, in the distance I see a figure by the side of the road and I remark to mother...what in the world is that? Before I even got that out of my mouth, it was clear that it was a deer with antlers trying to make up his mind if he was going to cross the highway or not.
I immediately looked in the rear view mirror and saw that 18 wheeler was still on my ass. I knew I could not brake, so I let go of the gas pedal and analyzed my options. No one close enough in incoming traffic that I could, if needed swerve into the incoming lane or I could go off the road to my right to avoid hitting the deer. At 70 or 60 mph by now, that might mean a roll over.
Just then the deer crossed the road and before I could even breath a sigh of relieve the darn deer turned back and just stopped in the middle of the road!!!
I again looked in the rear view mirror and this time I saw that the 18 wheeler had slowed down significantly but neither him nor I were prepared for this next scenario. Do I swerve right or left to avoid hitting him? What would the 18 wheeler do? Hitting an object such as a deer in a cheaply built Corolla is not an option, nor is getting rear-ended by an 18-wheeler.
Just then the deer decided to bolt off the middle of the road. I have never been so happy in my life! You have got to realize that all this happened in a split second and not a moment too soon. That darn 18-wheeler kept his distance after that. As a matter of fact others passed him and I soon lost track of him.
When you arrive at the doctor's office, you have to go get your vitals taken by the nurse. My mother's blood pressure was 190/78. The nurse asked her why her blood pressure was so high and mother replied that she did not know. I recalled after all this happened, looking over to her but she seemed unfazed and I had no idea if she even noticed it, as it all happened so fast. One thing I know for sure is she had no idea how close that 18-wheeler was during the ordeal
We might have had a fighting chance if we hit the deer but we would have had NO chance if the 18-wheeler hit us from behind or the side or wherever. Thinking best case scenario we would be in intensive care in a San Antonio hospital. Worst case...we would be at the local mortuary.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Terlingua Dreams
Governors Landing Campground - Lake Amistad - Del Rio, Texas
One of the things I did right before leaving for Honduras was make out a will and have it witnessed and notorized. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for Mom, considering how spread out all my stuff was in 2 states and 2 countries. None of it is/was worth enough to go through a lot to take possession of it so I figured a will was the cheaper way to handle it.
ReplyDeleteA very wise decision in particular in your circumstances. Some foreign countries have a lot of red tape and a will is always helpful.
DeleteMy wife and I had our wills made out years ago. I suppose I should review it and update it if necessary.
ReplyDeleteGlad you have a will in place, you would be surprised how many people do not.
DeleteI wonder what YOUR blood pressure was at the time of the ordeal? Just reading about it made mine go up.
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself, Ss! (and gsg)
Sb, I have no idea how high mine got since unlike my mother I do have high blood pressure but I bet it was up there.
DeleteTwo wins in a row and a great performance by Jeff Ayres against the T-wolves. The depth of our Spurs bench never ceases to amaze me.
GSG!!!
Around here, nation capital of deer hunting, you hit the deer. Seen too many bad wrecks from dodging them. Had a huge buck do me the same way as you, but turned back right into my car, made me lose control but got it straightened out. Still makes me so sad because i can still see his frantic eye just before i hit him. Nearly totaled my car with the front end damage, even tho it was still derivable.
ReplyDeleteA couple of years ago I remember reading that a man hit a deer and he would have survived had it not been for the antlers that punctured his lung as he came through the windshield.
DeleteAt least you were not badly hurt even though your car took the brunt of it. I am so grateful that this happened in broad daylight or the outcome might have been different.
I'm a 55 mph driver, as that is the limit at which I feel safe. I'm glad it turned out so well for you, the deer, and the truck. Did you ask the nurse to take your blood pressure?
ReplyDeleteI wrote a will when I lived in NC, and it still holds I guess. I should update it but since everything gets split between my kids I doubt if it makes much difference. I hate to pay to have it done all over again in another state.
I am glad it turned out well for all of us. In West Texas there are large expanses of ranch land and you can go as high as 75 to I believe 80 mph. During the day I feel comfortable going 70 mph but not at night.
DeleteI guess I was still in a daze and it never occurred to me to ask her to take my blood pressure. I was more concerned with mom's. The nurse told me not to worry as even though it was high, they go by the bottom number.
I'm really glad that turned out to be 'cheap thrills'.
ReplyDeleteRemember the TV show the Adams Family? They had bubble gum cards too, the cards formed a large poster of the Adams Family. The summer my cousin stayed with us we almost collected the whole thing... Hadn't thought of that in years... Hey hey we're the Monkeys....
Lol, I like that "cheap thrills"...:D
DeleteI loved to watch the Adams family! I don't recall them being on the bubble gum cards though.
I remember swapping cards with my friends so I could complete the poster. I chewed a lot of gum in those days. I remember the gum cards costing a nickle....the good old days!
Yikes, so very scary. This is such a huge danger driving Texas roads with the overpopulation of deer now. All the experts say that we're not supposed to veer and should just go ahead & hit them head on, because the greater danger to drivers who veer is plowing into an oncoming car, slamming into a tree or utility pole or flying into a ditch & flipping over the vehicle.
ReplyDeleteBut as you mentioned, that strategy would only be smart if you're driving a heavy car. I used to have an Xterra with one of those brush guard rack thingies in front so I could probably have plowed into one, no probs, but I drive a lower crossover vehicle now & I and my airbags would get destroyed by one of those massive bucks coming through the windshield.
I sure hope that 18 wheeler guy learned his lesson about tailgating to avenge his 'honor' against people who dare to pass him!
Thanks for that article, very informative and like TnT stated in her comment...just hit the deer!
DeleteWhat concerned me the most was being hit from behind by that tailgating idiot. I certainly hope he learned his lesson.
That is so nice to make provisions for your little dog.
ReplyDeleteWhile many have wills, a lot of people forget the importance of having a Living Will for when one is not in a position to make medical decisions for themselves.