That picture, its iconic, Classic Norman Rockwell.
It was a cold January day in upstate NY. Headed home on a cold sunny day from Church with my son. He says he would like a Wendy’s hamburger. We stop grab him a burger and head home. Roads are clear, but there is snow on the sides, snowbanks etc.
Out of nowhere a car comes up on my left, and starts pushing me off the road onto the shoulder. It is slightly ahead of me then the rear of the vehicle climbs up on my hood, and I am forced into the cable style guardrail, and on a steep downward hill. I have nowhere to go cept slide down the hill stradling the cables and tying hard to not fall down the embankment on my right.
The vehicle on top of my hood slides off as its entire rear axle departs from the vehicle, and that vehicle continued down the road then hitting a telephone pole bouncing off and coming to a stop in the middle of the road. My vehicle also came to a stop. Smelling fuel, I was anxious to get out of the vehicle and remove my son from his car seat behind me. My attention then turned to the other vehicle, so I set my son down and ran over to the car. I pulled open the rear door and was faced with a pre teen boy with a bloody face looking at me. The driver, a woman, then also opened her door and exited the vehicle.
Someone pulled me away from the vehicle and walked me back over towards my vehicle, I have no idea who. After a little while I looked around for my son and could not locate him. I started asking everyone around as now there were people and vehicles all around. Someone pointed me to the Emergency van, so I went over there and pulled open the side door. A man was there and chided me to close the door, but I held it asking where is my son. He pointed to him and said he was fine they are just looking him over and I can see him in a moment. I saw two other boys in there from the other vehicle.
The Police man came over and spoke with me asking about what I saw did all that. He then spoke with the other driver as well.
So, what does this have to do with the poster above?
After all was done, road was cleared, and people left, police left, I was with my son, all this time there was a woman who was talking to me. She was trying hard to keep me distracted and engaged in conversation with her. I was barely aware of her. I really was not aware of her presence, things moved so fast and so out of focus.
But eventually my son and I were left standing on the side of the road with no means of getting home! The lady who was there standing with me asked if she could bring us home. I accepted her offer as really there was no other option.
Chatting with her on the ride, she told me who she was. She was a School Board member of my sons school, and was actually the President of the school board. She also said she was the daughter of the Police officer who posed for that picture above.! Really, that was her dad.
He lived in our community and passed away in 2012. She lived there with her husband and their children.
Her kindness and her steadfastness was welcome and appreciated. I never had an opportunity to thank her for that day. Perhaps one day I can thank her.
