Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Terrified and then Comforted

Early this morning, around 1:35 am, I was awakened by the sound of screeching tires and an impact. About two seconds later, there was a loud popping sound accompanied by a terrifying blast of blinding white light that filled my room. I sensed that it was coming from a place not very far outside my window. A few seconds after that, I was scared again by a second pop and blinding blast of light. I jumped to my feet--frightened--trying to figure out what had just happened. I didn't know what to do. I was scared to be near a window in case another blast occurred, thinking that glass would shatter from the force of it. Not long after that, there was a third blast of light, but not as strong as the first two (and no broken glass). I was terrified. My mind was racing to make sense of it--to find some category for what was happening. I was afraid to turn the light on in my room because I didn't know if what I was hearing were gunshots or bomb blasts and I didn't want to call attention to my window from outside. Instinctively, I picked up my cell phone to call eSuitor. His was a very comforting voice to hear, and he stayed on the line with me while I shuffled around in the darkness of my room, trying to figure out what in the world was going on. My voice was quivering with fear. He asked me if I saw anything outside my window. At first I didn't, but soon, I heard voices outside and saw my neighbors congregating on the sidewalk. Not long after that, emergency crews came, and I heard one of them yell out, "Stay back, there is a live wire down!" My neighbors scurried back, so as to avoid being in danger. I went outside to join them after a couple of minutes, and they told me that a driver hit an electrical pole (and then got out of the car and fled) and it blew a transformer on not one, but two posts. Thus, the multiple popping sounds and blasts of light. Even though my head was coming to grips with what had happened, my emotions were still reeling, and I didn't know if I would be safe staying in my apartment. eSuitor told me to come down to his apartment where I felt much safer. Always the gentleman, he offered me his bed while he slept on the sofa. I laid in bed, my mind still spinning for at least another hour before my body finally gave way to sleep. Much needed sleep.



Thank You, God, for protecting me and keeping me safe.



"He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." ~Psalm 18:30

12 comments:

Liz said...

Oh, that is so scary! I would have thought the worse too. Glad you were okay though.

Autumn's Mom said...

Not how I'd like to be woken up in the middle of the night. Glad you are safe :)

Clive said...

I'm suprised I didn't get a call from eSuitor to come sleep on MY couch!!!

Cherry said...

Not a fun night indeed!
I'm glad no one got hurt, and you were able to relax enough to sleep. Even after the drive to eSuitor's place, I'm not surprised you were still shaken up.

Soon you will be living in that home full of comfort and peace. Very soon.

ML said...

Very frightening! I can see how you would be shaken up. I'm so glad you're ok and eSuitor saved the day :)

Susan said...

Tracy, I just LOVE your blog and do does Erica. We don't comment much, but we just love reading you. Thanks for being willing to share your life (and B's!) with us. :)

J said...

Wow Tracy...I remember once being woken by a loud bang in the middle of the night, and my adrenilne was BLASTING through me. When I went to bed, I was shaking. Ugh.

So glad you're OK, and your neighbors, and even the idiot driver. :)

Anonymous said...

Very scary. Weird, really. Amazing how dramatic things are in the middle of the night. You've stopped shaking now, right?

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Starshine,

I absolutely love that you lead a truly Christ centered life. Excellent, I am so glad to see it, it's so rare these days.

The best photo on here is the one where you are being lifted in prayer by the women who love you.

With support like that, and the Lord to lead your marriage, it will be a wonderful, blessed union.

All my best wishes and prayers go with you both.

Good luck, and good love.
I will keep checking in day by day to see the progress and I can't wait to see wedding pictures, you will be such a beautiful bride.

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Anonymous said...

Starshine,
I am a friend of Tracy from Texas and mother of the "bluebonnet" blogger. (Yes, the bluebonnet-in- the-snow pic is real!) Love your postings...today's was so scarey! Glad you are OK. :)

Ginger said...

What I got out of this post was how lucky you are to have eSuiter. He was right there for you in the best way (even sleeping on the couch). You two are going to have a great life together.

Maya's Granny said...

That happened in my neighborhood once in broad daylight and no one knew what it was at first and it was truly terrifying. The sound was so loud and the blast was so very bright. It was coming from the mountainside above my apartment house and all of the neighbors were out and trying to figure out what it could be and if we should evacuate or if it was safe to be outside or inside or what to do. Were we in for a forest fire? Our problem wasn't caused by a car, indeed there was no road near the pole, just an access path. I can well imagine that would be so much worse in the middle of the night, confused by sleep.