Tummy Ache

by Linda Spitz

It was a sunny afternoon in late August, and on the spur of the moment I decided to get into my car and go to the grocery store.

I strolled down the sidewalk, opened the car door, and tossed my purse over onto the passenger seat of my car.

As I slid into my seat behind the steering wheel I had this extremely intense feeling and heard the words, "CAR ACCIDENT." In fact, the feeling and words were so strong that I mentally said, "OK, God, protect me."

I got about half a mile from my house and suddenly I was hit with one of the most horrible stomach aches I have ever experienced. Well, I thought, it will go away in a few minutes. I kept driving—the pain did not diminish—it intensified! Being stubborn, I continued driving for another mile down the road, until the pain became almost unbearable. With unbearable pain I finally gave in and did a U-turn on Rio Road and headed home.

Rio Road (where I need to turn to go home) is a 4 lane highway with an added lane for turning vehicles (5 lanes). I am now in the turn lane waiting to make a left-hand turn and I look up into my rear view mirror and I see a an open jeep with 2 young men in it lose control of their jeep and cross 5 lanes of the highway—clipping the fender of one vehicle while careening across the 5 lanes of traffic. At that point I realized why I had the stomach ache, and why it was so intense. Had I been 15 seconds later in doing my u-turn I would have been in a very bad accident—badly injured, if not killed.

So now, I really try to pay attention to my feelings!

©2004 Linda Spitz