March 10
Have you ever been genuinely afraid for your physical safety?
In my last year of college, I met a boy. It’s always about a boy, isn’t it? Anyway… he went to another school, about an hour away from mine. I was visiting him, hoping he’d finally declare his love for me (he didn’t but I still, um, enjoyed him a bit). Ahem. As I was saying… On my way back to my dorm, I slid off the highway. Invisible black ice and all. My car rolled over a couple of times. Maybe more than a couple, hard to say. While the actual rolling was happening, I was sure I was going to die. You know what flashed before my eyes? Snow. [It was winter.] And a whole lot of nothing. So that whole life-flashing-before-your-eyes thing is crap.
Also, one time I rode a ski lift. Yes… only once. I don’t ski. And it was summer. I have a major fear of heights so I was pretty much afraid that was the end of days the entire ride.
Oh… also, one time I got caught in a riptide. I was about 9 years old. Kinda choked on some salty ocean water that day. Fucking scared to death.
p.s. — I just remembered another one… I had a minor car accident a couple of years ago. The owner of the other car [who wasn’t even the driver] was afraid I was going to sue her or something. [I wasn’t.] She started calling me and threatening me. I had to go to the cops. Thankfully, she backed the fuck off when she got a call from the PD. Bitch.
[Thanks to my lovely friend Marquessa for this 31 questions challenge.]
©2021 what sandra thinks
what sandra thinks 
I once lost my daughter in a rip tide. She was knocked off her feet and I couldn’t see her, although I had been standing right next to her. It could have only been a few seconds but seemed forever! Horrible!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was scary. My dad was finally able to grab me. Felt like it was longer than it was, that’s for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ive had one car accident but thats about it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good, then!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hang on just a minute …. ‘It’s always about a boy’????
You roll the car in some sort of post-erotic haze after ‘enjoying’ this young gentleman and somehow he gets the blame?
I’m not sure that I really know what a ‘rip-tide’ is. Having been brought up in a surfing culture I’m certainly aware of rips (frequently a helpful current to get one out beyond the break) but that variety doesn’t have anything to do with the tide. Mind you, fearing for your life whilst in one is the absolute worst thing to do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh… no! I don’t blame the boy for the accident. The trip I made to his school was all about him. Perhaps I should have said ‘it always starts with a boy’ rather than ‘it’s always about a boy’. Maybe? Is that any better? Maybe not.
The accident was due to weather and road conditions. Black ice is kind of invisible. Totally not blaming the boy. Although he could have at least declared his love for me.
Riptide is the same as rip current… and it does pull one away from the shoreline. Sounds like it’s the same as what you describe. I’ve always wanted to learn to surf. I think my body would disagree at this point… just another one of those things I should have run off to do when I was younger…
LikeLike
I was certainly speaking younger-in-cheek. But how dare he fail to declare his undying love for you before casting you out into the freezing night, anyway.
I have actually been in the surf every day this week but my body is not capable of what it once was – I’m a bit reluctant to throw myself into the rip without a board these days, and I haven’t been on a board for about 5 years
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, how dare he! He’s another one of the ‘what-if’s’ in my life.
I think I’ll always regret never learning to surf. Another ‘what-if’, I suppose.
LikeLike
People tend to view most ‘what ifs’ from a very optimistic viewpoint despite the fact that personal experiences suggest a strong possibility of the opposite.
Surfing is an exception, perhaps (the odds of drowning or getting eaten by sharks are small – and well worth the risk).
There is something beautifully humbling about the ocean.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only I had learned to surf when I was younger…
I suppose ‘if only’ is just as bad as ‘what if’…
LikeLike
I don’t know where you live or where you were brought up – that can make all the difference. I was brought up on Manly Beach in Sydney – salt air is in the blood
LikeLiked by 1 person
I grew up in Rhode Island… I live in Massachusetts now. Close to the ocean, but not right on a beach or anything. That was always the dream, though. Maybe in my next life…
LikeLike
Those are some scary incidents!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Back when my life was interesting… well, except for the crazy accident lady. That was more recent. But I’d like to block that one out maybe more than the others…
LikeLike
Ooo. Those do sound scary! Glad it turned out okay!
-Jayden
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I’m still here… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person