Launch Party: Great.
Drive Home: Not So Great.
Oh, my gosh! I have never driven in weather that bad! I was out in the middle of nowhere between Houston and Austin with no street lights, driving through five inches of icy slush with sleet hardcore pounding on my windshield. Sometimes my wheels didn't want to keep moving it was so thick, but I just tried to keep going slow and steady. After all, what else was I going to do?
Other than seeing a guy in front of me majorly lose control, I didn't see any accidents (probably because I practically was the only one on the road) until I was one mile away from home. Then, I came across a car with its flashers on - totally smashed. I couldn't see any activity.
I called 911 and got out of my car to cross the very slick, icy freeway. The 911 operator kept asking me if anyone was hurt or if someone was thrown from the car. I was just like, "I don't know. I really don't know." I couldn't see in the car because the ice was too thick. I scanned for bodies but didn't see any. (Do you know what it feels like to "scan for bodies?")
I made my way across the freeway - which was very scary because it was right over a ridge and oncoming traffic may not have been able to stop quickly enough in the ice, but I made it. I pulled on the door, watching my hand reach out in slow motion and not knowing what to expect inside or what parts of my inner self might have to be called upon.
The door wouldn't open. I slid over to the driver's door, and then, I could see it was empty. Whoever it was had already been rescued - thank goodness!
I always wonder in situations like that what I would have been prepared to do. Pretty much anything, I think. I've always felt I am the kind of person who can handle real danger, but, thankfully, there was nothing gruesome I was faced with that night.
I was so glad to arrive home. It took me two hours to unwind enough to go to sleep.