My mother and I were southbound on I-65 going to Indianapolis in the summer of 1974. It was a bright afternoon and we were singing songs to pass the time.
A white car with all its windows down passed us and was swerving lanes when it was ahead of my mom's Chevy Vega. I can remember her saying, “this doesn’t look good!”
Suddenly the white car left the asphalt and was driving across the grassy median. It slammed head on with a northbound car. That car was red. This was the first major car accident that I witnessed in my life. I had just turned eight.
My mom pulled to the side with many of the other cars. I’m not sure if a thirty eight year old mom had much to offer, besides prayer. The man from the car that pulled to the side in front of us walked by our car and said, “It looks like the northbound car was a family! I’m sure they are all dead!”
Those words have stuck with me my whole life. To this day when I drive past the crash sight I think of that family.
Another thing stuck out from the conversation between my mom and the other driver. The two men in the white car were black men. The driver of the other car said something else to my mom that has stuck with me.
“We’ve been following that car since Lafayette. It’s been swerving the whole time. I bet them n****rs were drunk on payday….. darn state troopers ain’t never around when you need them.”
My mom replied quietly, “I noticed the car was swerving as well.”
If my dad was in the car he would have kicked the shit out of that guy for saying a racist word. My dad came to punches many times whenever that word was said around his young son.
The point of this story isn’t about me seeing my first major car accident. The story was after we pulled away and the crash scene was miles behind us. My mom started singing “The Our Father” and reminded me to always pray. She also pointed out how ugly that man became for using that word.
“Never make yourself look ugly with hatred Pumpkinhead, Never!”
That afternoon became part of who I am. This story is a perfect example for today’s quote.
Our travels in life become part of us. It is what we see during our journey that builds who we are.
One last thing…..
I’m not going to justify the ugliness that occurred two years ago today. Today is the day to celebrate the men who brought our Savior the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Today is Epiphany, also know as the Day of the Three Kings. The Three Wise Men…..
…. They never traveled between Chicago and Indianapolis on I-65, but that baby they saw in a barn has made that trip millions of times.
