With 36 hours to go, I almost died... The most appreciated Trip (Report?!) Ever!!!

[SunKen713]

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Now that we've got your attention...

I hope you'll bear with us for this great introduction, and what we can promise will be the most tremendous trip report- full of pictures, laughter, happiness and great stories.

But first- the somewhat crazy, completely true, and needed back story.

Our characters:

Sun : 24-year-old sarcastic woman that likes to talk good game, and back it up. Entering her third year in the real world, she is definitely starting to get it. Throughout most of the this Trip Report we will refer to her by Meesh, because of the alliterative nature of so many great stories.

Ken : That's me. And we'll both be writing and will be clear who is writing what. I'm a 33-year-old guy that develops real estate for a living. I love my job, and I'm pretty damn good at it. Unfortunately, earlier this year I got divorced, and as you'll see, Sun has given me just that, a bit of sunshine. A ton of sunshine actually.

Unfortunately that isn't all.

Earlier this year, I had a freak accident and had my retina detach in my left eye on a random Tuesday. I had two hours to have surgery or lose my vision forever. Had the surgery, and have been recovering slowly since. But it could have been much worse.

Then came the separation and divorce. For those of you that have been through it, you get it. It's not something I would wish on anyone. But I think the opportunity for true happiness is a nice silver lining, and it was not something I had an opportunity to achieve in my previous existence.

Sun and I work together at a small family owned company. We started as friends, and it blossomed from there.

On August 15th our lives changed forever. The founder and Chairman of the company, and his longtime friend and vice-chairman perished in a plane crash just after take off from the local airport. It crushed many people. I'm tearing up as I try and write this, as I was particularly close with the big boss. He plucked me out of my previous career on a whim, and saw something in me to take a chance. As I worked with him over the past three years, I was a sponge, taking in all I could, and really finding my way. More than anything, he completely believed in me, and that's something I will never forget. And it's something I can't shake. I miss him each and every day. This entire year has certainly been one we are looking forward to turning the calendar on.

Let's fast forward to the near present day. Sun and I needed a getaway and boy did Disney seem like the right place. I'm a DVC owner, and Sun hadn't been since she was a kid! Full disclosure, we started a TP on the DVC board, but this one is busier, and I really need to get some writing in. Fair warning: I can be long winded.

The trip was amended a few times here and there, but we were scheduled for a December 7th departure and the 16th for a return. 9 wonderful nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge! I'm a Tour Guide Mike devotee, had our ADR's, planned on PAP's, and were raring to go...

Up Next: The Accident

 

[SunKen713]

Chapter 2: The Accident

I was working late, which isn't terribly unusual.

"Drive safe, and call me when you get home," Sun says as I hang up.

Despite the brutally chilly late fall temperatures, it was a pretty clear night in Upstate New York. I had just left work after shooting some hoops in the warehouse portion of our office with one of the accountants. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, but was plenty warm, as the heated seats in my 3-week old 2012 Jeep Liberty were warming me nicely. (This is foreshadowing).

In fact, the entire ride was nice. I liked the car, got a great deal on it, and was remarking how I would likely hit 1,000 miles on the car the next morning on the way to work.

I live out in the rural section of the country after spending years in the city. I like it out here. Not too many people around, bought a house on a lake and a dead end street. It's quiet, relaxing, and outside of the 20 minute commute, I'm very impatient with commuting, it's quite perfect.

And boy I like this car.

About a mile from home, I was driving about 40 mph on a two lane road when I notice there is a car pulled off to the side, driving in the same direction as me, but on the opposite side of the road. I instantly think he must be getting his mail. Instinctively I slow down. I then glare ahead of me and notice there is a car coming at the two of us, and he is going quite fast. Too fast.

As he gets closer he realizes the other car is on his side of the road. He realizes it too late. And he's driving too fast. He swerves to avoid the parked car, and as we would later find out, never saw me.

I didn't say anything out loud. I remember that.

I also remember thinking I was dead. Inside of my head, I said,

"Nooooooooo."

He hit me head on. I slammed on my brakes. I braced for impact. In the moments after the collision, I remember saying, out loud this time, "I'm alive. I didn't hit my head... Put the car in park."

First call was Sun. She was in the shower. Left a message saying, I'm okay, but I need you to call me.

Second call was my brother. "Love you buddy, tell mom I was just in an accident, I think I'm okay."

Now I'm out of the car, angry and ready to confront the driver. I immediately notice a pretty good limp. And oh yeah, where is this blood coming from. And ohhhhh, look at my hand, that's not good! And oh boy, it's freaking cold out.

And then I hear the other guy crying, and gas pouring out of his car. I ask him if he can move, and help him get away. His car is gone, absolutely totaled. And he is hurting, a lot worse than me.

Meesh calls.

"I'm okay. I was in an accident."

She's panicked, I can hear it, and I hate she hears me this way.

The ambulances arrive, and I'm just happy to be warm. And alive. It has been a rough year, but I was sure, in that moment before he collided, I was happy to be alive.

The paramedics check me over. They ask me 40 times if I hit my head. I'm sure I didn't. The blood is from my arms. I was burned by the air bag. I grasped the steering wheel before impact, which I know I'm not supposed to do, but I did.

The knot on my shin is large, but I'm okay.

I'm certain my left hand is broken, and indeed, it would turn out that it is.

When the State Police show up, he tickets the other driver for speeding and unsafe driving. He spent about a week in the hospital with his injuries, but he's okay.

I'm off to the hospital to make sure I'm okay, but the officer says before I leave, "I think you're pretty lucky. He hit going about 50 mph and it doesn't look like he ever hit his brakes."

Up Next: The Accident Aftermath

 

[SunKen713]

Chapter 3: The Accident Aftermath

So what does an angry guy do in an ambulance, thinking his brand new car has been destroyed, and all he wants to do is go to Disney? He starts lobbying the EMT's.

"How are you feeling, sir?"

"I'm okay. Annoyed and cold. But I'm going to Disney World on Friday, so that's good."

"You're what?"

"I'm going to Disney. Scheduled vacation. I was actually about to go home and finish packing!"

"Did you hit your head?"

"No, not at all! How lucky was that?"

At this pint, I'm flying in 36 hours. I need it. And I'm telling everyone who will listen, I did not hit my head, I can fly. And you're not stopping me!

At that point my phone starts ringing off the hook. Turns out one of our co-workers is a volunteer firefighter and was the first on the scene. Lucky me. So people are calling panicked because all he knows is there was a head on crash, one guy is injured badly, another shaken up.

So I do what everyone would do in the 21st Century. I went to Facebook to say, "Dear Driver who just destroyed my brand new Jeep, I'm not happy. But I'm alive."

The EMT clears his throat...

"Are you... On Facebook?"

"Sure am. I'm annoyed and everyone is calling me."

"I need to take your blood pressure."

"It's high."

At this point I was texting Sun to let her know I was okay. Soon it's off to the hospital, where they check me over.

To my surprise, they say my hand isn't broken, and I can fly, I just need to dress the cuts and abrasions on my arms, and it looks like I'm pretty lucky.

The next day, the hospital calls and says, Whoops, turns out the hand is broken. Apparently grabbing the steering wheel during a high impact crash isn't ultra smart. BUT I DIDN'T HIT MY HEAD!

As I'm sitting in the ER, my boss, the son of the man who died in the plane crash calls to check in. I don't answer. I can't do emotions like this when I'm angry.

He texts me and I assure him I am okay.

"You had an angel looking out for you tonight. Know that."

Indeed I did.

Sun comes over to comfort me and help finish the packing. I'm banged up. I'm sure if I hadn't slowed down when I first saw the other car, I may not be here. I'm even more sure that if I wasn't in the new giant Jeep I was in, it could have also been the end of me.

I'm a silver linings guy. I'm an optimist. Sun is too. We get along in more ways than I can even believe are possible. I remember laying down that night and being thrilled with life. If you've read these three wordy entries, you may find that hard to believe. But I'm an optimist.

Oh...

And we're going to Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Up Next: Chapter 4: We Have to Get Up At What Time?!

 

[disneychic33]

I'm glad you were ok, the accident sounds horrible. A broken hand in Disney doesn't sound like to much fun. I can't wait to hear how your trip was.

 

[jecskc]

Joining in !! Wow, sounds like you were lucky !! Looking forward to reading bout your trip !!

 

[beckyboo76]

Woah! What a way to start a TR! Glad you're ok, and I'm joining in on your story

 

[SunKen713]

Chapter 4- We Have to Get Up at What Time?

So, we're ready to depart, but first a little more about us.

Say Hello Sun!

That's one of many pictures where I was openly questioned about what I was taking a picture of.

So, Meesh/Sun

Likes:

1) Sleep
2) Sleeping
3) Naps

Favorite Colors

1) Black
2) Blackish
3) White

This is important because I'm a reformed Disney commando. But even in my reformed ways, I must be at the park at rope drop. I take mid day breaks. I don't go near parks when TGM says not too. And it serves me well. I've taken the approach that if you miss something in a trip, know you are coming back, and you'll hit it some other time. It's eased touring to be sure.

The colors? It's just funny. You see Meesh/Sun took great care to bring just about every piece of clothing she had with color in it. It was a pretty fantastic effort to be sure.

So let's get into this shall we?

This trip was supposed to start out with a Friday evening departure, conventional thinking being that we would just leave from work. That Sun tells me she took the day off. So it's off to Southwest to check flight times and I see we can change our 5 p.m. flight to 7:15 a.m. flight for just... $9! No brainer right?!

Oh, I forgot to mention that Meesh is terrified of flying. Ter. I. Fied.

This is how the conversation went.

"Hey, we can change flights to a morning flight and gain an entire extra day at Disney!"

"Oh, okay."

"Want to switch?"

"Maybe we should just keep it?"

"Why?"

"I wanted to fly in the dark."

"What?"

Silence.

More Silence.

"I'm just going to switch the flight. We'll be able to check in, grab our tickets, do some shopping and even maybe go to a park and have some extra fun."

"I don't know."

And here is where I win. Because Meesh's 4th like is... Fireworks.

"Well, it can be an extra night of Fireworks."

"Really?"

"Absolutely!"

"Okay, let's do it."

Fast forward to Thursday, 6:14 p.m.

We've just gotten back from Target, picking up some last minute essentials, including a brace for my broken hand, which the hospital says I don't need to cast. Who knows.

We are sitting on the couch, eating Panera, and getting ready to put the bags into the car. I look at Meesh, and say, "Ready..."

She just says, "Eeeeeekkkkkk..."

It's at this point I remind her that we need to be out the door by 5 a.m.

"We need to be up at what time?"

"That's up to you, I can get ready in 15 minutes."

"I need to go to bed."

"It's 6:15!"

"I know."

And off to bed sleepy Meesh went.

Up next: Chapter 5: The Flight of the Scaredy Cat

 

[SunKen713]

Oh, and any help with pictures would be wonderfulllllllll.

 

[belias21]

Subscribed. Looking forward to hearing more about this trip.

...and pretty darn happy you're alive to tell us about it.

 

[ChattaAlley]

You have a very easy laid back writing style. I like it. I wasn't even bothered by the lack of pictures because your words were all I needed to understand and picture the (before) trip thus far. Can't wait to hear and see more of your trip. Your Sun seems like a good one

 

[reelmom]

Wow, that is a scary start to a Trip Report. So glad you are ok and able to write this report. Looking forward to more.

 

[jecskc]

You have to upload your pictures to a photo sharing site. I use photobucket. Then you need to copy the link to the picture in your TR. If you are using photobucket, just click on the bottom link option (there are 4) and paste as you are typing.

Or check the FAQ section of these boards

 

[heaven2dc]

Wow - what a year you have had and am so glad you didn't get any more hurt in the accident! Love your writing style! Can't wait to see pics and find out how the flight went

 

[kellea04]

Wow !!! You were so lucky x
Can't wait to read more

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Signing on- need pictures

 

[brandihead2012]

So glad you are okay subscribing, loving the details

 

[NMW]

Subscribing

 

[Yelloweaver]

More please!

 

[msbiscuit]

Yes, you did have an angel watching over you that night!
I'll be reading along!

 

[addictedtothemouse]

You definitely had a guardian angel with you that night. Can't wait to read more.