The most valuable gift
It only takes a few seconds to realize how under-appreciated the gift of life really is. I can still remember the exact moment in which I began to understand that life is the most valuable gift that I have ever been given. Never again since that moment have I forgotten how quickly that gift can be taken away. A few seconds earlier or later, a few inches left or right, or maybe just a little less luck could have changed what turned out to be a life-altering experience into a life-ending disaster.
It was July 21, 1999, and it was a seasonably warm summer day in the small town Ettlingen, Germany. Nothing led me to believe it would be anything other than a normal day, except for the fact that it happened to be my favorite cousin's birthday. I was on my way to the store to finish up some last minute arrangements in preparation for a small surprise party that we would be throwing later.
Driving Force steering wheel and pedals
Toyota TF109 steering wheel 1/320s - F/14 - 200mm ...
Driving Cars in a Traffic JamThere was one more stop, and I would be heading home to get ready for cake and ice cream with friends and family.
By the looks of things, there were not many people out, and there were very few cars moving around town. Other than the cars parked along the sides of the road, it was as if I had the roads to myself. I had been driving for a little over five months, and I had taken these same roads countless numbers of times without incident. I was about to find out, though, that this time would be different.
As I was driving along with the top of my mom's wrangler jeep partially off and the radio playing, I noticed a car coming in the other direction.