Just a Thought: Does lightning strikes twice?
By Steve Walker
There is an old adage that says: ‘Lightning
doesn’t strike twice in the same place or the same person.” From personal
experience I can say I wholeheartedly disagree.
Lighting struck me, so to speak, 38
years apart plus one week. Some might even call it “déjà vu” all over
again. Well I can attest to an incident happening to me, August 11th in 1970 in
Phu Bai Vietnam that literally occurred again August 15th,
2008 in San Antonio. The similarities were remarkable.
Both incidents included at least one
two & a half ton truck and me as a major player in the two similar
accidents involving them. During the second occurrence, I momentarily
experienced a flashback to my first encounter with the two & a half ton
truck driven by our adversaries the Viet Cong.
I was riding in the passenger seat
armed with my M-16 as my buddy drove our two and a half ton truck back to Phu
Bai from Hue the capitol city of the northern area of South
Vietnam. We were transporting nationals to work on our compound that included “hootch”
maids, mess hall workers and various other jobs. Our eight man huts were
affectionately dubbed “hootchs.”
The second accident involved a driver
from a construction company who was waiting for a green light at the
intersection of Babcock & Wilson to turn right. I had just almost cleared
the intersection when the driver of the truck abruptly turned into me thus
spinning my car around forcing me to the curb with oncoming traffic coming quickly
toward me. My adrenalin soared as I thought I would survive the truck hit but
would die by multiple cars crashing into me as an encore.
Crawling out of my car which was
later declared totaled, I made my way to the curb after staggering around and
looking at what was left of my vehicle. I will admit I was somewhat disoriented
at the time. When I arrived at the hospital emergency room they checked me out,
took some tests and discharged me with a headache and a few bruises. In my
stupor as I crawled out of my car I grabbed my camera which was always with me
and actually took photos of what was left of my car and the immediate
surroundings. I do remember muttering, “Thank you Jesus for allowing me to
live.”
In my first accident I was thrown
forward into the windshield and hit my forehead on the medal windshield wiper.
Fortunately it threw me up and not straight forward. That was a blessing for it
would have done severe damage to my face.
Having survived being hit by one
truck got my attention. Surviving two hits by a two & a half ton truck, I
consider myself very blessed. I remember also saying out loud to the Lord in
2008, “If you are trying to get my attention and tell me something, could you
use some other less painful way to do it?”
I figure if He decides to hit me
again with a two & a half ton truck 38 years from the 2008 incident I will
be a hundred year old. I figure that will be His way in welcoming me home!
Anyway, as always, what I write is
“Just a Thought.”
Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran, former Judge and
Journalist.
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