Hey Reader,

I literally saw my life flash before my eyes. Seriously.

While it sounds very trite, you’ll know it when it happens.

Gene and I were talking as we were westbound on US60 heading back to my hotel after watching my daughter’s basketball game in the Nike Tournament of Champions. We heard a bang and then screeching tires getting louder and louder.

All of sudden, there was a really loud bang this time and I couldn’t breathe. I could smell something burning, but didn’t know if it was inside or outside of the car. We spun around 180 degrees and I could see the crowded interstate traffic getting closer and coming right at us. All I could think of was to let Kelly know that I was going to be ok even while this really could be it.

“Don’t worry!”, said the fireman who climbed in from the driver’s side to put a sheet over me. Even though "all of the people looking on would think that I was dead”, he continued, "the sheet was just to protect me from the shattering glass" that was about to spray while the guy standing next to my window - he looked like Robocop - was taking the passenger-side door off.

From the straight board, I went to the gurney smack dab in the middle of the interstate. It was quite a strange place to find yourself. They put me in the ambulance and off we went. I did not see Gene, his wife, Lisa, or daughter, Kylie. It was just me and a bunch of people I didn’t recognize taking me to a hospital I still wouldn’t recognize today. I am grateful, but it remains unsettling to contemplate today.

Thankfully, Gene, Lisa and Kylie walked away from the accident. The 2015 Chrysler 200 absorbed the 70mph impact from the Chevy Silverado and the interior was much intact. Great design and engineering!

I wound up being released from the hospital a few hours later suffering from whiplash. The smoke that I smelled came from the airbag's gunpowder that singed the golf jacket I was wearing. The airbag hit me from the side directly into my ribs and knocked the wind out me.

Sheahen and her coach came to the hospital to pick me and take me back to hotel. We departed the next day for Chicago and all was well for Christmas.

As I say, you never know what is going to happen.

We lit a few Hanukkah menorah candles with our neighbors over the last week and put the Christmas decorations up, too.

Here’s wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Cheers!

SWD