hi friends, family, brides, grooms, photographers & blog passerby’s. this blog post, even though it is hard to write, feels as though it will be therapeutic for me. i am getting asked a lot about what happened to me on sunday, and although i am more than willing to talk about it, i want to explain what happened, and tell you my story.
some of you may know, i was in a terrible car accident on Sunday December 16th. nobody was injured and i am completely fine!! however, it has put this thing called life into a better and different perspective for me.
things can happen fast. like, really fast. one second you’re just driving down the road, the next you are hanging upside down by your seatbelt.
on that Sunday i was headed home from a wonderful engagement shoot {i can’t wait to share the images}. i had had a wonderful time and was singing along to my new Phillip Phillips CD {song #5, Tell Me A Story}… all of a sudden i saw a truck was headed straight for me in my lane of the road. i had to make a split second decision. either i go right into a fence and houses, or i go left and try to get around him. i chose left.
all of a sudden i felt the impact of his car into mine. i heard the screeching of metal against metal, i saw the glass breaking, i felt my body being jerked around. it felt as though my car was just flying and i had no control over where it was going. my car flipped and slid on it’s drivers side, hit a curb and flipped upside down. i didn’t hang there long, i was too afraid that i was stuck, so i unbuckled, looked at my drivers side window, i couldn’t fit to crawl out, so i chose the passenger side. i crawled out of the window to hear a man screaming for cars to stop. i have since been told by the neighbors who were trying to cross the street to get to me that so many cars just drove by, that they were getting mad and frustrated. how can someone just drive by?!?! how do you not stop?! are we really in that big of a hurry to get where we are going? the sweet neighbor moved me away from my car and sat me down, i asked him to please call my husband. ill never forget the look on the face of my poor Trevor when he showed up.
the fire department got there first, i kept seeing them above me..look at my car, then look down at me. they were in shock and disbelief that i crawled out of my car. they couldn’t believe that i had no broken bones, that i was in one piece, and that i was..in fact..alive. “have you seen your car?!” they kept saying to me… well i hadn’t, i didn’t get a chance to see it until my Trevor showed me a picture at the hospital. i can’t stop looking at the images. i can’t stop re-living it. i can’t stop thinking about what happened and what didn’t happen.
i truly believe i was being looked after. i felt it. i know it.
i am posting a few of the images that Trevor snapped with is iPhone. yes, they are graphic.. but i want you to know that neither i or the other driver were injured. i just have cut on my right eyelid and a little black right eye.
**the window that i crawled out of is above.
**my drivers side.
**for those wondering, i drove a Mazda CX-7. the fire department said they have never seen a car look like mine and have someone as un-inured as me crawl out. they were astounded at the way my car held up and at how safe it kept me.
i wanted to write something on here for a few reasons. i understand it has nothing to do with photography..but it has to do with me as a person.
i have since had a few friends tell me that they are now driving a bit slower, they are making sure they wear their seatbelt, they a going to pay a bit more money for good tires, they are going to get their brakes checked… and they are NOT going to be on the their cell phone while they drive. this puts my mind a little at ease. if this is a lesson to everyone that things can happen, even when you are doing everything right, {i was not speeding, i was not on my cell phone, and i was wearing my seatbelt}, then im happy to share my story.
this life we live is too short. things can change in the blink of an eye. so please, hug those you love a bit tighter and cherish every moment you have with them.
and don’t be afraid to sing along to your favorite song…as loud as you can.
*****i wanted to add a link to the song i was listening to. it’s beautiful. Phillip Phillips – Tell Me A Story
I can’t believe this. I am so grateful for this post, and that you are ok. What a life changing experience.
thank you Shannon! yes, i am still in a bit of shock too…but i really hope others can take something from this..
Really glad you are ok. That road is notorious. Amazing that people just drove by, that should tell you a little something about our society. Pretty upsetting if you ask me. Chivalry might not be dead but it certainly is endangered. in that regards, good thing you married trevor, so chivalrous he is.
thank you Tim! oh man, that road is awful!! i couldn’t believe that people just drove by as i was crawling out with blood dripping down my face..i mean, really?! i really hope my experience can help people to remember to slow down… {not just while driving}. and yes, my Trevor is pretty amazing. :)
Lindsey, I am so sorry that this horrific experience happened to you. On the other hand, if it hadn’t you would not have posted what you did. And for that, I am grateful, for you have a very valid point. People take life for granted on a daily basis. Life is short and we must be sure to remind our loved ones how much we love them. And if we see someone who needs help, we should always stop and help; no matter how late we’re runnin! I am so glad you are okay and in good spirits!
thank you so much for sharing Trinity!! :)
Amazing! I had no idea, but I’m glad you’re okay :) This song is fantastic & so fitting that you were listening while the accident happened.
Oh my gosh! SO awful! You have definitely put things into perspective. People can be so unintentionally rude sometimes–driving by pissed off by a potentially fatal accident. I am so glad you are okay! You are right, someone was definitely watching over you. I am in complete shock that you walked away with minor scrapes and obviously, some horrible memories. I hope you heal fast, and thank you for sharing your awful/crazy/thoughtful story. Hope to see you soon!
Hi Lindsey!
Thanks so much for posting this. I am so glad that God was looking out for you!!!! Amazing!!! I am so thankful you were NOT harmed!
Grandma Burrell said she got to talk to you. Oh how she loves you. I emailed your posting to her.
I have a verse that has always been a comfort to me when unexplainable things happen. I hope you enjoy it too. Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Were you brought up to be so positive? It’s like you always look for the good in everything. Maybe that’s why you are so easy to love and to give love.
Keep me posted. Aunt Pam
Dad and I thank God and your two Guardian Angels for declaring on Sunday, “not today!!” We are so proud and happy to share you with so many people – especially, Trevor and your three brothers, and Alex. Remember too, Lindsey dear, through your photography how many lives you enhance. Maybe there’s a photo you haven’t had a chance to take yet and I pray you won’t even meet that family or couple until you’re 80 and they’re insisting on Lindsey Gomes to take that photo. Love you so much today….. and tomorrow :)
Oh my goodness Lindsey. Thank God you are okay. Incredibly. Just absolutely incredible. Thank you for sharing your story.
Lindsey Girl, finally I found your story. I just didn’t stroll far enough down the page. How are you doing now that the shock has worn off. It took me about two years to calm down after my accident. Every time Jim got close to a car I was putting on the brake and grabbing the dash board. The car is a mess, God is good. We still have our Lindsey girl in one piece.
I went on down the page and watched the Orradre video. Very Nice. You and Trevor sure make a great team. Thank you both so much for all you do,
All my Love, Auntie Bev