This past week was a "wing snow day"- meaning they give active duty the day off to go skiing. Ryan took advantage and took Tanner out of school to take him up to Bogus Basin for Snowboarding lessons. They left about 7 and stopped for some gloves and oatmeal and hot chocolate at McDonalds. It had snowed, the roads were slick, but were clear. Ryan called me to check in about 8 to say they were on there way.
Before 9 I got a call from him again. He said, "We rolled over. Tanner's okay. I am too."
He was so calm. I thought he was kidding.
me: Are you teasing?
him: No
me: Honey, don't tease.
him: I'm not. Really. Tanner's sitting in someone cars.
I could hear background traffic and of course I got scared. They were on highway 84. He continued talking with me and the people who had stopped to help when he said "oh no" and something like "call you right back" and I let him off the phone. He didn't sound too worried at all though. (don't you love that about doctors?)
He calls me back to tell me an SUV lost control and just rolled about 200 yards away.
The police were en route, he sent me a picture, I had the insurance on the phone.
What happened: Ryan was going 45 when he came onto a portion of the highway that is cement and known as a micro-climate (it's mile marker 80- and information we have since found out). He said he started drifting, gently corrected then fishtailed, slid into the ditch between the highways, hit the barrier and rolled. It happened so fast.
By the time I got to them, there were 3 tow trucks working on him and 2 other vehicles. All of the accidents were singular and due to ice on the road.
Tanner didn't cry until he saw me. He said he was so scared. And it wasn't like a Disney ride at all.
We're not sure if they are totaling the truck out yet, and all that mess will get worked out I know- but yesterday Tanner mentioned to me that he had been thinking about rolling over. And that the truck slowly rolled to the top. And that Dad's hair stood up funny. And that the truck made irking noise. But that he also remembered, when the truck started to slide around, Dad grabbed my hand, and didn't let go. Tanner didn't remember any talking, just that Ryan had his hand.
About 3 weeks ago Ryan got a late night call from the hospital. A young airman had been in a car accident and was killed. They needed Ryan to come do a death certificate. That airman died from the same road condition on mile marker 81.
I could not hug these boys enough. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that they were kept from harm. I cannot express my gratitude enough.
I am grateful Tanner will always remember that when life got scary, and he was faced with possible harm, his Dad had his hand. The entire time. And I know that our Heavenly Father has our hands if we will offer them.
ps- Tanner asked Ryan as they were hanging upside down, before they punched there way out of the truck, if they were still going snowboarding? And also, "danget, my hot chocolate spilled!"
