What's the closest brush you've had with the Grim Reaper? When was the time you thought, okay, this is it, I've had it, bye-bye?--Al

-- Al Schroeder (al.schroeder@nashville.com), October 18, 1999

Answers

I remember once Barb missing an exit to visit my in-laws. It was a rainslick street, and she was mad for missing the exit to her home. She hit the brake---stomped on it...and suddenly we were spinning like a centrifuge. I thought--with no time for panic---we've bought it now---then there was a wham as we impacted a streetlight post, and we stopped. Damaged the car, but we were fine. But I thought we were done for.--Al

-- Al Schroeder (al.schroeder@nashville.com), October 20, 1999.

There have been a few. I think the one that made the most impression was not quite the closest, though it sure was close enough. I was alone in the house (everyone else on vacation) and the door opener to the bathroom fell apart with me inside. With no windows. With my dinner cooking in the neighboring room. Well away from the road and nearest neighbors. I sure did pray that time. (After which I smashed the door. A part of the washing machine came in handy.)

-- Magnus Itland (itlandm@online.no), October 19, 1999.

My closest brush with death? An inept, non-english speaking doctor... I was pregnant with our first child and had started having pain and bleeding. The doctor could not understand me because I did not nor did any of the nurses speak whatever version of english she spoke, several hours later I was in and out of conciousness another doctor was called in because my stomach started ballooning up (bleeding out?) and he pushed my then boyfriend (now husband) out of the room and did emergency surgery in the OR. Turned out the pregnancy was ectopic. I lost a portion of my tube, but fortunately not my life. BTW, we got married six days later!!

-- Glenna B. Yarnot (Glenna@Yarnot.cncfamily.com), December 02, 1999.

intentional brush with death? an almost successful suicide attempt in 1986. (clinical depression). ----------------------------------------------------- unintended ? sep. 5 1997.....i 80 eastbound at rock springs, wyo. tangling with a piece of oil drilling gear with not enough time to dodge or anything else. a broken neck, much pain and a long time of physical therapy. residual effect is a slight weakness of left arm and shoulder. too close for me !

-- ici jongleur (ionoi@webtv.net), January 05, 2000.