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September 24, 2010

Riding In My Little MG

Living in a part of southern California with multiple freeways, I would think of the Jetsons as I drove around in my little red MG. It was necessary for a driver to be prepared and in the correct lanes in order to travel around the busy highways.

One day I was driving home after a disappointing job interview, keeping my mind on the business of driving, and scooting bad thoughts of the interview out of the little car every time they tried to get my attention.

A few blocks from home, I down shifted and prepared for the freeway exit. The engine revved instead of the nice hum of shifting down into third gear. The rubber mat was stuck under the pedal. I was going too fast to make the swerve to the right and in an instant I had to make a decision. Ram into the cars who were to the right waiting at the stop sign or turn left and go over the cliff.

I chose left.

The car rolled around and around as it went down the embankment, dirt flying onto the windshield, my knee hitting the steering column, and the whole experience was like flying. It was silence in the car. I was alone except for the angel helping me land safely. The little red MG landed on the right side of the busy freeway and the car was heading in the right direction.

It took a couple minutes for me to realize that it was over. I took stock of the situation, felt my leg and arms and decided I wasn't even hurt, so I disengaged the seat belt and opened the door which was difficult because so much dirt was packed against the door. I crawled out and looked around. The car had taken down a few signs along the freeway. As I looked up there were about twenty people looking over the rim down at me and I wanted to laugh at their expressions. Their eyes were huge and their mouths were wide open. They were astonished at how safely I landed and I appeared to be all right. Some of those people climbed down and helped me up the hill by making a human ladder and then someone with a cell phone asked me what number I wanted them to call for someone to come get me.

That MG was a strong and safe little car. The tires automatically deflated and the car remained upright instead of going into a roll. The top was on the car that day which meant I was in a steel encased area except for the windows are quite small. The safety features on the MG kicked in and the angel held my hand and I had a ride of my life.

44 comments:

Syd said...

My cousin had a red MG and I remember wanting to borrow it when I was in high school so that I could impress chicks. It was the coolest car. Glad that you were okay and hope that the car survived as well.

Anne H said...

LOVE that you are ok - touched by an angel, as it were!
Talk about a dance - yours was "CAR-eography!"
My first car crush was an chartreuse green MG B!
Love them every time I see one.

Shrinky said...

Oh my goodness, that's an amazing tale - and it's incredible you are alive to tell it! Talk about a narrow escape, it certainly does seem someone was looking out for you on that day - wow. A friend of mine had a green MG, I always loved riding in that car.

Rock Chef said...

I guess the safe landing was your gift for taking the route that would not hurt others!

Did the car ever get back on the road again, or was it dead?

CiCi said...

Syd, There is definitely something hot about a red MG. It was so much fun to drive.

anne, I know what you mean, my eye catches an MG going by and for an instant I want one again.

Shrinky, it was another adventure in my wild and crazy life. Ha.

Rock Chef, It definitely was a choice in that split second. The car was just fine, I drove it for a few years more.

Brian Miller said...

whew...scary tale techno...i do like that you put others before yourself..glad someone was watching over you that day...

DJan said...

The story is amazing. It reminded me of my parent's second car that I learned to drive in when I was sixteen: an Austin Healy Sprite. Unfortunately it wasn't filled with those safety features and when I ran into the back of another car, it crumpled like it was made of paper. I wasn't hurt, though. And I'm so glad you weren't either!

Cindy said...

So so glad you lived to tell the tale, You really have lived an amazing life, glad you chose to save the people, I so admire you my friend. and I do believe you did have an angel holding your hand. Thank you God for keeping her safe. hugs.

Yankee Girl said...

You had me at The Jetsons and was expecting something different! What an amazing story!

savannah said...

WOW! what a great story and a very good ending, too! MG's have always been a favorite of mine and just yesterday as i was driving down the road into town, a red MG sped past in the opposite direction. for a slight moment i thought about pulling a u-turn and following him! xoxoxxo

Betty W said...

What a scary thing to have happen! I´m glad you were ok. Sounds like one hell of a ride.

Opaque said...

I have driven a red MG... yes, there is something about that car... it is like driving Alfa Romeos. There is something about it that I have until now not been able to put my finger on. I so wish I can find time to continue with reviewing cars.

Jeanie said...

My favorite car ever was an MG, British racing green. It is one of the few material things I really hated to give up when I had to sell it in 1984. I never had that kind of wreck in it, but I'm so glad that your car and the angels saved you.

secret agent woman said...

Wow, that's astounding that you weren't more seriously hurt. I used to have an old MG Midget. Loved it, but I don't think I'd have survived a crash in it.

ellen abbott said...

Well, It definitely was not your day to die. I had an MGB It was white. Loved that little car.

Kristina P. said...

I don't even know what an MG is!

And man, that is scary. I've been in a couple of minor accidents, but that's it.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

WOW!!!! So glad you were safe!!! That's an amazing story!!!! Yes!!! You certainly were protected that day!!! You had me hanging on in suspense with your retelling, too!! Fantastic all the way around!!! ~Janine XO

Jeni said...

WOW! Incredible that you escaped in one piece for sure.
Seeing that picture though brought back some great memories to me though. Back in the mid-60s a friend of mine had a little MG -same color as the one in the photo -and amazingly enough, he entrusted me to drive it one day. What an experience that was as I'd never driven a car like that before with the stick on the floor. Can't recall if it was 4-speed or 5-speed now (due to advanced senility ya know) but his roommate, who was riding with me, knew no more about driving that car than I did and I recall it took several tries before I found the right progression of shifting gears. But what fun it was to drive that little buggy!

Maude Lynn said...

You chose left. That says so much about who you are.

Fragrant Liar said...

What an incredible story. You still had a lot of history left to make then.

My first car crush was a little red carman ghia.

CiCi said...

Brian, someone has been looking out for me my whole life!

DJan, I do know what Austin Healy is. Glad your accident was not hard for you too.

Cinner, I really feel like I have had enough adventures for more than one life.

Yankee Girl, glad you enjoyed reading my post. It is an actual event in my hippie life.

savannah, I'm so glad you like MGs too. They really are made well.

Betty, it was a hell of a ride indeed.

Opaque, ah, you have driven MG too. And I have driven many times Alfa Romeos. Once on a race track. Did I tell you about that?

Jeanie, I am learning how many people are fans of MGs. I understand how hard it was for you to sell your MG. Me too.

secretagentwoman, another MG lover. They are so much fun to drive.

ellen, I actually was smiling during it and it seemed to last much longer than actual time.

Kristina, the picture in this post is the actual picture of my MG.

Sniffles and Smiles, I even like your comments. You make a story more exciting just the way you read it.

Jeni, it is truly fun driving an MG. Especially with the top off.

Mama Zen, yep, no question as to what was the right thing to do.

Fragrant Liar, a Ghia is close and you get the same feel driving a small safe car.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Wow...what an experience! Glad it all worked out

Joanna Jenkins said...

Whoa! I was holding my breath as I read this post. Thank god you were okay after that-- That's proof of angles looking out for you.
xoxo jj

Kulio said...

Whoa!! you have had some amazing experiences!

And you told it well :-)

Unknown said...

erm... we never have convertibles here.... it's the harsh weather.

Maria said...

Some cars are very good models for safety. I'm not a driver, so I don't know what they are. But I saw it somewhere. When I start to drive, probably my awareness will increase....glad you're okay!

Debbie said...

Oh my word. That is some story. I am so thankful you were fine. To come out of that able to walk and think is a miracle!

Sabi Sunshine said...

O boy what a change in your blog..oh my it look so beautiful your blog..you have done a fantastic job.. i loved it so much...

How are you doing dear?

Have a beautiful weekend! Once again i love the look of your new blog.

Love
Sunshine

Stickup Artist said...

You were well rewarded for the conscious decision to go left over the cliff by yourself and not harm the other drivers by smashing into them. What a great story!

Robert the Skeptic said...

When I was young I had a Fiat "spyder". It was Pastiano yellow. Really cool sporty car for a young dude. Unfortunately it was a Fiat... designed to provide Italian car mechanics with a steady income. I knew mine on a first name basis - Dana. Nice guy. But I sold the car before I needed to declare bankruptcy.

CiCi said...

Hi Vinny, thank you.

Joanna, it had to be angels that day.

Kulio, so many life experiences.

Shadowthorne, the top was on the car the day I am describing but most of the time not.

gaelikaa, I have been driving since I was 12 years old.

Debbie, I was so relieved to have minor injuries.

Sunshine, thank you for your sweet words. I am doing fine.

Stickup Artist, by not clobbering into the line of cars, they took the time to help me up the cliff.

Robert, sorry the Fiat was so costly. The MG just had regular maintenance.

Anonymous said...

it's wonderful that you can look back on that experience without any real negative memories. You were very lucky TB!

Pseudo said...

That is some visuals that go with your story. I am so glad you came out OK from that. I do believe in angels too.

I hydroplaned once in a VW bug. I was driving home from a waitress shift and suddenly I was floating across the freeway lanes at 11 PM. I hit the cement wall sideways and it sent me back across the lanes, this time flying backwards looking at the cars coming towards me, slamming their own breaks, trying to avoid me. The whole time I was praying, "God, please keep me safe and get me home to my babies" (kids were 3 & 6). I landed against the center divider, jumped out and up onto the divider in case a car was coming along to crush my bug. I was amazed I was untouched. The VW was totaled, the entire car busted up except for the driver area...

Sandra said...

Great endorsement for the car...hmmm...possibly a review in your future?
Glad your arms and legs are still attached.

Jinksy said...

I'm glad the right angels were on duty that day!

CiCi said...

Jillsy, this incident was so minor compared to many others in my life.

Pseudo, you had such a similar experience in your VW. Hard to describe how you felt while it was taking place, huh.

Sandra, yes I can truly vouch for the safety of the MG.

Jinksy, I had a vague feeling of angels prior to this, but after this incident I made friends with them.

Jason, as himself said...

Terrifying! It is seriously amazing that you weren't hurt.

When you chose to go over a cliff did you know that it wasn't a really, really tall cliff? Yikes.

Jerry said...

Wow! I'm glad that you pulled through that unscathed. It is conventional wisdom that itty bitty cars are the most dangerous to drive because, well their itty bitty. But there us much to be said for an excellent driver.

And what is it that you drive now?

gayle said...

Wow I would have been scared to death. So glad everything turned out ok for you!!

Claudya Martinez said...

There truly was an angel looking out for you that day. Also, thank goodness for the great engineering that went into that car.

Shadow said...

oh wow, what a car! sad story though...

MikeWJ at Too Many Mornings said...

That is the most incredible car-wreck story I've ever read, and I've read (even written) more than a few. Truly, you were being protected by angels. Nice car, too--sporty, sexy, safe. Exactly what you want in a car. :-)

Mrs4444 said...

That's incredible! I'm so glad your angel was looking out for you :)

Marla said...

I was scared just reading this. I can't imagine being the one it happened to. Thank God for angels.