40 years later

Cadillac Tech · Nov 3, 2013

40 years ago this week, when I was in 5th grade, I was ran over by a car & drug down the street next to Stony Creek Elementary school in Noblesville, IN. I still think my older brother paid the lady to take me out...LOL. If it wasn't for the hood on my winter coat getting caught on the front cross member, I think she would have finished the job.
To make matters worse, my mom was hit head-on by a truck the next morning on her way to the hospital to check on me. It was a rough 2 days for my dad for sure. Very lucky to be alive!!!

firstone · Nov 3, 2013

So sorry

I am sorry to hear of your accident. Glad you can talk about it 40 years later. Not everyone would have been so lucky! I hope your Mon was also OK after the head-on. That had to be tough on your family for a while.

Cadillac Tech · Nov 3, 2013

firstone said:
I am sorry to hear of your accident. Glad you can talk about it 40 years later. Not everyone would have been so lucky! I hope your Mon was also OK after the head-on. That had to be tough on your family for a while.

It's good to be here 40 years later. The whole thing seems more amazing now then it did when it happened. It was simply a miracle that she didn't kill me that day. My mom was actually hurt worse than I was.

HOMEGAMEROOM · Nov 3, 2013

We are ALL very happy that you're here!!! You have made a great difference in all of our lives, whether you know it or not. You (and Kathy) are the catalyst that has brought us together many, many times to create great friendships and wonderful memories.

Again, thank you for all you (both!) do!!!! We're very glad you're here!

Cadillac Tech · Nov 3, 2013

HOMEGAMEROOM said:
We are ALL very happy that you're here!!! You have made a great difference in all of our lives, whether you know it or not. You (and Kathy) are the catalyst that has brought us together many, many times to create great friendships and wonderful memories.

Again, thank you for all you (both!) do!!!! We're very glad you're here!

Thanks Rich, you're very kind. I was very fortunate to have survived that day. She hit our parked car @ the RF door area, where I was standing, collected me as she drove up & over the RF fender & then hauled ass down the street until she ran into the back of a '68 Ford truck. The RF door ended up on the hood of my mom's car. She got out & left the engine running & in gear after she ran into the truck. I could only look to my right because of being under the front cross member. They couldn't get a wrecker in to lift the car up, so they had about 10 men lift the front of the car & a guy pulled me out (I don't think they would do that today). It was quite a ride!

XLRATING · Nov 3, 2013

Mike & I sure are glad you came out of that safe & sound! Kind of ironic the line of work you went into after that experience . . . Maybe more so if you did body work.

You've made a difference in the world SO - there was clearly a plan there!

Cadillac Tech · Nov 3, 2013

It was my first time under a GM car, '69 Chevelle , small block V-8 w/automatic to be exact. It sure was tough on my parents, my mom saw it all unfold & my dad got the dreaded phone call. My mom said it seemed like an eternity before she heard me yell from under the car.

b_pappy · Nov 3, 2013

What a story, and great sense of humor you have about it now. Glad you are still with us!
Bruce

Popbigguy · Nov 3, 2013

HOMEGAMEROOM said:
We are ALL very happy that you're here!!! You have made a great difference in all of our lives, whether you know it or not. You (and Kathy) are the catalyst that has brought us together many, many times to create great friendships and wonderful memories.

Again, thank you for all you (both!) do!!!! We're very glad you're here!

Rich pretty well sums it all up with his statement, with every word ringing true. I can still remember that very first trip with the "X" to BG with my son, not knowing anyone, wondering what are we going to be doing. You guys made the difference!!! Not knowing who I was didn't seem to make any difference to you two. Thru an act of friendliness, you called my son and me in our hotel room and said come on, we're going for a drive the BG country side! A start of something GREAT!!

In whatever person or power you believe in Bruce, 40 years ago someone, or thing, knew they had more for you to do and it wasn't time yet!! And I for one, know that there's a lot that you will do in the future!! Because we all know that , that is the kind of people that you and Kathy are!!

Chad

Cadillac Tech · Nov 3, 2013

b_pappy said:
What a story, and great sense of humor you have about it now. Glad you are still with us!
Bruce

The funny thing is, I hadn't really thought about the whole thing for years, then it dawned on me that 40 yrs had passed. Parts of it I don't remember at all. A classmate of mine that was there that day, said it bothered her for a long time.

Cadillac Tech · Nov 3, 2013

Popbigguy said:
Rich pretty well sums it all up with his statement, with every word ringing true. I can still remember that very first trip with the "X" to BG with my son, not knowing anyone, wondering what are we going to be doing. You guys made the difference!!! Not knowing who I was didn't seem to make any difference to you two. Thru an act of friendliness, you called my son and me in our hotel room and said come on, we're going for a drive the BG country side! A start of something GREAT!!

In whatever person or power you believe in Bruce, 40 years ago someone, or thing, knew they had more for you to do and it wasn't time yet!! And I for one, know that there's a lot that you will do in the future!! Because we all know that , that is the kind of people that you and Kathy are!!

Chad

WOW, that was very nice of you Chad. Over the years, Kathy & I have felt blessed to have met so many great XLR owners, & that we now have them as friends. Thank God I was given another 40 yrs!

Victor-V · Nov 3, 2013

So glad you and your mother survived such terrible accidents. Owning XLRs and attending the events would not have been the same without you.

FLVGuy · Nov 4, 2013

WOW...Glad you are still with us.

HOMEGAMEROOM said:
We are ALL very happy that you're here!!! You have made a great difference in all of our lives, whether you know it or not. You (and Kathy) are the catalyst that has brought us together many, many times to create great friendships and wonderful memories.

Again, thank you for all you (both!) do!!!! We're very glad you're here!

Yes...what Rich said. I would have missed out on some wonderful friendships and memories if it weren't for you. Thank you!!!!! Your tag line, "I got nuthin" couldn't be more wrong!

XLRATING · Nov 4, 2013

Here's to another 40 years - WITHOUT any more accidents! :angel

graytoad · Nov 4, 2013

I have been out of touch, busy with a charity fundraiser. I just too want to say that we are glad you are here: a nicer guy you could not find!

mtrocket · Nov 4, 2013

Yes, by all means, we are glad you survived your accident and are able to talk about it so candidly these 40 years later.

Cadillac Tech · Nov 4, 2013

Part 3

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I somehow came through it with only bruises & scratches, no broken bones.

The 3rd part of this story is quite humorous (to me). I missed 7 days of school due to the accident. I tried to keep up with my school work while I was @ home recovering. My 5th grade teacher had a policy that if you missed so much homework you would get a paddling (remember those?). So, on my first day back she shares this with me & informs me that the paddling will take place the next day! Well, the next day my mom escorted me to class looking like she had gone 15 rounds in a heavyweight fight, because of her car wreck. My mom asked my classmates to step out into the hall so she could talk to my teacher. Mom was brief but she really got her point across (she was always good @ getting her point across). After that day my teacher was really nice to me.

HOMEGAMEROOM · Nov 5, 2013

LOL! I'm glad your mom was so convincing. :laugh:

cubby558 · Nov 5, 2013

Knowing you, you probably needed it just for good measure!! :laugh:

Glad we have you around!!!

Cadillac Tech said:
.................................................................................... My 5th grade teacher had a policy that if you missed so much homework you would get a paddling (remember those?). .............................................................