Published: August 03, 2007 01:21 am            

Life’s coincidences, or blessings?

Our annual “family/girl beach trip” is history. We arrived home late this afternoon exhausted and bug-eyed, but very happy, plus we were loaded down with “outlet deals” ... stuff we thought we couldn’t live without, so now we must get rid of some more old stuff (old, like purchases made in March and April ... Hello! – could this be you? ... ) Yes, get it out of our closets, cabinets, bureaus, wardrobes, and attics in order to store the “stuff” we brought home ... Oh, what a vicious circle, however, we are now looking forward to the next time, and the next girl’s beach trip.

We ate our way through Mobile, Fairhope, Loxley, Daphne, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores — that’s a whole lot of crab claws, and seafood combo, but we managed. Our accommodations were pricey, but magnificent! The balcony which overlooked the Gulf was so close we could practically feel the spray of saltwater splashing upon our faces as we sat and soaked up the entire scope of being at the beach.

The weather was picture-perfect, and the crowds were not overwhelming. No one forgot to pack anything essential, which was a pleasant surprise. The grandkids were delighted with the beach, sand, and the waves, plus the adults were happy with the shopping and cuisine.

Then, the unexpected happened, and reminded us how quickly life can change. Directly in front of our hotel was a horrible car accident with two cars involved, at least, I think it was two cars. They were terribly smashed and intertwined making it hard to tell one car from the other. Within minute’s four fire trucks, three law enforcement vehicles, two ambulances, a rescue truck and the medical helicopter arrived to assist the two unfortunate vehicles with the occupants, whom, I’m sure, were as excited to be vacationing at the beach as my family and I were.

It seemed as though one of the vehicles was making a turn into our hotel parking lot when the collision occurred. We stopped to ponder, and to be thankful that it was not us, and at the same time we felt heavy-hearted for the ones involved in the deadly crash, right there in the middle of a vacation/paradise — a vacation that was planned and anticipated by the drivers and passengers of the now wrecked beyond recognition vehicles.

In the middle of the destruction and devastation, it was a comfort to see the quickness and apparent efficiency of the first responders. As we stood upon the walkway of our hotel, we had the opportunity to observe the firefighters, the law enforcement, and the emergency medical personnel, even the drivers of the wreckers, as each one carefully fulfilled their duties. We concluded that this was not their first wreck to work, nor, unfortunately, would it be their last, and they had not learned the duties of their expertise without many, many hours of training.

I hope the next time you have the opportunity to see one of our local first responders you will take the time to thank them for their choice of career, because, I’m certain, it is more that just a job for them, but a calling — a calling to help those in need at difficult times of their lives.

Yes, it could have so easily been our car, our children, our lives ... but we have been given more time on this ole Earth. It’s what we do with it that is important. Some would argue that it is Fate or a coincidence, but I’m inclined to believe a Blessing was delivered to the McKee family while we vacationed during the summer of 2007 ... Now it is our turn to use this God-Given-Blessing in such a way so that He will be pleased. ... as everyday of our lives should be, and must be.

Coincidence or Blessing; for my family and me ... we will always remember the Blessing we received during our summer vacation of 2007.

        

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