Oh hugs!

I must mention how delighted I am that all of you survived your close calls. Because really the world is a better place with you in it.

I'd always kind of thought I had a fear of heights, but upon reflection it seems it's really a distrust of trees, rickety ladders, etc. I'm fine looking over rails at extensive drops and whatnot as long as my actual footing is stable.

Except that I drive about 30 miles on 95 every day.

Hah. A friend of mine called her boss to let her know she was going to be very late, if she made it in at all. Boss: Oh, you got caught in the traffic jam from the awful accident? I figured you leave early enough to miss it. Friend: I am the awful accident.

She rolled her car three times at 70 mph and ended up upside down in the median. She was fine. She called 911 from the car. When people bitched that week about how late it made them (took some people 4 hours to get in) she would helpfully pipe up "That was me!"

See, that's the weird part -- it is the only vertigo I have ever experienced in my life. I really thought I was already falling, and had just somehow failed to notice the part about my feet leaving the rock.

I used to know somebody who called that kind of anticipatory experience a "fear-wish," i.e. that it's something so blankly terrifying that you start to hope it will happen just to make the fear go away. I know that kind of thing happens on bridges all the time: the bay bridge in Annapolis has cops on duty who will drive you across in your own car, if you ask, because sane, ordinary people sometimes report the overwhelming desire to drive off the side for no reason.

I have been in some hairy landing situations with crosswinds and puddlejumpers

Never been especially close to death that I know of, but this one time on approach to Charlotte, the puddlejumper got hit with a gust that seemed to flip us up into an awful steep bank for a moment, and really gave me an adrenalin jolt.

Speaking of scary stuff, the IRS wants to allow TurboTax to sell your tax return info. [link]

Friend: I am the awful accident.

Holy cow! I'm glad she was okay!

My fear is getting in front of a big rig and then traffic coming to a standstill on a down slope and the truck not being able to stop in time and accordianing me. So I try my best to put at least one smaller vehicle between me and the big trucks.

I have a fear of slopes. Not of sheer dropoffs. Those makes sense. But slopes are tricky. Maybe you can scrabble up, maybe you can't.

Never actually had an accident or anything on one, so I have no idea where this comes from.

David, your next question better be something like "When have you had the most fun while surrounded by twenty-three adorable puppies?"

Yeah, but the upside is this...

I must mention how delighted I am that all of you survived your close calls. Because really the world is a better place with you in it.

Gratitude! But duly noted. I'll find a cheerier topic. Though I do insist this particular subject has an upside of hope what with the not-death.

It's interesting to see the recurring themes. My closest calls were similar to ones mentioned: riding my bike recklessly during a torrential rainstorm and almost getting hit; spinning out at 80 mph on the freeway after somebody cut me off. No serious illness (knock wood) or water hazards (though growing up in Florida I spent a lot of time in the water). I did have a belligerent drunk point a gun at me in a liquor store parking lot, but the situation defused quickly and I never felt like my life was in jeopardy. There were plenty of stupid driving tricks in the teen years, however.

I want our resident actuaries to let us peek at the tables so I know how to keep Emmett from harm. Bicycles and cars are going to be tricky.

In sum: Don't drive when you're sleepy! Be on guard against attackers always! (It's very disheartening knowing how many women here have been attacked.) Life vests and riptide warnings! Don't be afraid to go to the doctor if your fever is high or your symptoms are weird!

this one time on approach to Charlotte, the puddlejumper got hit with a gust that seemed to flip us up into an awful steep bank for a moment, and really gave me an adrenalin jolt.

Worst turbulence I ever felt was on a puddlejumper flying from Charlotte to Columbia, SC. There was a lady sitting next to me who was flying for the first time and she was all, "Is this normal?!" I told her it just felt worse because we were in a small plane and that it was perfectly normal. But I was freaked. It's easier for me to act calm though if somebody else is outwardly losing it.

But duly noted. I'll find a cheerier topic.

Just don't make it "List Your Top 5 Best Sandwiches Ever"....